O/D Light Flashing and trans slips

[Uly The Hermit]

I just installed a used transmission in my '99 Ranger 3.0L 4R44E trans, reg cab, 2wd. After I drive about five miles the O/D lights starts flashing. After a while longer it starts to slip. By the time I got home it wouldn't go into D or R but moved when put into 1 or 2.

I made sure the torque converter was correctly seated (thanks to all the help I got here) and the trans to engine bolts all were easy to thread by hand all the way to the end. Nothing binding anywhere. I considered that the cooler and torque converter would require additional fluid which I had on hand. I originally added four quarts of Mercon V before starting the engine. I checked the level immediately and kept adding fluid until it was to the bottom of the crosshatches. After driving for several miles I checked the fluid and added enough to get it to the top of the crosshatches.

I read some old posts that suggested the problem might be the speed sensor. Well, this is a '99 and it has a DSS. No mechanical sensor. Also, someone suggested that the codes PO741 and/or P1728 might appear on a scanner but I could not find either of those codes listed on http://rockledge.home.comcast.net/~rockledge/RangerPictureGallery/DTCs.pdf.

So, is there any hope or should I try to get my old transmission back? I have not yet determined a way to read the codes because I'm not sure it will make it the 15 miles to the nearest trans shop and I don't have a code reader.

 

[Bruce]

Well to made a diagnosis it would be beneficial to at least get codes.
It could be anything from EPC(electronic pressure control solenoid) OD sprag or planets, speed sensor and so on. I assume that it is the correct tranny for the application .

 

[Bent Bolt]

Well to made a diagnosis it would be beneficial to at least get codes.

+ 1 .

Can't help you on this without codes and you won't get them with a code reader.

Has to be a real scan tool.

 

[Uly The Hermit]

But at least there is a possibility that the transmission is salvagable?

I was able to drive it yesterday as long as I kept O/D off so I should be able to make it someplace to get the codes read. I hope.

The trans looks exactly the same and the salvage guy looked it up and said only 1999 and 2000 would be a direct replacement.

 

[Uly The Hermit]

Someone suggested to me to disconnect the battery for a couple of hours to try to clear the codes. I did this and took the same test drive but this time I left O/D drive on the whole time and it didn't flash or slip :-D

I think part of my problem may be the meaning of the flashing light. I "assumed" it meant there was something wrong with the overdrive. Does it simply mean there is a trans problem?

 

[Tedybear]

Won't know until the codes are pulled. It's flashing for a reason. Could have been a hard set code that needed to be cleared. Or there could be any number of things going on.

Heck, might have been a tiny chunk of crud that worked itself out of the valve body and now it's working correctly.

S-

 

[Uly The Hermit]

Thanks Teddybear for the thought on the crud. It seems OK now. No more flashing O/D light. Since I disconnected the battery for two hours is it possible that the codes are still stored? I'd hate to pay someone to read them and find out there aren't any.