I have a 97 ranger, 3.0 auto. It sometimes shifts really hard into 2nd & drive. It keeps blowing fuse #26, that controls the od button & reverse lights. I checked the codes & it came back as a high range something fault, i will have to look again later when i get home for the code number & explanation. Just wondering if this is a common problem & how hard is it to fix. I bought the truck from the electrical co i work for for $500, so i hope it isnt serious. The trans has been replaced with a used trans, & i remember it shifted hard as well.

 

The OD button may be shorted to ground inside the steering column

Its a two wire button thats gets 12v from fuse 26(key on) on one wire then when you press it, it sends 12v to pin 29 on the computer(PCM) to toggle between OD on and OD off, its not a constant 12v to PCM, its a toggle, each time pin 29 gets 12v it switches OD setting
PCM defaults to OD on when restarted, so each time you start the engine OD is on

You can us a OHM Volt meter to test
Pull out fuse 26
Turn key on and test fuse 26 clips for 12volts, only 1 will have 12v, thats power IN, you want power OUT clip, so the one that doesn't have 12volts, thats the one that runs to Reverse light switch on transmission's DTR sensor and to the TCS(transmission control switch).
Switch key off

Set meter OHMs, touch probes together and you will see 0 OHMs, thats a short
Now put either probe on fuse clip and other probe on a ground, should be HIGH OHMs or no change
Press OD button, should see a change but not LOW OHMs

Wiggle steering column wires around to see if and shorts, drop in ohms occurs

Now Reverse lights
Block tires
Key on shift trans to Reverse
Should see about 400ohms, thats the light bulbs in the rear
Wiggle the shifter a bit to see if DTR sensor may have a short, sharp drop in OHMs means bad DTR sensor



None of this would be related to 2/3 shifting
Yes get the exact code

 

Ok. I checked the codes again. Im getting a p708, trans high range fault. And an evap code. Today, the od light started flashing & the engine seemed to not be running right, very sluggish. Turned the engine off, took the key out. Waited about 30 seconds & restarted it, light didn't flash & it returned to running normal. I hope the pcm isn't going bad. Not sure i can afford to replace it.

 

You can go here to look up Ford codes: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...II_codes.shtml

P0708 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit High Input

The DTR(digital transmission range) sensor is on the transmissions shift linkage, drivers side, it may need to be adjusted or swapped out, you can get them at wrecking yards
Picture here: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QAsAA...9uX/s-l300.jpg

DTR sensor tells computer what Gear driver has selected, P, R, N, D, 2, 1
If its not getting a good reading then transmission won't shift correctly

If your column shifter feels loose then that can also be the problem

Unplug the wiring connector on DTR sensor and look inside connector, these like to corrode, so look closely
You are suppose to use a special tool to line these up..............................
But if you BLOCK YOUR TIRES, then shift trans to NEUTRAL you can remove the old DTR and install the new DTR it should already be set to Neutral
After you tighten it up Shift to Reverse and see if Reverse lights are on, if so then you should be fine, if not you will need to adjust it so lights come on