O/D light blinking, wont shift to O/D, and clunky shifts

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Ryan Carmody 2

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As message title says I got in for work this morning and O/D OFF light is blinking, shes shifting hard, and wont go into top gear. I searched posts and couldn't find anything. Interweb says could be shift solenoid, or unhook battery for 10min, or loose grounds, etc etc..... Anyone???
 
Either that or run to the 1st local tranny shop ASAP! The OD flash of death is well known on this forum. Don't drive it far. Unfortunately, from what you describe it doing, you already might have...
 
Ryan,



You could disconnect the neg cable on the battery for a half hour and then go from there.



BUT we are 100% here that once the OD light blinks its only time before the tranny has a sudden death !!!!



There is an upgraded t-body and solenoids that can be installed to "save" it depending how bad it is already.....



but if not addressed it will be toast real soon !!



Todd Z
 
Just got back from transmission place and got codes read, 5th gear ratio wrong, so means she is chewing gears and needs a rebuild. Quoted me $1460+tax.....oh boy

 
Did you check trans fluid level? How many miles on your car, and what is your service history on the transmission - i.e., how many times have you changed ATF and filter?
 
fluid was actually high when I checked it. 160Kmiles, I was always told on tranny to leave it be on the fluid. The fluid when I check it a while ago was still clearish and not gunky at all.

 
my o.d light was flashing when i bought mine. did some research and found the valve body gaskets to be a problem on these transmissions. when i pulled the valve body it was obvious where the gasket had failed because pieces were missing. the updated separator plate with bonded gaskets was about $60 add the filter, fluid and a few hours laying in the driveway. relatively cheap and easy. there is even a how to on youtube.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilYmZpgfXa8) about 8 months still no light.



 
Ryan, you got bad advice about not changing the trans fluid. Now at 160K most guys will tell you to do nothing - until the transmission fails. You're between a rock and a hard place. If were me I'd drop the pan to at least change the filter.
 
You'd have to ask a professional transmission specialist for what this code means. There's numerous postings on this and other forums about typical problems with Ford's 5R55 transmission. Automatic transmissions are amazing pieces of machinery, and very complex. What's worked for me over forty years of maintaining my own cars is to use best fluids available and change them at reasonable intervals - typically more often than what the OEM says. Many manufacturers today are touting "lifetime" driveline fluids; what they really mean is "lifetime of the component," which to me translates to big bucks from the owners' pockets.
 
I use 50K drain interval using AMSOIL Multi-Vehicle ATF, which is the recommended life under Severe Service. Normal Service life is 100K, and that's how I'd classify my driving. But as I mentioned I go with the more conservative figure. You can see more info on this fluid at the link below. I help sponsor this site; if you'd like pricing on this or any other product, give me a call. My website is www.enduranceoil.net.
 
I have been flushing mine every 30,000 miles since it was new. No problems yet with 130,000. I do tow an RV in the summer, so I'm sure this is severe service. I also have an extra tranny cooler installed.
 
I almost BET you don't need a rebuild.... Shops go by codes and do not diagnose properly.... AND when they rebuild if they don't replace the solenoids to save $$ the tranny blows up again....



I hate Hacker repair shops....



Todd Z
 

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