O/D OFF blinking on 99 Explorer

[swkearney]

Sometimes when I come to a stop sign/light, and the tranny downshifts, there is a clunking noise and then the O/D OFF light starts blinking. When I shut the motor off and restart it the light stays off until the next time. I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on the subject. Thanks

[shorod]

Swing by your local auto parts store and see if they read OBD-II diagnostic codes at no charge. If so, have them pull yours. Get the exact code number and post it back here.

The tools most auto parts stores use will only read powertrain codes (in the form of P1234) and not the transmission codes, but many of the torque converter codes and some other tranny codes actually fall under the powertrain category.

-Rod

[xFatcatx]

if they cant pull a code at the autoparts store, stop by any tranny shop and most will pull the transmission codes for free. your blinking O/D light is your "check engine" light for your transmission. its not good to drive around with the light blinking to much, it puts your truck into a "safe mode" and the transmission has to work alot harder. get the codes and post back, also with what type of engine you have (4.0 SOHC you most likely have the 5R55E transmision) and milage, also last serviceing of the transmission.

[swkearney]

Thanks for the info. I will get the codes and re-post.

[xFatcatx]

FYI.....dont disappear now, i have found most people with tranny problems on here give up and we never here from them again. lots of these things can be fixed without a $2500 rebuild like every tranny shop will tell you.......I was quoted $1800-$3000 at 3 different shops and ended up fixing my transmission on my own (without pulling the transmission) for around $500, woulda been $250 if i did it right the first time.........

[swkearney]

Thanks for the info. As it would happen, I was on my way home from work tonight and the tranny gave on me. I would stop, shut off the engine, let it set for a couple of minutes then restart. It would do alright until shifting into 3rd. then start slipping, bad. I am going to have it towed tomorrow to a shop for diagnosis. Any advice????

[xFatcatx]

Did you get my PM? I did not read your post good enough I guess. There is a very common problem with the 5R55E Transmssion in the 2-3 shift (assuming you have the V6 not the V8 which would be a different tranny 4R70W). Now I dont completely know your symptoms but if you have the time I would replace the Valve Body (around $250 total with fluid) and see if that solves your problem (unless you drop the pan and find chunks of metal in it in which case you would probably need a rebuild). The Valve Body gaskets tend to blow out in these trannies, in turn letting loose parts of the gaskets all throughout the Valve Body causing abnormal shifts. FYI, The Valve Body is the brain of the transmission, it is located on the bottom of the tranny, once you remove the transmission pan you are looking straight up at the Valve Body and it can simply be removed (without pulling the tranny), and replaced with a remanufactured one or be rebuilt. I had this common problem and was quoted as I said in my above post by those shops, and I am sure they all knew exactly what the problem was. If you have another vehicle to drive this would be worth doing as you could save yourself a couple thousand $, I could walk you through it and I have links with pictures of everything.

[swkearney]

Originally Posted by xFatcatx

Did you get my PM? I did not read your post good enough I guess. There is a very common problem with the 5R55E Transmssion in the 2-3 shift (assuming you have the V6 not the V8 which would be a different tranny 4R70W). Now I dont completely know your symptoms but if you have the time I would replace the Valve Body (around $250 total with fluid) and see if that solves your problem (unless you drop the pan and find chunks of metal in it in which case you would probably need a rebuild). The Valve Body gaskets tend to blow out in these trannies, in turn letting loose parts of the gaskets all throughout the Valve Body causing abnormal shifts. FYI, The Valve Body is the brain of the transmission, it is located on the bottom of the tranny, once you remove the transmission pan you are looking straight up at the Valve Body and it can simply be removed (without pulling the tranny), and replaced with a remanufactured one or be rebuilt. I had this common problem and was quoted as I said in my above post by those shops, and I am sure they all knew exactly what the problem was. If you have another vehicle to drive this would be worth doing as you could save yourself a couple thousand $, I could walk you through it and I have links with pictures of everything.

Thanks for the info. I just got my explorer out of the shop. it seems that torque converter shot craps on me and threw metal through the tranny. It needed an overhaul. Total was $1500. About two years ago, I had to put it in the shop for some different reasons. The speedometer quit working and giving me codes for the speed sensors which I replaced. after returning them three times for different ones I gave up and took it to a shop. They tore it down and replaced some parts. I picked it up and it ran fine for a week then ther same thing started all over again. After three trips to the shop they took a tranny out of a Mazda Navajo and went throuh it and put it in my truck. I have since found out that the 4R44E (which was in my Explorer) is not strong enough for the size of tires (265-70-16 and gear ratio 4:10). I hope this rebuild lasts for a while. The truck has 180,000 miles and no reason to not expect lots more.