O/D light flashing?!?

[jimmy737]

I just bought an '05 Ranger, 4-banger 2WD, with auto, and now the "check transmission" light is flashing. It takes a good 15 or 20 miles for the light to come on, and pulling over and shutting off the motor seems to reset the problem. The light comes on again after a few miles. The fluid looks and smells good, but there's tiny bubbles on the dipstick. Couldn't get a clear level reading, but looked overfilled so I pulled almost a quart out of 'er. Level looks okay now but light still flashes. Tranny is smooth as silk till the light comes on. Any suggestions before I plunck down $90 to have Ford read the codes? If so, please go slowly, as I'm new to automatics. Thanks for any help!

 

[Bruce]

Get the codes read with a scanner its the only way too find out whats going on.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Most auto parts stores can read codes for free. They just cant clear them. I dont know if ti applies to the transmission codes aswell. I dont see any reason that it wouldnt but I dont want to make that assumption.

 

[Bruce]

Most code readers today, even the cheap ones will clear codes usually another way to clear them after they are pulled is disconnect the battery for about 5minutes or so.

 

[jimmy737]

Thanks for your replies, fellers. Autozone,s and Baxter Auto's scanners didn't pick up any codes. Ford wants $90 to hook theirs up to my truck just to tell me how much more money to give them. The transmission guy down the road wants to start with $118 to change the fluid and filter. I guess I'm just wondering if this is a common problem with an easy fix.

 

[Hardwareman]

I hate automatics.

Only because they're such a pain to work on.




Allen

 

[Simple_serf]

I hate automatics Because Ford hasn't made a good automatic in 20 years. Something is wrong when a computer shifts the trans, it blows up, when I shift the trans it lasts 200K miles....maybe this is just a mental thing with me, but I won't drive an automatic anymore.

I have never personally seen a smaller Ford auto last more than 100K.

Any chance of a Warranty claim...05 wasn't that long ago, I don't know what the current warranty requirements are?

 

[Booker]

Greetings Ranger Gurus,

Would it be acceptable to manually switch from 2nd gear to Drive?

What actually happens if I start in 2nd gear then gracefully switch to "Drive"? Because if I automatically let it switch from 1st to 2nd, there is "sometimes" a hardshift. It's not all the time a hard shift occurs.

Thanks,

Booker