Question van kicking into O.D..

[International]

My alternative 'Skoolie' when shorty goes down, wants to kick into over drive on its on when driving at times. It doesn't do all the time but causes it to go in and out of gear until we stop cut it off and then start again. It's a 1995 ford van with 5.0 ' 351' engine and 4 speed o.d.automatic transmission. It has the button on shifter handle to cut o.d. on or off , but doesn't seem to work when it kicks into o.d., on its own. Just curious if anyone knew why. I think maybe its the button on shifter handle or brain box maybe not sure.

[Stu & Filo. T]

Originally Posted by International

My alternative 'Skoolie' when shorty goes down, wants to kick into over drive on its on when driving at times. It doesn't do all the time but causes it to go in and out of gear until we stop cut it off and then start again. It's a 1995 ford van with 5.0 ' 351' engine and 4 speed o.d.automatic transmission. It has the button on shifter handle to cut o.d. on or off , but doesn't seem to work when it kicks into o.d., on its own. Just curious if anyone knew why. I think maybe its the button on shifter handle or brain box maybe not sure.

Do mean it down shifts out of overdrive?? it will auto shift into OD as your driving normally, or do you have it manually turned off with the off light illuminated & it shifts up into OD??

[International]

Its manually cut off and up shifts into OD on its own. Then it jumps in and out of gears till we turn it off.

[roach711]

I use the OD cutoff button if I'll be climbing a long hill and don't want the engine overheating, otherwise, I want that overdrive working. Why do you want the OD cut off?

[International]

Originally Posted by roach711

I use the OD cutoff button if I'll be climbing a long hill and don't want the engine overheating, otherwise, I want that overdrive working. Why do you want the OD cut off?

its not needed much.But also when it kicks up to o.d. by itself , it then gos in and out of gears and revs up real high without pulling.

[roach711]

That's not normal transmission behavior. You've probably got the E40D trans which is electronically controlled. I'd check the trans fluid level first then do a fluid flush/filter change. If that doesn't help it's off to the repair shop.

Check your fluid level with a warm, idling engine.

[sdwarf36]

Scan it to get the code-but I'd bet its a VSS (vehicle speed sensor.) $20- 1 bolt-mounted on the rear axle. Get a Ford one from a dealership-not from NAPA. Also check to make sure you don't have a third brake light burnt out. Believe it or not, it will cause it to happen.

[Carytowncat]

Originally Posted by sdwarf36

Scan it to get the code-but I'd bet its a VSS (vehicle speed sensor.) $20- 1 bolt-mounted on the rear axle. Get a Ford one from a dealership-not from NAPA. Also check to make sure you don't have a third brake light burnt out. Believe it or not, it will cause it to happen.

I love how i learn so much just reading random posts here.

[Booyah45828]

Originally Posted by International

Its manually cut off and up shifts into OD on its own. Then it jumps in and out of gears till we turn it off.

What's the speed doing? It will jockey back and forth between od and 3rd whether or not the engine has enough power to hold the speed in od.

Hitting the button on the handle, or sometimes on the knee panel, will solve that. A light should also turn on on the dash indicating that od is disabled.