I've had this problem on and off for almost a year. It's a 1996 E350 PSD with the e4od. It's got almost 280k miles and the trans was rebuilt approx. 75k miles ago. The transmission has never been troublesome in the 2 years I've owned it. As I said, it shifts fine, but some times this O/D light starts flashing and then it shifts hard.
The transmission shifts fine and the torque converter doesn't slip. At least when I'm accelerating the van moves faster as the revs increase. I've got a scangauge connected so I can read engine speed (even though they don't officially support 1996, some features do actually work).
It used to be every once in a while the O/D light would start to flash and then the shifting got hard. It's started doing this more often, so I've been using the van less but that's not fixing the problem.
I learned from reading on this board that disconnecting the batteries would reset this (out of limp mode) and then the van works fine again. At least until the next time the O/D light starts flashing.
I never drive it more than 5 minutes with the O/D light flashing.
I know from reading on many boards that I need to be able to read the code to be sure what's causing this and then ultimately what to fix/replace, but everyone has been unsuccessful getting any code for the transmission.
Code readers used so far:
- snap on
- auto enginuity with PSD pack (this also reads the live data)
- scangauge
- not sure what the Ford dealer used.
No one has been able to get a code for the transmission, but both the snap on and the auto enginuity have been able to read other codes (specifically):
-P0475 exhaust pressure control valve fault
- P0476 exhaust pressure control valve perform
But again nothing for the transmission (O/D) light flashing. I’ve tried while the light is still flashing, I’ve tried just after clearing it, but it doesn’t ever get a code for the transmission.
I’ve since replaced:
- Transmission fluid / filter / gasket (but the fluid was still bright red and didn’t smell burnt)
- Vehicle speed sensor (on the rear diff)
- MLPS on the transmission (I believe this is also known as the neutral safety switch)
- Entire shifter column with the O/D switch light assembly.
- Shift solenoid (at this time I also added the sonnex valve and stiffer springs to the valve body) so it shifts faster and harder now (when the light is not flashing).
I’ve confirmed
- All rear brake lights work
- All interior lights work (incl. the rear dome light)
What am I missing and how on earth to I fix this?
Can anyone recommend someone in the area that can actually fix this?
Very frustrated
The transmission shifts fine and the torque converter doesn't slip. At least when I'm accelerating the van moves faster as the revs increase. I've got a scangauge connected so I can read engine speed (even though they don't officially support 1996, some features do actually work).
It used to be every once in a while the O/D light would start to flash and then the shifting got hard. It's started doing this more often, so I've been using the van less but that's not fixing the problem.
I learned from reading on this board that disconnecting the batteries would reset this (out of limp mode) and then the van works fine again. At least until the next time the O/D light starts flashing.
I never drive it more than 5 minutes with the O/D light flashing.
I know from reading on many boards that I need to be able to read the code to be sure what's causing this and then ultimately what to fix/replace, but everyone has been unsuccessful getting any code for the transmission.
Code readers used so far:
- snap on
- auto enginuity with PSD pack (this also reads the live data)
- scangauge
- not sure what the Ford dealer used.
No one has been able to get a code for the transmission, but both the snap on and the auto enginuity have been able to read other codes (specifically):
-P0475 exhaust pressure control valve fault
- P0476 exhaust pressure control valve perform
But again nothing for the transmission (O/D) light flashing. I’ve tried while the light is still flashing, I’ve tried just after clearing it, but it doesn’t ever get a code for the transmission.
I’ve since replaced:
- Transmission fluid / filter / gasket (but the fluid was still bright red and didn’t smell burnt)
- Vehicle speed sensor (on the rear diff)
- MLPS on the transmission (I believe this is also known as the neutral safety switch)
- Entire shifter column with the O/D switch light assembly.
- Shift solenoid (at this time I also added the sonnex valve and stiffer springs to the valve body) so it shifts faster and harder now (when the light is not flashing).
I’ve confirmed
- All rear brake lights work
- All interior lights work (incl. the rear dome light)
What am I missing and how on earth to I fix this?
Can anyone recommend someone in the area that can actually fix this?
Very frustrated