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Flashing Overdrive 'Off' light on 1995 F-250 7.3L Turbo w/ E40D transmission & C5 Axle

I'm having a 'sometime' problem with my subject stock F-250 - hoping someone may have some ideas about a fix.

in March 2004, the problem occured the first time at 80,500 miles on the vehicle - and I'm the original owner, so know the entire history. I was making a right turn from a full stop - right rear wheel spun just a bit (may have been a small patch of ice under the wheel) - noticed the OD Off light flashing, and shifts - both up and down were 'harsh' - that is 'jerky'. Took it to Ford garage, they said had set some kind of fault - I didn't find out the number - but they reset it, and said checked out OK. I asked what might cause the problem, they hemmed/hawed - thought could be lots of things, but didn't really know

- suggested flush transmission/torque converter - which they did - total $216 P/L.

In May 2004 - same problem again at 82,250 miles. This time, problem started when I made a left turn from a full stop going up a slight grade - seemed to kind of 'hang on' in gear before shifting at about

40 mph after about a quarter mile - then the light began flashing, and the jerky shifts again. Again to Ford garage - found EEC test code 1728 - Slip Fault. Cleared the code, road tested - checked OK. Best suggestion this time was could be some sort of a seal problem in the torque converter - but best to just drive, ans see if I could make the problem recur. Cost $155 - all labor/tax - no parts.

Just today 27 Mar 2005 at 89,508 miles, same problem again - was making a left turn into my development from full stop, and light started flashing - shifts jerky/harsh again. I'll call Ford again tomorrow for an appointment - they've said won't hurt to drive until I can get it in for repair - but it's really harsh on the shift.. The Ford X-mission/drive-train guy sounds like he's competent enough, and doesn't want to just start replacing parts which may not be the problem, but it's small town, so really hard to know.

As for me, I'm mid-late sixties, retired, and kind of a ho-dad driver

- you can tell the vehicle is low mileage, and I'm really easy on it - no jack-rabbit starts, etc. Only towing is a 22' boat for short (20-25 miles) 2 or 3 times a year. Maintenence kept up well - for instance - damnable Cam Position Sensor just replaced at 88,500 miles.

Any ideas anyone?? Will appreciate any thoughts as to what might be the cause. Frankly, only pattern I see is seems to happen just after starting from a stop, maybe something to do with a turn, or maybe something to do with relatively low speed shifting. I'll update this with the code they find when I have it.

Thanks

Cap'n C

Reply to
Cap'n C
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You're not going to like what I'm gonna tell you. You got tranny problems. When the tranny overheats, it is generally from slippage. When that happens the transmission shifts into a safety mode which increases the internal pressure, which in turn quickens the shift so that you don't continue generating more heat from slippage on the shift. Sometimes the fluid flush will solve the problem, sometimes not. The odds are pretty good that you are going to need a tranny job in the very near future. In the meanwhile, disconnect the battery lead at the starter solenoid for about 30 seconds. That will be long enough to wipe out any codes that have been set. That should get your shift back to normal, till the next time. Whatever you do, don't go to AAMCO Transmissions unless you wish to be screwed.

Reply to
Tyrone

Well Cap' n C, it's just like Tyrone told you. Here's the mechanic's version and may the gods be with you when you travel to a reputable transmission shop that knows what they're talking about.

The planetary gears that are in your E4OD tranny are currently 2 point aluminum. Ford recommends that these be changed to 6 point steel to reduce heat and reduce the threat of blowing seals. I learned the hard way. The original tranny "specialist" told me what was wrong, how much it would cost, and did I want heavy duty parts? I trailer so I said yes. I towed 5 pigs to the slaughter house last July and boom the tranny goes. Turns out nothing was heavy duty and no major mods were done. 2 tranny jobs, almost 6000.00. Next time it'll be a 6 speed.

Navistar IDI forever!!

Peter, Hilton Farms

Reply to
HiltonFarms

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Thanks to Tyrone & HiltonFarms for the replies.

Just got off the phone - here's the follow-up from Ford as I have it.

They took the PU in on Wednesday, 27 Mar - found the same code as last year in May - 1728 - Slip Fault. However, this time, there were other electrical problems found too - which the service writer (Haven't been able to talk to the 'tech', yet) described as making the transmission confused about what gear it was in - as he described, the dash indicator could be in Drive 1 or 2, but the transmission was getting some other signal. The tech didn't know what to do for sure, so contacted Ford tech support. After much on-line discussion, Ford tech support issued a series of tests and electrical measurements to be done - the results of those tests indicated an electrical problem in a solenoid in the torque converter. Bottom line, Ford is recommending one of two options

1 - repair existing transmission/torque converter - total about $3100 minus about $300 cost so far - warranty is 1 year/12000 miles

2 - replace existing transmission/torque converter with a Ford rebuild

- total about $100 more than option 1 - warranty 3 years/36000 miles - kind of a no-brainer, as the rebuild would also have numerous upgrades recommended since this transmission was first issued.

The cost seems fierce to me, but perhaps not so far out of line with what HiltonFarms mentioned - also, another friend says just heard of a transmission replacement at a cost of $3000. So, expect I'll take my whipping and get the re-built. Don't really want to replace the truck

- and that's kind of the way vehicles go, sometimes!

Once again - thanks to Tyrone & HiltonFarms for your thoughts.

Cap'n C

Reply to
Cap'n C

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