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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 15
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 15 |
First, Several times now while driving normally, my overdrive light will come on and flash constantly. The only way to get it from flashing is to pull over and turn the car off then once turned on it is out. While driving when it is flashing, pressing the O/D button does nothing. usually it will downshift when pressed. It is like the computer overrides it when it is flashing.
Second, When the light starts flashing your cant notice and changes untill you slow down of try to take off. The trasmission shifts Extremely rough down and up shifting. It pretty much sets you back in your seat going out of first. I checked the fluid and it was full, I have always had it changed on a regular basis. and I have never abused the transmission either (i.e. rollbacks). The rough shifting continues for a few hours of driving then once I park the car for a while it seems to go away once started again. It didnt really concern me when it happened the first time a couple years ago but it has happened twice now in the past month. I want to say, or at least I hope it is just a bad sensor or some sort, but Im sure it is a sign of a aging transmission on its way to internal combustion.... I have a 1996 GL 4cyl. I have 152,000 miles and everything else works fine, except the tranny sometimes and latley more then usual. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Does the O/D light have "codes" assiciated with it as does the CEL light? Could I put a code reader on it when the light is flashing and have it tell me whats going wrong? Thanks for any input you can provide. Travis
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,725
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,725 |
To answer your question yes, sure can, you just need a code reader.
Some folks on here will tell you, you can only get the codes when the light is flashing, they are incorrect.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944 |
Yes, you can pull the codes for the flashing overdrive light if you pull them before turning the car off and after the light starts to flash. If you have a code reader, then just drive around until the light comes on, pull over and hook up your code reader before turning the car off. If your reader only works in KOEO conditions, then you will not be able to retrieve the codes. KOEO - Key On, Engine Off The reason it is shifting harshly, after the light starts flashing, is because the PCM has commanded the tranny be run in a Fail Safe Mode. In this mode, the trannys line pressure is up'ed to higer than normal pressure under all conditions. This higher than normal line pressure is what is causing the harsh shifts. Get those codes and let us know what they are. We will see if we can figure out what is going on from there. 
Phillip Jackson
`98 Mystique LS
262K+ and counting...
ATX rebuilt @ 151K
"This storm has broken me, my only friend!" RIP Dime
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944 |
Originally posted by HITMANinMI:
Some folks on here will tell you, you can only get the codes when the light is flashing, they are incorrect.
I will post this for you "one more time"!
From the `98 Ford Service CD -
"The MIL is illuminated for all emissions related electrical component malfunctions. For malfunctions attributable to a mechanical component (such as a clutch, gear, band, valve, etc.), some transmissions are capable of not commanding the mechanically failed component and providing the remaining maximum functionality (functionality is reassessed on each power up)- in such case a non-MIL Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) will be stored and, if so equipped, a Transmission Control Indicator Light (TCIL) will flash."
What this basically means, is that the CEL will illuminate, and stay that way, during an emmissions related electrical component faliure or malfunction. That is until the PCM memory is either cleared manually or the fault is not detected after two consecutive drive cycles.
If there is a mechanical failure, in the tranny, it will cause the TCIL (O/D light) to flash, which means that the PCM has stored a code indicating which fault it was. But!! This code will be cleared once the engine is turned off.
So. If your O/D light flashed, there was a code there to be read. If you turned your engine off before you could actually read that code, that code would disappear. If when you started your car again and the CEL was not on or the O/D light did not flash, there is nothing there to read. You will have to wait until the fault happens again.
I will even try to simlify it for you even further...
When your "Check Engine Light" (CEL) illuminates, there will be a code stored in the computer that can only be cleared by disconnecting power to the PCM or using a coder reader or scanner capiable of clearing out the fault codes through commands since directly to the PCM. Under these conditions, you can also read these codes, at anytime, until they are cleared by either method above.
The O/D light does not work the same way. I explained it above, so if you still don't get it... read it again!
Last edited by unisys12; 08/09/04 05:49 PM.
Phillip Jackson
`98 Mystique LS
262K+ and counting...
ATX rebuilt @ 151K
"This storm has broken me, my only friend!" RIP Dime
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