Will Garvin

Hello,

I've owned my 2000 F-150 5.4L V8 4WD Auto Extended Cab for about 3 years now. And after all this time, I STILL don't know the purpose of the Overdrive button on the tip of the shift column. I would appreciate input on how I would "use it" on Highways, Back-roads, Hauling, & City Driving. I regularly just leave it "Off" all the time except going down steep grades or Hauling. As it does save more gas in the "Off" function then the "On". I would like also like some tips on what/if I'm doing wrong, or different ways to use it.

(I've heard that it's for using higher gears, but not sure)

Thanks

techrep

iTrader: (1)

It locks out 4th gear for towing..

Eric Kleven

What he said. If you get into a situation where the trans is shifting in-n-out of overdrive, just push that button and lock it into Drive, save the wear and heat on the slushbox.

R&TBabich

We just got back from a trip towing a 7k TH with our Excur.
When cruising at 65mph with the Overdrive lockout off in 4th gear, turning it on will drop the trans into 3rd, all seems normal.
When we start going up a long moderately steep grade in 4th, giving more gas will drop the trans into 2nd and once 65mph is reached again the trans shifts down to 3rd for about 5 sec, then drops back to 4th.
The cycle repeats, more gas, 2nd, 3rd for 5 sec, 4th.
I tried setting the Overdrive lockout to keep it in 3rd the rest of the grade, but under load the Overdrive lockout did not work although the light was on.
Seems odd there is something that prevents the Overdrive lockout being set when under load.

Eric Kleven

Yeah, that's a bit strange. It worked just fine on my '07 F150, but that was towing less weight (6x12' U-Haul) through small hills around Omaha and west Iowa. Were you using cruise or your foot?

R&TBabich

The 5 sec in 3rd is using manual throttle.
On a moderately steep grade where it needs to go into 2nd the cruise control will downshift into 3rd for a bit and disengage before going into 2nd.
If the hill is an overpass bridge the cruise will downshift into 3rd and back into 4th after the hill which seems just fine.
When cruising along in 4th selecting the Overdrive button will engage the lockout and the trans shifts down to 3rd (RPM goes up about 1k).
The Overdrive switch signal goes into the PCM and the feedback light is grounded by the PCM to turn it on.
Don't see in the Wiring Diagrams how the signal gets to the trans.

jethat

I uae mine when towing I keep if off. When coming down canyon roads I use it to keep from over speeding and having to use Brakes to much. That is all..