Help!

I have trouble with my selector button.
Instead of OD being on after starting its off(wish this were the only trouble). The light is lit up as being off, if I push the button once the OD will engage but the light is still lit and I cannot unengage the OD by pushing the button again.
Now lately I'll be cruising down the expressway doing 70-75 in OD when suddenly it will disengage OD, if I push it again it will re-engage. But sometimes it will continually do this 5-6 times before it stops.

Anyone have any clues? Could my switch be bad? Or is it possibly something else?

------------------
97 F-150 S/C 4x4 ORP XLT 4.6 K&N , Flowmaster w/dual tailpipes, Bosch+4 plugs,Ford 9mm wires,Superchip.Patriot fiberglass toneau cover, Westin chrome step bars. Rear seat lift 4".
Kenwood 4011 stereo, USAcoustics 2150 amp, Profile electronic 3 way crossover, 2 10" IDQ DVC's, and Polk Dx7 5x7/6x8 3 ways in the front doors.

FUTURE PERFORMANCE MODS:
4.10 gears, Edlebrock shocks, Magnacharger, Airaid, and slotted rotors.

OTHER FUTURE MODS:
Ram Air hood w/functional ram air, suspension lift, 17" polished wheels, 35" tires, and sunroof.

 

Back to the top.

Any ideas anyone?

 

Until about a month ago I had a '99 Ranger with the 4.0L engine. I had a Superchip in that truck, and had nothing but trouble. If I was coasting down a long hill, the engine would shut off when I reached the bottom and applied the brake. I sent it back, they made some changes, and then I started to have problems similar to the one you've described. On the freeway, the transmission would suddenly shift out of overdrive into 4th, or even 3rd (5 spd auto on that truck) for no reason, which was very alarming at 80mph. I sent the chip back, they did something else, so now the transmission was back to normal, but the power was back to the factory setting. I think they just put back the factory settings to keep me quiet. Needless to say, I don't plan on buying Superchips again. Of course this may not be your problem, but I'd suggest taking the chip out for a couple of days, and seeing if it makes a difference.

------------------
'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

Actually I don't think the chip is currently working anyway. I had to take my truck in last summer and they were kind enough to reprogram my computer without asking. Plus they forgot to tell me the code and I forgot to ask. But this started long after I bought the chip and long before this happened. It just recently started downshifting. Still I guess I should take it out and try it.

 

I don't work for ford anymore but your in and out of OD sounds like bad VSS and MLP sensors. Pull the connector on the VSS (not the VSS) its located at the end of the trans in the ext. housings. If it is wet on the inside your VSS sensor is more than likely bad. The MLP we would check on SBDS so i don't know how you can check it yourself. I have never run into your problem with the OD light so I don't have any info for you on that. You have a 4.6 so you should have a 4r70w trans I can't ever remember seeing a 4.6 with a E4OD trans. If you do have a E4OD then don't worry about the VSS it doesn't have one.

 

All 4.6 engines have the 4R70 or older ones the AOD, the E4OD/4R100 has never been made for the 4.6. If you have a 5.4 with a 4R100, it may have a OSS which is about the same part as the VSS, just a different name, and it could be bad. The MLPS (Manual Lever Position Switch) is the large plastic electronic thingy where the shift cable connects to the tranny, your dealer can check that, it's about a $50 part. You more than likely have a code written to your computer that your dealer can check also. Doesn't sound like a major problem, just one that a dealer needs to diagnose, I would think it's an electrical prolem, (good news, it's not inside the tranny, so it's cheaper to fix) as opposed to a mechanical problem (bad news, drop the tranny and open it up, big labor bucks or a new tranny). Hope this helps, get it to a dealer, they should be able to help.

G