My E4OD Mystery - Diesel Forum

IH_Eggrole · 07-11-2008, 09:27 PM

On my '94 F350 E4OD I've been having trouble with my transmission wanting to do a lot of shifting. That is it will hunt from 1st to 2nd to 1st again then 2nd to 3rd to 2nd and so on. My O/D light seems to flash whenever it wants, but when it did (was on all the time, not just at idle) I got it checked and then I disconnect the batteries and went on and it hasn't flashed since, and I've checked the FIPL and it was fine. But I replaced it and had a shop check to make sure. The tachometer sending unit is working fine as best I can tell from the cab. I thought I might replace it anyway.
I have noticed that if I disconnect the batteries completely and reconnect them the transmission works like it should for a day or so, or until I put a grain cart behind it or some other extra load, but then goes back to the random shifting (No flashing O/D light), but I am not getting any hard shifts as if it were in safe mode. So I decided that I would come on here and see if yall had anything else to add to what I already knew to do. I see that maybe I should change the tachometer sending unit anyway. I have thought that the transmission fluid may be burnt and it may possibly need a filter. So I was wondering if yall had any other suggestions?
Thanks
Eddie

cdnsarguy · 07-11-2008, 11:34 PM

If you have a Aparts store near you see if they have a code reader OBD1. The stores will usually do this for free (AZONE)....... when you get the code visit my photo link and find the E4OD codes and match the info....... post back.

chuckster57 · 07-12-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnsarguy

If you have a Aparts store near you see if they have a code reader OBD1. The stores will usually do this for free (AZONE)....... when you get the code visit my photo link and find the E4OD codes and match the info....... post back.

No code reader, or don't want to make the trip to the store, this will show you how to get the code(s) with a voltmeter:

Troublcodes.net Trouble Codes OBD & OBD2 Trouble Codes and Technical info & Tool Store. By BAT Auto Technical

cdnsarguy · 07-12-2008, 09:35 AM

Nice info Chuckster57...........

IH_Eggrole · 07-12-2008, 11:48 AM

Thanks, Ill check the codes and get back.

jazzrockskier · 07-13-2008, 12:33 PM

I am having a similar problem, The TCM has a mind of it's own sometimes. Will work for awhile OK then low tach. signal then good tach and flashing OD lamp, then low tach signal. Have read codes and get a Throttle position sensor error, but it is new and test ok as is the tach sensor. All that is left is the Computer. Parts America has then for $163.00 which is cheaper than the stealerships ($300). Will keep you posted if this fixes it once and for all. I don get and error code until the tach output drops.(code 18 is loss of tach signal) After a reset the codes are for normal operation. when the O/D lamp flashes the tranny some time goes into limp mode or shifts erratically. It's anyone guess as to what it will do.

IH_Eggrole · 07-13-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzrockskier

....... It's anyone guess as to what it will do.

You aint kiddin bud. I'll keep yall informed about what works or doesnt for me as well.
Eddie

icanfixall · 07-13-2008, 10:56 PM

I had a flashing OD lite along with a slipping trans when the lite flashed. After 3 dealerships repairing 3 differant things and I changed out 2 transmissions I found the problem. A member told me to clean the 6 electrical connectors to the trans. Use contact cleaner thats harmles to plastic. Then grease with die electric grease and assemble the connections... Well that solved my problems and it only cost me around $9.00. Compare that to 2 trans, one tps at $200.00 and two days at the stealership and one cpu at $600.00.. Yea... I was pissed. Ford customer service in Dearborn told me I should have just had all this work done at the same dealer... Sorry, we wont help you out now..... These connections are found under the master cylinder. There are 3 there. Then on the trans of the E4OD you will find 4 of them. One is behind the heat shield on the passenger side. Two are at the back of the trans on the speedo cable and one is on the drivers side. Make sure they are clean. Use a tooth brush to clean then. Don't use a wire brush unless you pull both positive battery cables. Dry with compressed air if needed. These plugs get some crude like scum in them and they stop working. Mine would last for about an hour of driving then crap out on me. It was a tuff find but like I said, a member here bailed me out. I only hope I can do the same for someone else. Nobody needs to spend the time and money I did of 3 differant stealerships. Any reason why I do all my own work now???

IH_Eggrole · 07-15-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icanfixall

I had a flashing OD lite along with a slipping trans when the lite flashed. After 3 dealerships repairing 3 differant things and I changed out 2 transmissions I found the problem. A member told me to clean the 6 electrical connectors to the trans. Use contact cleaner thats harmles to plastic. Then grease with die electric grease and assemble the connections... Well that solved my problems and it only cost me around $9.00. Compare that to 2 trans, one tps at $200.00 and two days at the stealership and one cpu at $600.00.. Yea... I was pissed. Ford customer service in Dearborn told me I should have just had all this work done at the same dealer... Sorry, we wont help you out now..... These connections are found under the master cylinder. There are 3 there. Then on the trans of the E4OD you will find 4 of them. One is behind the heat shield on the passenger side. Two are at the back of the trans on the speedo cable and one is on the drivers side. Make sure they are clean. Use a tooth brush to clean then. Don't use a wire brush unless you pull both positive battery cables. Dry with compressed air if needed. These plugs get some crude like scum in them and they stop working. Mine would last for about an hour of driving then crap out on me. It was a tuff find but like I said, a member here bailed me out. I only hope I can do the same for someone else. Nobody needs to spend the time and money I did of 3 differant stealerships. Any reason why I do all my own work now???

I'll try anything once, thanks

Eddie

mcraddockjr · 07-17-2008, 09:29 AM

I have a 94 F- Superduty flatbed truck. It has the 7.3 diesel with an automatic tranny, which I am guessing to be an E40D. The problem I am having is that the overdrive light starts flashing and it starts shifting hard. In the past i was able to disconnect the battery cables and it would fix it for a month or so, not it will only fix it for a mile or so. I was wanting to know what could be the causes...... Any help would be greatly appreciated

M.L.S.C. · 07-17-2008, 10:33 AM

Yeps, your transmission definitely goes into limp mode. Check the codes it throws, report them here - there are many things that can cause a limp mode, you gotta know what your issue is first before you start adjusting things and replacing parts.

yaric008 · 07-17-2008, 02:22 PM

My problem I had forever turned out to be some bad wires running to the TPS. No matter how many times i readjusted the TPS i kept getting codes saying it was out of range and I'd get random blinking OD lights. Eventually my transmission killed itself because I gave up on trying to find the cause. Once I had the tranny rebuilt I decided i better fix the problem. I replaced the wires going from the computer to the TPS and haven't had a problem since. The wires had been all butchered up by mechanics in the past trying to check the TPS. The wires had been cut and re spliced together more times than you could count and hence they were all screwed up...

smkndsl · 07-17-2008, 08:54 PM

definitaly check the wiring like the others have said and remember on these when you do a koeo self test the acelerator must be held on the floor or you will get a fipl code,since you say it seems to only act up when you add a load and the fluid seems a little burnt your trans may be on the way out,they were good about distorting the front pumps when the converter gets hot from a load and not alowing free movement of the fluid pump pressure regulator valve,if you find the wiring is ok,that would be what I suspect next

jazzrockskier · 07-18-2008, 07:38 AM

Well my flashing O/D lamp was a bad TCM/ECC-IV computer. Installed the new one all is working just fine. No more intermittent flashing lamps and shifts Remember the O/D Lamp will flash and the trany will shift poorly if the transmission fluid is low.