OVER DRIVE

[Brownme1988]

if your engine is actually at 7k I suspect you would know it. believe me, it would be a "temporary" issue.
those OD switches can fail, would be your easiest solution.

weird shifting may be a result of the computer getting bad RPM info, maybe.

Oh yeah… I know for a FACT its not at 7k... but it'll just pop up there all of the sudden... I'll tap the dash and it'll drop back down... That's just another issue to deal with at a later date. I just want to make sure at this point that I am not doing any unnecessary damage to the mechanical side of things. I can't afford to be stranded right now. Haha

 

[cbxer55]

That makes a lot of sense, and I thank you for that. My main concern is, I cant seem to turn it on or off... I can push the button on the end of the stock, but no on/off light illuminates anywhere. So I don't know if OD is out, if there is a short somewhere, or if a bulb is burned out. All I know is, I have read quite a bit in the last few days about people saying "O/D went out, had to replace this, had to rebuild this, costs as much as a new transmission, etc etc.." I just want to make sure I'm not in for a terrible financial surprise in the next few weeks/months.

There is a fuse for the OD function. I had mine blow out on me once, leaving the truck stuck OD OFF. Shut it off and restart it, OD is back on again. Replace the fuse and it should work. I believe, on mine at least, the same fuse is for the "cigarette" lighter. And yes, the OD OFF light on my 98 Ranger is burned out. However, I can still tell when it shifts into OD, and can feel it when I hit the button to turn t off. So, check the fuse.

 

[Brownme1988]

There is a fuse for the OD function. I had mine blow out on me once, leaving the truck stuck OD OFF. Shut it off and restart it, OD is back on again. Replace the fuse and it should work. I believe, on mine at least, the same fuse is for the "cigarette" lighter. And yes, the OD OFF light on my 98 Ranger is burned out. However, I can still tell when it shifts into OD, and can feel it when I hit the button to turn t off. So, check the fuse.

I will definitely give that a go. That would be the cheapest fix for sure. Here's hoping!

 

[cbxer55]

I will definitely give that a go. That would be the cheapest fix for sure. Here's hoping!

There's info here along with some fuse box photos. I see the OVERDRIVE down at the bottom left, along with the other items the same fuse controls. This is on a 1998 Ford Ranger overdrive fuse search. You may have to alter the search criteria if your's is different.

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf...rAhVIMawKHUXCAr4QsAR6BAgLEAE&biw=1920&bih=975

 

[MikeG]

If you don't need to turn the overdrive off, this is kinda moot. Just a thought.

The overdrive switch can't be anything more than a momentary switch. Shouldn't be that hard to test / isolate, I'd think. Do you have a wiring guide for your truck? Might be worth getting one.

 

[Brownme1988]

If you don't need to turn the overdrive off, this is kinda moot. Just a thought.

The overdrive switch can't be anything more than a momentary switch. Shouldn't be that hard to test / isolate, I'd think. Do you have a wiring guide for your truck? Might be worth getting one.

Im sure I can find a wiring guide. Shouldn't be too hard to find.
Again, more than anything I just want to make sure it's not a more serious issue. I don't ever plan on REALLY needing to turn it off, but I just want to know that it's functioning properly rather than damaging something. Like I said... new to the O/D Auto Trans thing... so I am sure I am making a bigger deal out of it than I need to... but it's all foreign to me.

 

[MikeG]

The worst thing that can happen, if you can't turn it off, is that the transmission 'hunts' more going up hills, and you have to brake more, going down hills. That's it.

The transmission can sort itself out, no problem.

 

[Brownme1988]

The worst thing that can happen, if you can't turn it off, is that the transmission 'hunts' more going up hills, and you have to brake more, going down hills. That's it.

The transmission can sort itself out, no problem.

Honestly, that is very comforting. Thank you. I have been reading horror stories about this whole O/D thing being an expensive, terrible fix, replacing transmissions, the whole gambit... Maybe that is for a different truck. hahaha. I am going to start by checking the fuse, and go from there... but if it's not damaging anything, I'm not going to stress about it.

 

[MikeG]

Just pay attention to how it shifts and change the fluid/filter out at recommended intervals. That's pretty much it for the average user.

 

[Brownme1988]

Just pay attention to how it shifts and change the fluid/filter out at recommended intervals. That's pretty much it for the average user.

I can definitely do that. Maybe a silly question, but what should I be looking for as far as good shifting/bad shifting. Accelerating from a dead stop, etc. I've driven manuals all my life. haha.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

I can definitely do that. Maybe a silly question, but what should I be looking for as far as good shifting/bad shifting. Accelerating from a dead stop, etc. I've driven manuals all my life. haha.

You should "feel* next to nothing. A properly functioning automatic transmission should shift like butter. If you "feel" it hit the next gear, it feels like a lurch. If you "hear" it hit the next gear, you have a problem (clunk, bang, grind). The only thing you should hear is a slight pause in engine noise.

Similar to the manual transmission that you're used to, you want a smooth shift. you don't want to hear any bangs or grinds, and you don't want to feel the truck lurch.

 

[Brownme1988]

You should "feel* next to nothing. A properly functioning automatic transmission should shift like butter. If you "feel" it hit the next gear, it feels like a lurch. If you "hear" it hit the next gear, you have a problem (clunk, bang, grind). The only thing you should hear is a slight pause in engine noise.

Similar to the manual transmission that you're used to, you want a smooth shift. you don't want to hear any bangs or grinds, and you don't want to feel the truck lurch.

That’s great! Thank you. So far, so good. Shifts smooth and crisp. Thanks for the input!