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Automatic Transmission

Another One to Add to the List

Throughout the years I have produced articles revealing various types of self-inflicted injuries that ate up time, energy and money unnecessarily as a way to forewarn others so they can avoid this pitfall. Many thanks go to those who have revealed their mistakes to us so we can share them with all of you, as well as the ones we have discovered on our technical hotline.

Wayne Colonna
By Wayne Colonna
Published:
Another One to Add to the List Technically Speaking Subject: Cross-connection of sensors Unit: CD4E Vehicle Application: 2001-02 Ford Escape Essential Reading: Rebuilder, Diagnostician Author: Wayne Colonna, ATSG, Transmission Digest Technical Editor

Technically Speaking

  • Subject: Cross-connection of sensors
  • Unit: CD4E
  • Vehicle Application: 2001-02 Ford Escape
  • Essential Reading: Rebuilder, Diagnostician
  • Author: Wayne Colonna, ATSG, Transmission Digest Technical Editor

Throughout the years I have produced articles revealing various types of self-inflicted injuries that ate up time, energy and money unnecessarily as a way to forewarn others so they can avoid this pitfall. Many thanks go to those who have revealed their mistakes to us so we can share them with all of you, as well as the ones we have discovered on our technical hotline.

Related Articles

One of these self-inflicted injuries deals with mistakenly cross-connecting sensors. In fact, the Technically Speaking article in the November 2010 issue covered a cross-connect scenario with a Nissan RE4F04B transaxle.

Well, here is another one to add to the list. It occurs with the CD4E transmission in 2001-and-up vehicles. The symptoms produced when a cross-connect error occurs are immediate chronic gear-ratio-error codes P0731, P0732, P0733 and/or P0734. The transmission tries to shift to third but then downshifts back to second or first gear. After the technician clears these codes, they immediately return during the road test. The speedometer also will read in Park if the engine is revved up, and/or it is noticed that the speedometer is about 15-20 mph slow.

The cross-connect error that produces this complaint is similar to the one in the RE4F04B transmission in that the turbine-speed sensor has been cross-connected with the output/vehicle-speed sensor. Prior to 2001 the VSS was on the opposite side of the trans, which made it impossible to cross-connect. With the new-design transmission for 2001 and up the OSS/VSS has been relocated in the approximate vicinity of the turbine-speed sensor (Figure 1).

Then, of course, the connectors for both are configured the same, contributing to this easily done self-inflicted injury (figures 2 and 3).

Using a 2001-02 Ford Escape as an example, the connector that has the white wire with a light-blue stripe goes to the turbine-speed sensor, and the dark-blue wire with a yellow stripe goes to the output/vehicle-speed sensor (Figure 4). Colors may vary with year and model, so it may be wise to tag the connectors. The time to do so will prevent you from losing more time later should they get cross connected.

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