Hi there, got this problem with my 1999 Windstar LX. My tranny fluid is burning and I changed it twice and one filter change, and the O/D light starts flashing after 15 or 20 miles on the freeway @ 60 mph. The transmission seems to work fine. Clue; I had used the van for hauling boxes of paper. Lots of pounds, then one day the O/D light came flashing on and the transmission started acting up like it went into low gear. I stopped that usage right away. I am thinking if it could be the transmission cooler in the radiator or is it in there? Or do you have another explaination for this to be happening. I went through 15 pages of this forum and got some answers but would like to get some from my questions. Thanks very much.

Welcome MrMg2004,

Do you mean that your car won't shift out of 1st? This would indicate the emergency "limp home" mode that transmissions assume when they detect internal damage.

Karl

Welcome MrMg2004,

Do you mean that your car won't shift out of 1st? This would indicate the emergency "limp home" mode that transmissions assume when they detect internal damage.

Karl
Hi CoachKarl, thanks for getting with me. No it shifts fine in all gears but the fluid heats up and I am getting a burnt and oily smell from the radiator bottle.

I am wondering if you have a restriction in the radiator mounted transmission cooler. Can happen.....FORD has a TSB out telling the dealerships to back flush the cooler whenever they replace / rebuild a transmission. The reason for that is....When a transmission fails, it can put a lot of crud into the fluid.....which clogges / restricts the flow of fluid through the cooler....which results in the new / repaired transmission overheating and failing. They have a revised version of that same TSB stating NOT to use any solvents to do that.....
The TSB states that if backflushing does not solve the problem....replacement of the radiator assembly may be necessary.