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O/D light blinking... again...

D

Deweydw

CEG'er
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
355
Location
Deer Park, Tx.
A couple of weeks ago the o/d light started blinking. The car would shift hard from 1st to 2nd. After doing research and finding this forum in the process. I ended up changing out the speed sensor. That stopped the o/d light blinking. However, the car would would idle high from cold. (1 to 2k) After driving a bit the idle would come down below 1k. It was o.k. for about a week and a half. Well, the o/d light began blinking again on my way to work this morning. What else could be causing this? Oh, 96 4cyl auto 2.0 Zetec.
 
Deweydw said:
A couple of weeks ago the o/d light started blinking. The car would shift hard from 1st to 2nd. After doing research and finding this forum in the process. I ended up changing out the speed sensor. That stopped the o/d light blinking. However, the car would would idle high from cold. (1 to 2k) After driving a bit the idle would come down below 1k. It was o.k. for about a week and a half. Well, the o/d light began blinking again on my way to work this morning. What else could be causing this? Oh, 96 4cyl auto 2.0 Zetec.
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Did you change the Turbine Shaft Speed sensor or Vehicle Speed Sensor?

Get the codes scanned and post. You probably need to keep the engine running when the scan is done as some ATX codes get erased when the engine is turned off. Or you can get a real time tranny scan for about $100 at a tranny shop.
 
It was the VSS. I had trouble codes before it started flashing. P0133, P0171, and P0420. Haven't corrected those just yet. Not that I haven't tried. But that's a different thread.
 
Deweydw said:
It was the VSS. I had trouble codes before it started flashing. P0133, P0171, and P0420. Haven't corrected those just yet. Not that I haven't tried. But that's a different thread.
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Check the VSS connector and wiring. Make sure it is not wet or coming loose. Check the wiring from the VSS to the PCM. Make sure it is not "nicked" or "chafed".
 
Deweydw said:
It was the VSS. I had trouble codes before it started flashing. P0133, P0171, and P0420. Haven't corrected those just yet. Not that I haven't tried. But that's a different thread.
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P0133 - Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit Slow Response - Bank No. 1.
P0171 - System Too Lean - Bank No. 1.
P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency below Limit - Bank No 1.

Sounds like you need a new cat and an O2 sensor.


As for your flashing O/D light, you should probably do a full trannie fluid flush.
 
Tony2005 said:
Check the VSS connector and wiring. Make sure it is not wet or coming loose. Check the wiring from the VSS to the PCM. Make sure it is not "nicked" or "chafed".
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That is a good comment. Because I will be ordering new harnesses today. Mine are all cracked and brittle. Due to the flooding yesterday, did go through some high water. But not that high. Just enough to get a good splash. Planning to get that done mid November.
 
AliasJerk said:
P0133 - Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit Slow Response - Bank No. 1.
P0171 - System Too Lean - Bank No. 1.
P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency below Limit - Bank No 1.

Sounds like you need a new cat and an O2 sensor.
..
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Not so fast, buddy. Sometimes a massive vacuum leak (like a broken vacuum hose) can cause these codes. I would check for vacuum leaks first.
 
AliasJerk said:
P0133 - Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit Slow Response - Bank No. 1.
P0171 - System Too Lean - Bank No. 1.
P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency below Limit - Bank No 1.

Sounds like you need a new cat and an O2 sensor.
Click to expand...

no chances are a new O2 Sensor is just needed and the bad one caused the pre-cat code ...
 
AliasJerk said:
P0133 - Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit Slow Response - Bank No. 1.
P0171 - System Too Lean - Bank No. 1.
P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency below Limit - Bank No 1.

Sounds like you need a new cat and an O2 sensor.


As for your flashing O/D light, you should probably do a full trannie fluid flush.
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Can't get the O2 sensor to budge. Changed out the ATX fluid Saturday. Wasn't expecting such a big splash. :laugh: Not like changing oil.
 
