Ford E4OD Transmission Overdrive Problems - 4 Daily Problems (2024)

We all love the first Ford Automatic E4OD transmission or ‘tranny’. But it doesn’t come without its share of problems. There are a lot of common problems that arise when using this automatic transmission, like not being able to shift to overdrive, an intermittent overdrive, an O/D off the sensor, or truck shaking when in overdrive.

No matter what your issue is, we’re going to dive deep into how to diagnose, troubleshoot, and solve each of these most common Ford E4OD transmission overdrive problems!

If your transmission is not shifting out of first gear, however, you might want to take a look at this.

The reasons why your Ford E4OD Transmission could be giving you Overdrive problems are as follows.

• Gears slipping when shifting to overdrive
• Torque Converter Clutch causing intermittent overdrive
• Transmission fluid needs to be changed
• The Mass Air Flow sensor needs to be cleaned

How to Fix Ford E4OD Transmission Overdrive Problems

To solve Ford E4OD transmission overdrive problems, diagnose the issue using a diagnostic tool and repair or replace faulty components. Consult a mechanic or transmission specialist if needed. Regular maintenance, like replacing the transmission fluid and filters, can also prevent problems.

Top 4 Reasons for Ford E4OD Transmission Overdrive Problems

Here we are going to go in-depth about each of the four overdrive problems that commonly occur. We’ll also provide the reasons why this happens so often, and how you can go about solving them: on your own, or by seeking professional help as a last resort.

Reason 1: Gears Slipping When Shifting to Overdrive

If you’re not able to shift to overdrive when driving your Ford, the most reasonable explanation is that your gears are slipping when you’re trying to do this.

Sometimes what will also happen is that you’re able to easily shift to all gears except overdrive. When in overdrive, accelerating will cause your vehicle to suddenly jerk violently, similar to what would happen if you encountered a pothole.

Your first course of action should be to check the transmission fluid, and if that is perfectly fine then you know that the gears are slipping.

Solution: In these situations, it is almost always a misfiring cylinder.You should also check if you’re facing issues with switching to overdrive when you are driving in other gears. If you’re only struggling with switching to overdrive when you’re driving at 45mph and not at a slower or greater speed, then it’s just one gear that is faulty and acting up.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do on your own with this one. The most you can do is diagnose the issue correctly on your own, so you can have a good estimate of how much it will cost you to either get the gears fixed or your misfiring cylinder replaced.

Reason 2: Torque Converter Clutch Causing Intermittent Overdrive

This is another very common problem with the Ford E4OD automatic transmission. What happens in this problem is that you are sometimes able to shift to overdrive, and sometimes struggle with doing the same thing. Additionally, you may note that the truck will shift to overdrive in a few gears, like 1, 2, or 3.

But in other gears, it just doesn’t shift to overdrive: resulting in loud clunking noises or a rough jerk of the vehicle.

Solution: The reason why this is happening is that your Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) is slipping in and out while you’re driving your vehicle. What often happens is that the Throttle Position Sensor is acting up. This is located on the Throttle body and is one of the reasons why the engine is revving up and down unnecessarily.

This is also what is causing the Torque Converter Clutch to constantly engage and then subsequently, disengage. Fixing the Throttle Position Sensor will automatically fix the problem with the Torque Converter Clutch. This is also something that you will have to consult a professional for.

There is also a chance that there is nothing wrong with your Throttle Position Sensor. In this case, the issue is with a valve that is found in the Torque Converter Clutch. Sometimes, the valve could be larger than it is supposed to be, causing an internal leak. The leak is what is causing the valve to malfunction back and forth. Fixing this leak will also, in turn, fix the intermittent overdrive issue that you are facing.

Reason 3: Transmission fluid needs to be changed

This is possibly the most frequent issue to arise with the Ford E4OD automatic transmission. You notice that there is an O/D off sign on a sensor on your dashboard. This sign on your dashboard is coupled with the truck itself not accelerating properly. When you stop your truck at red lights, getting it to start again might be an issue. Trying to accelerate must result in the truck immediately jerking violently (possibly coupled with a groaning noise) and then going at a very slow speed.

Solution: This is a clear case of something wrong with your transmission and is a no-brainer. Your mechanic will have to take the transmission apart, diagnose the issue and rebuild it. However, taking it to the mechanic to fix your entire transmission will likely cost you around $1000, almost a third of what you paid for the transmission itself!

Before you do this, we strongly recommend that you take a look at the transmission fluid. A very common occurrence is that the transmission fluid is contaminated and this is directly related to the sensor acting strange. The sensor showing you the O/D off sign is an indication that it is malfunctioning.

Sometimes, due to internal leaks, there might be some contamination with oil and the filter. Checking this and replacing the contaminated fluid with clean fluid will immediately help in setting the sensor right. If the fluid is clean, you need to take a quick look at the resistance in the overdrive sensor to make sure that the clutch is not slipping.

If all of these checks do not explain the sensor issue, your transmission may indeed need to be taken apart.

Reason 4: The Mass Air Flow sensor needs to be cleaned

Finally, we come to the slightly less common but still problematic issue of your truck shaking when it is in overdrive. If you’re able to successfully switch to overdrive, no matter what gear you’re driving in: but suddenly encounter a violent shaking of the vehicle in overdrive, you need to take a look at the Mass Air Flow sensor.

The motor will act as if it is misfiring, but a quick run on the scanner reveals that there are no misfires.

Solution: The Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) can sometimes cause this issue when it has gotten dirty and needs to be thoroughly cleaned. The Throttle Position Sensor acts up when the Mass Air Flow is contaminated. You’ll need to remove the Mass Air Flow Sensor and get it cleaned electrically. Now place it back in and check if the issue has been resolved.

Additionally, we recommend that you carefully check the hose clamp connections that are connected to the intake hoses to ensure that they are tightly secured.

This is the only troubleshooting on our list that can actually be solved without having to see a mechanic and replace any parts, so we strongly recommend that you give this one a go after taking the necessary precautions.

FAQs

Conclusion

We’re always trying to help you fix your vehicle issues by yourself, but sometimes it’s better to consult a mechanic: especially in the case of your e4od transmission malfunctioning.

However, what you can do is correctly diagnose the issue so that you are well-informed and better prepared for a price quotation, whether it’s an issue with the gears slipping, your torque converter clutch, the transmission fluid, or even the mass airflow sensor.