I just bought a really nice 2003 F150 with 120,000 miles on it. Very clean, no rust, and it doesn't act or look abused. It really drives nice. There were several small things wrong with it, and today I started on the biggest one: the overdrive off switch was broken and hanging from the wires. I bought a new one, watched a video on replacing them about a dozen times and then replaced it. Everything went just right and now it is all back together and running. The problem is that when I push the overdrive off switch, nothing happens - no light on the shift handle, nothing on the dash and no discernible change on the road. I just got rid of a '95 ranger, hardly ever turned the overdrive off, but when I did, I could really tell. What I can't tell for sure on the F150 is whether I am in OD or not and also what could cause the switch not to do anything. Any ideas on either challenge?

 

It's common for the wires to break where they enter the shift handle under the plastic cover on the steering column. If you remove the plastic cover you can see the broken wires. Either fix the wires or replace the shift handle.

 

I may not have been clear enough when I wrote the question. The switch end was broken off, and I have already replaced the switch, arm and all, that I obtained from my local Ford dealer. Additionally, I drove the truck 25 or 30 miles today and I am reasonably certain that the overdrive is engaged, since I can take my foot off the accelerator pedal at 60 MPH and watch the tach needle drop much faster than the truck slows.

 

Okay - what is your tire size, what is your axle ratio (you can find the code on the door jamb sticker under AXLE, it's 2 characters), and what RPM are you at cruising at a specific speed on the highway on level ground? (60 mph is as good as any, you just have to make sure the torque converter is in lockup).

Mark is referring to the wires inside the steering column between the shift lever and wherever they go.

 

The rear tires are new, I had them put on this afternoon. 255/70R16
Best I could do where I live was 40mph @ 1250 rpm
Code is 19

I know which wires he was referring to. They are a small bundle which come with the shift lever and are about 8" long and snap into a connector on the harness under the dash. I replaced that complete assembly.

 

Yep, you were in overdrive.

Check fuse #29 in the in-cab fuse box.

 

Thank you. That was the last little bit. The OD is working both on and off.