So I have looked and looked and found plenty on this code that my 2003 Ranger 4.0 4x4 keeps throwing. I have replaced all of the sensors, the TCC solenoid and replaced valve body gaskets. The truck drives great if I stay under 45. Once I exceed that and it is up to temperature, the OD Light will flash, then only shifts hard between 1st and 2nd and OD still works. I have the BlueDriver OBD scan tool and it keeps popping up P0741, so I clear that while I am driving and it goes right back to driving great. But then I get over 45 and it pops up again. Not sure what else it could be.

 

First thing I would do is test the connection and wiring to the TCC selenoid. Check for a short or a bad ground. It sounds like the TCC code is putting the transmission in limp mode, when you clear the code it temporarily pulls it out of limp mode until the computer sees the code again when the tourqe converter tries to lock.

 

Thanks for the quick response!!

Sorry to be a pain, but what are the procedures for testing it?

 

Welcome to the forum

First thing NOT to do when you get a CEL(check engine light) and then get a code number is to "Google that specific code number", you will get very bad advice 99% of the time

You want to go to a page that has ALL trouble codes listed
Computer is not smart, but you can be
The computer has many codes to choose from for most systems, so the ones it does NOT use are as important as the one it does use

Page here lists all codes: OBD-II Trouble Codes : The Ranger Station

Computer has these codes to choose from for torque converter lock up
P0740 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction
P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
P0742 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Stuck On
P0743 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Electrical
P0744 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Intermittent

A solenoid is a coil of wire around a metal cylinder, same as a relay, when this coil of wire has 12v and a Ground it becomes an electro-magnet and in this case if moves a Valve when it has power.

In this transmission ALL the solenoids get 12volts with key on, so there is just one 12volt wire going to the transmission connector and all the solenoids share that 12volts.
Then there is 1 Ground wire from each solenoid running back to the computer, the other wires on that connector.

So with key on the computer will see 12volts from EACH solenoid on its "ground wire", solenoid is just a coil of wire, so 12v in = 12v out.
Thats how the computer can tell if a solenoid has a good circuit, if it doesn't "see" 12v from that solenoid then solenoid OR its wiring is bad, so code 740 or 743, 744 could mean loose wire or solenoid starting to fail.

You have 741 and that means solenoid circuit is OK(no 740 or 743) but for some reason Lock up is not happening, so valve is most likely stuck, or torque converter itself is not locking.

Computer can tell if torque converter is locked by engine RPMs and driveshaft RPM(speed), when engine RPMs change speed should change exactly the same because drivetrain is locked, if engine RPMs go up and speed slowly follows then it is not locked so code is set, like you said above 45mph it sets code because torque converter should be locked

 

This is an old thread (P0741 seems to be a timeless problem), but after reading so many confusing threads about this code on the 5R55E, RonD's response about looking at "related codes that did not trigger" blew my mind. Thank you for that! (the irony is that I also found this thread when I "Googled that specific code number" :-)

My OD starts flashing on the freeway, so it sounds like the same issue as above. I actually have two codes: P0741 and P0735

P0740 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction
> P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
P0742 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Stuck On
P0743 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Electrical
P0744 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Intermittent

P0729 – Gear 6 Incorrect Ratio
P0730 – Incorrect Gear Ratio
P0731 – Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio
P0732 – Gear 2 Incorrect Ratio
P0733 – Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
P0734 – Gear 4 Incorrect Ratio
> P0735 – Gear 5 Incorrect Ratio

>> RonD said: You have 741 and that means solenoid circuit is OK(no 740 or 743) but for some reason Lock up is not happening, so valve is most likely stuck, or torque converter itself is not locking.

Anyway, I have no real question at this point, but I do have some work to do - thanks for helping narrow it down!