Re: OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING H E L P

Don't get excited. I wouldn't recommend doing anything if it doesn't
happen again. By shutting the key off, and restarting the vehicle, you
simply cleared the computer's short term memory. 

That's a good thing. There's another memory in the computer that tells
it that after a set number of starts and stops, that any previous
problem should be cleared off it's memory, if that problem no longer
exists.  

That way the computer won't try to remember and store each and every
glitch that popped up, and drive the first mechanic to check the
vehicle's computer data bank crazy with false problems.

The manual ability to turn off the overdrive feature is there for a
reason. The temporary flashing light means that for a moment, something
electrically got spooked. 

A flashing light doesn't mean your transmission is going out. So, don't
panic.

The fact it cleared itself means that there was a momentary problem.
Shutting down and restarting cleared the problem. That's it.

Will it happen again? Perhaps and perhaps not. 

It could be something as simple as a stone may have popped up and hit
the sensor down at the transmission causing it to get nervous. 

One the other hand, there may be an electrical connection that's not
quite tight enough. 

Unless it keeps doing it, there's no way to tell. And if it doesn't do
it again, then the problem no longer exists. 

The next time you take your vehicle to your local Ford dealer, ask him
to check it out.

Here's what they will do. They'll hook up their computer and read your
trouble codes. If your computer cleared it out, then that means there is
no longer a problem.

What's important for you to understand for some peace of mind is, a
flashing overdrive light doesn't mean your transmission is going bad.

Remember the transmission is mechanical and if it was going out there
will be some mechanical response you would feel.

The overdrive feature is electrically controlled and engaged.

You can check whether the overdrive feature is working by cruising down
the road at 45 miles an hour and hit the button.  

You should feel the vehicle kick out of overdrive with an increase in
engine speed. 

Try it, you should understand how it feels anyway.

Most people don't understand overdrive. It's a real fuel saving
improvement in modern vehicles. 

But, there's a time and place for everything. If you are driving down
the mountains, or in a snowstorm, or on icy roads, or on very wet roads,
you should turn the overdrive off.

This is extremely important. 

It amazes me how few people understand this. Of course there is no
driver's education anymore. And overdrive is relatively new to all
vehicles, so even most older folks don't understand the feature and when
NOT to use it.

Overdrive means just what it says. 

The wheels of the vehicle are allowed to turn faster than the output of
the engine. 

Hence you are overdriving the engine, and in some situations, you are
freewheeling.

Try this and it will help you understand. 

First with the overdrive in the normal position, which is engaged (light
off), establish a steady speed going down a hill, and then abruptly let
your foot off the accelerator, and feel the vehicle's response. 

Then with the overdrive feature off (light on - that confuses people -
but the overdrive is automatically turned on now in newer vehicles when
you start the vehicle - so the overdrive light comes on only when you
physically turn the overdrive off letting you know you have turned it
off), then go back down the same hill at the same speed and abruptly
take your foot off the accelerator again, and feel the difference.

When the light is on indicating you have the overdrive turned off, the
response of the vehicle is pronounced. It will slow down quicker.

Hence, you have better control over the vehicle with the overdrive
turned off. 

Which is why you want to turn it off on ice and snow, going down any
steep mountain grades where you are having to use your brakes too much,
and on slippery road surfaces, or towing something behind you going
downhill.