AliasJerk said:
Not so fast, changing the fluid in the ATX isnt like doing an oil change, there is a lot of fluid that remains in the torque converter that doesnt come out that needs to be changed... Bill (starjammir) did an awesome how-to on it...
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Yea, I saw that. I did let it drain. Seemed like forever. Just when I removed the plug "SPLASH".
 
Update. Since I posted this problem, among others that seem realated, I have changed out four wiring harnesses and the o2 sensor. Car is running fine now and the cel light is cleared. However, this morning the o/d light began flashing again. I had earlier replaced the vehicle speed sensor. But did not replace the drive gear it sits in. Nor did I pull it to check it. Could this be my problem? I will also check on the wiring for this. Last time I looked, it seemed o.k.. I also changed out the ATX fluid. Any more suggestions?
 
You probably need to scan the codes and post. Note that most tranny codes are erased when the engine is shut off. Did you replace the VSS or VSS connector?
 
Tony2005 said:
You probably need to scan the codes and post. Note that most tranny codes are erased when the engine is shut off. Did you replace the VSS or VSS connector?
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Replaced the VSS. What do I need to be able to scan the codes myself? And does the o/d light need to be flasing to get a read on it?
 
Deweydw said:
...What do I need to be able to scan the codes myself? And does the o/d light need to be flasing to get a read on it?
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Buy or borrow a scanner capable of reading tranny codes (or get a shop to do it for $100). I think some of the tranny codes are stored until the engine is shut off.
 
Tony2005 said:
Buy or borrow a scanner capable of reading tranny codes (or get a shop to do it for $100). I think some of the tranny codes are stored until the engine is shut off.
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Getting the shop to do it. Didn't have much choice. Last Thursday, heading home in a down pour. Stuck in traffic, o/d light flashing. Went to switch lanes and shifting from 1st to 2nd (auto), it shifted very hard. BAMM!! Once I got out of the trafiic, noticed cel light on and a noise coming from passenger side front tire. Pulled into station and up on the jack. Did the 12/6 and 9/3 test. No movement. Was able to make it to dealership with no problem, save noise coming from wheel. Hopefully I'll hear something today.
 
Deweydw said:
Getting the shop to do it. Didn't have much choice. Last Thursday, heading home in a down pour. Stuck in traffic, o/d light flashing. Went to switch lanes and shifting from 1st to 2nd (auto), it shifted very hard. BAMM!! Once I got out of the trafiic, noticed cel light on and a noise coming from passenger side front tire. Pulled into station and up on the jack. Did the 12/6 and 9/3 test. No movement. Was able to make it to dealership with no problem, save noise coming from wheel. Hopefully I'll hear something today.
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You say it shifted very hard from first to second. Were you on the highway at the time? I am having the same issue, but it only shows up after driving for a matter of time (10 to 20 minutes) at higher speeds than in the city. In town I never notice, unless of course I just pulled off of the interstate. It is interesting to note that the problem goes away if I turn off the vehicle and start it up again. Is this the same in your case?

In August I noticed a very slight stutter and a flashing o/d light. The dealership replaced the Vehicle Speed Sensor and the DFPE (?) Sensor as a fix, and the problem went away. I was hoping that this would resolve the hard shift, but it did not. I have not experienced the wheel noise, unless I'm just def (very possible).
 
It only shifts hard when the o/d light is flashing. And I was in slow traffic.

Just got off the phone with the dealership. The CEL codes are P0420 and another code, which he didn't have, but said it had to do with the transmisson overheating. :shrug: He said they could put in a rebuild for $3,200. :nonono: I think I need to roll up my pants legs. It's getting deep... As for the p0420, it has a new O2 sensor, replaced last week. They haven't looked at the wheel yet. Probably won't find out until tomorrow. Thinking about just picking it up this afternoon. How does the o/d light flashing relate to the transmission over heating. And how or what would could cause the transmission to overheat? If in fact it is doing that.
 
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