1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

The problem I am having with the truck is that it will only go into overdrive if I let off the gas a little. So while going down the road at about 55mph it is running 3000RPM. I let off the pedal a little and it will drop down to 2000 and shift into overdrive.

I have had it to a tranny shop and they say they cant find anything wrong with it. They hook up the scanner and checked all the solenoids. They said the fluid looks fine and does not need to be changed.

It is not giving off any codes and the overdrive light never flashes. Other then the hesitation going into overdrive it drives just fine. If I turn overdrive off on the shift lever and turn it back on it will also engage into overdrive.

So my question is could it just be the o/d band is out of adjustment?. That would explain why there is no codes and the fluid looks fine. I have never adjusted one before so I am not sure of what symptoms I would expect that would tell me for sure it is the bands?.

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

Bump!!! Has anyone adjusted their overdrive bands???

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

Little update if some one comes across the same problem. Turns out the ranger uses to temperature monitoring systems. The temperature sending unit is what controls the gauge on the dash and shows you how warm the motor is. The temperature sensor tells the PCM when the engine is up to temp so it will lean out and allow overdrive to kick in and lock up. My sensor was bad and caused all the headaches. It thought the engine was cold all the time so it ran it rich and stopped it from wanting to go into overdrive.

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

Update it is still doing it. I took it to a second transmission shop and they were the ones that replaced the sensor.

Last week I drove it 500 miles and every time it would not go into overdrive unless I let off the gas.

Any ideas at all guys??? It is driving me nuts!!!!

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

Any luck?

55mph might be a little too slow for O/D.
Keep going in 4th past that, up to 75-80 and see if it shifts under acceleration in 4th.

If not, try some Lucas "slip fix" in a round white bottle with a blue cap. $12 at Autozone. You may have some valves that are sticking.

Mine is doing exactly the same thing! I put a newly rebuilt valve body in from Central Valve Bodies (btw I love the way it shifts now) but won't go into overdrive unless you turn the od switch off then on again and it'll go into od.

Anything new?

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

Re: 1999 3.0 with the 4r44e O/D issues
 

That's normal for these trannys, my 02 and 06 both do/did that