F53 Overdrive

Thanks for the help. My wires are broken right where they go into the shifter. The overdrive button can be removed from the end of the shifter without removing the shifter. Pry off the round plastic cover with a small flat screwdriver. Then pull the switch out to access the connecter. The wiring from the button plugs into the truck on the left side of the steering column. It's a three wire connecter with small wires on the shifter end that are covered in heatshrink tubing. They are twisted under the heatshrink. If you want to check continuity thru the wires you can do so without removing the shifter. You can't just replace the switch with a momentary switch because it has a resistor built into the switch. The switch is about 60 bucks from Ford.

carringb wrote:
I've had my wires break (got pinched) in the base of the shifter. I repaired it with telecom splice connectors (they sell them at Home Depot and most other home improvement stores). It is kinda hard to get in there though.

If you have a scan tool, you can run a test to see if its getting the control signal, or if the light just isn't working. Even then, you'll have to do some investigating. As mentioned above, the light is actually on the shifter. It will illuminate "OFF" next to the O/D lettering.

OK I see where it should light up but it doesn't. I unpluged it and found it's three wires. I checked continuity at the wires to see if the switch ever closes its contacts and it doesn't. There's 12 volts at the plug from the truck. I'd guess it's a bad switch.

Should it light up "off" when the keys on and it's in park?

I've had my wires break (got pinched) in the base of the shifter. I repaired it with telecom splice connectors (they sell them at Home Depot and most other home improvement stores). It is kinda hard to get in there though.

If you have a scan tool, you can run a test to see if its getting the control signal, or if the light just isn't working. Even then, you'll have to do some investigating. As mentioned above, the light is actually on the shifter. It will illuminate "OFF" next to the O/D lettering.

On my 2003 F53 the light is on the end of the shift lever not on the dash. IIRC it says off in little letters. I also see a noticeable increase in RPM's when off. JMO