Overdrive Light

[Waynehead99]

Hey guys, haven't posted much, just really been reading what you guys write. I was towing a 5th wheel camper in the mountains. My overdrive light started flashing after a long climb. What does this mean? Haven't seen it since, assuming that maybe it meant the tranny was getting a little warm. It's a 2000 F-350. Thanks in advance.

[Waynehead99]

Nobody? Just want to know if I should worry about it and take it in.

[ModMech]

Yes, most likely the ATF temp got too high.

Put on a BIGGER ATF cooler, or you WILL FRY IT.

[Waynehead99]

This is the first time it has happened since I have had the truck (bought new). We do do a lot of towing with it, heavy loads. I will look into that though. THanks.

[nco]

I was told not to use over drive, to turn it off, when towing my boat.
Wastes alot more gas, but is a little easier on your engine.
I'm not an expert, but it sounded like good advice coming form guys who towed alot.

[ModMech]

You should only cancell OD when you are towing near the limits of your articular vehicle. If you have a class V tow package for example, you don't need to do it until you are towing over 5000#, but with a Class II, it's down around 1500#. The reason for the difference is AT cooling capacity and rear gears.

[Allbert]

Hey everyone... I usually spend most of my time over on the Blazer forum, but I just changed the EPC and PWM solenoids for a friend's '97 Expedition 4R70W because the O/D light was flashing. After the change, the light still came on two out of three test drives last night. From reading other posts, it looks like this could be related to the temperature sensor... does anyone think this might be the case. The first test drive after buttoning everything up and refilling the tranny, the light started flashing within about 2 miles of his house, so the trans was still way cool at that point.

[tedhontz]

i too have a 94 ford F150 with the 5.0 and it has the O/D light blinking on and off, sometimes. Here's what I notice with mine. My check engine light comes on and off without any cause. It shifts through all gears without any slippage but it seems to shift at the wrong time, sometimes. Also, sometimes when I press on the gas to accelerate, it want to go very slow and it makes a terrible popping sound, sometimes. All of this is intermittant and very annoying. Only code i can pull indicates a right oxygen sensor too lean and the same right oxygen sensor too rich, but I replaced that oxygen sensor not too long ago. Also, the OD light flashing occasionally shouldn't be associated should it? The truck originally belonged to my uncle and he said he remembered FORD doing a recall on it for something like that. I talked to any F150 owner and he said there is a part in the steering column/wheel? that can cause all sorts of problems with the O/D kicking on and off and not shifting right and ALSO the cruise control not working, which my cruise dosen't work either. Any guesses?

[tallbear]

OD light will flash as an indicator of a "code" being stored and may have nothing to do with the trans.

If you check for codes and find none, you'll need to rent ( borrow?) a scanner and leave it connected while trying to repeat the condition. Helps to have a passanger reading the scanner while you're driving.