EOD4 Slipping in and out
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC
EOD4 Slipping in and out
Where have we heard of this problem before 
Mine seems a bit different than some of the others I have read about here so here's the background:
94' F-150 FWD with the 5.8L and EOD4
truck has 78,000 original miles on it and never worked hard (I bought it new)
The problem is that the transmission will kick in and out of gear (goes into a neutral setting where the motor can free rev with the throttle) anbd then slams back into gear. Most of the time the slip in and out is quick but at times I have been able to rev the motor several times before it goes back into gear.
This occurs:
- driving on the highway with and without a load on the motor
- driving in town with and with out a load
- driving with the overdrive on and in OD - and also driving with the OD off
and in third gear (this is where we differ from some of the others)
- with the cruise control on and with it off (highway)
- so far I have not noticed it occurring while accelerating hard (but then
again I don't do that very often)
- NO CODES are being generated and stored.
- Sometimes I can drive for 25 miles without and issue other times a few
miles and it acts up and keeps acting up.
I recently had it in a tranny shop. They dropped the pan and found no sign of mechanical issues, no shavings, fluid was clean etc. While it was open I had them change the selenoid pack - new filter etc. Still does it.
Took it into a different tranny shop today and they can't figure it out......
Both tranny shops seem to feel it is not a mechanical problem as there was no indication in the fluid or in the pan - plus the low miles and light use.
My next step appears to be headed towards a Ford dealer but without a code in the computer I have little faith that they can figure it out either.
Any thoughts?
Mine seems a bit different than some of the others I have read about here so here's the background:94' F-150 FWD with the 5.8L and EOD4
truck has 78,000 original miles on it and never worked hard (I bought it new)
The problem is that the transmission will kick in and out of gear (goes into a neutral setting where the motor can free rev with the throttle) anbd then slams back into gear. Most of the time the slip in and out is quick but at times I have been able to rev the motor several times before it goes back into gear.
This occurs:
- driving on the highway with and without a load on the motor
- driving in town with and with out a load
- driving with the overdrive on and in OD - and also driving with the OD off
and in third gear (this is where we differ from some of the others)
- with the cruise control on and with it off (highway)
- so far I have not noticed it occurring while accelerating hard (but then
again I don't do that very often)
- NO CODES are being generated and stored.
- Sometimes I can drive for 25 miles without and issue other times a few
miles and it acts up and keeps acting up.
I recently had it in a tranny shop. They dropped the pan and found no sign of mechanical issues, no shavings, fluid was clean etc. While it was open I had them change the selenoid pack - new filter etc. Still does it.
Took it into a different tranny shop today and they can't figure it out......
Both tranny shops seem to feel it is not a mechanical problem as there was no indication in the fluid or in the pan - plus the low miles and light use.
My next step appears to be headed towards a Ford dealer but without a code in the computer I have little faith that they can figure it out either.
Any thoughts?
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 55
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From: NC
Too much detail?? I think I'm going to try changing out the throttle position sensor today (shooting in the dark). I have an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday at a Ford Dealer - but I would sure like to be able to cancel it 
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 22
From: SE Florida, USA
Change the manual lever position sensor (MLPS.) It's also called a Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) or Neutral Safety Switch (NSS.) It's the sensor on the driver's side of the trans.
When it starts to wear out the resistance increases. The PCM sees this increase as you moving the shifter from D to N. The PCM does what it thinks you told it.
When it starts to wear out the resistance increases. The PCM sees this increase as you moving the shifter from D to N. The PCM does what it thinks you told it.
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC
Did a little research on this sensor and it seems to be a good candidate for the culprit in this problem I am having. I really appreciate you pointing me in this direction. I see they run the gauntlet of $50 to $100 depending on aftermarket or from Ford. I'm heading out to the garage shortly to get a look at mine and see what's involved in changing it out.
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC
My hats off high to Mark Kolvalsky for giving me this great tip. Thanks Mark!!
So far (knocking on wood) my transmission seems to be back in order after replacing the MLPS sensor. I opted to let the dealer do it so I could get the upgraded sensor and connector. Figured I already had $465 into the darn thing at the transmission shops - chasing ghosts so what was another $260 .........
All told a $725 agonizing problem that came down to a darn $100 sensor. Not to mention the dings the first transmission shop put in my front fender while they had it...
So far (knocking on wood) my transmission seems to be back in order after replacing the MLPS sensor. I opted to let the dealer do it so I could get the upgraded sensor and connector. Figured I already had $465 into the darn thing at the transmission shops - chasing ghosts so what was another $260 .........
All told a $725 agonizing problem that came down to a darn $100 sensor. Not to mention the dings the first transmission shop put in my front fender while they had it...
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
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Thanks Mark!! I had the exact same problem with my 1994 Ford F150 transmission slipping in and out of OD an N and was about to have it rebuilt, after talking to a couple of mechanics! I found the part on RockAuto.com for $54 and spent about 30 minutes replacing it. My transmission runs like new again! Great call and glad I found this post!
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Joined: Dec 2020
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I have a similar problem. We have a 2007 Ford F150 and the four-wheel-drive wasn’t working so we got an actuator sensor that goes behind the battery and replace that. After that when we started driving it it starts slipping out of drive and goes into neutral the manual stick for the four-wheel-drive we have to constantly make sure it’s in neutral in order for it to go back in to drive. Could our problem have a similar solution?