Just put it in drive and enjoy your rebuilt 2004r. If working properly, it will shift into overdrive at the proper time.

 

I don’t think it does switch to overdrive on its own. At least the level on the screen doesn’t move to overdrive on its own

 

Do you mean put it in overdrive, start out in overdrive?

 

Uh, umm, well . . . not in all cases. Putting it into OD all the time somewhat depends on your rear differential ratio. With my 2.73 gears in the back, my 4L60E rebuilder recommended that I put it into a manually selected D3 for around town, 45-50 MPH use. This prevents lugging my engine down to 1100 RPM all the time because the PCM wants to get the trans into OD quickly to save gas. In a manual D3, I still depart a stop sign in first gear, it shifts to second at a reasonable speed and RPM and then it proceeds to D3 at an optimal RPM and speed without burdening the engine down to 1100 RPM. This, in my rebuilder technician's mind, also keeps the strain lower on the 3-4 clutch pack friction disks - a well known weakness in the 4L60E. He also quickly mumbled something about higher apply pressure being applied to the forward sprag in D3 that I still don't completely understand. I'm a simple man when it comes to automatic transmissions and a good bit of that conversation might as well have been in the Martian language as far as my brain was concerned.

I only go to D4 OD on a road that requires a 55 MPH speed or higher. At 70 MPH, with those 2.73 diff gears and in D4 OD, I'm at 1800 RPM and sipping fuel at the 21 to 23 MPG rate like many modern vehicles. I can't smoke a tire (even if I wanted to) but I love those MPG numbers.

Rick

 

Not to be a smart-ass but how is the transmission going to 'shift into overdrive at the proper time' if he puts it into drive?

 

I'm interpreting that to mean - use the overdrive selection and let the car choose when to use it when conditions allow.

Vs using the drive selection round town, and selecting overdrive when on the highway..

 

Drivers were as confused in the ealry ‘80s as you are now! Some manufactures put the ‘O’ around the ‘’D’ to try to indicate ‘it’s where you should put the shifter’ but then the owner’s manual would have another paragraph about ‘…unless in hilly conditions or pulling a load or…’. Like Rick said, you might have a better, smoother ride in D if you’re not trying to maintain 60mph plus on a level highway. (Like Rick said, these things were geared and programmed for mpg, and they upshift and lock up early unless your foot’s really in it-my non-OD 200C does, too. The factory service manual has a paragraph about it, too.)
Patrick

 

The “proper way” is to leave it in OD full-time. Your car will downshift when it needs to. The exception, as stated in every manual, is to leave it in 3rd when towing.

Sometimes you’ll be at certain speeds where the car wants to shift back and forth. Instead of putting it in 3rd, just change your speed.

If you’re wondering if you’re damaging the tranny by leaving it in OD when not on the freeway, the answer is no.

 

The “proper way” is to leave it in OD full-time. Your car will downshift when it needs to. The exception, as stated in every manual, is to leave it in 3rd when towing.

Sometimes you’ll be at certain speeds where the car wants to shift back and forth. Instead of putting it in 3rd, just change your speed.

If you’re wondering if you’re damaging the tranny by leaving it in OD when not on the freeway, the answer is no.

X2.I just leave mine in drive and let it shift on it's own.

 

Back in the late 80's, early 90's Ford made a considerably large tactical error. They sold Mustangs to Troopers by the millions. Ordinarily this doesn't seem like a big deal until you consider that much of a Troopers driving around town is right around 40-45mph on average. The same approximate speed where the automatic trans in those Mustangs drops into OD. Ford had used some teflon bushings in the tranny to make for an easier shift, save some money, it dropped into OD, didn't bang into OD. Consequently all the constant in/out of OD shredded the trannys and every single one of the Trooper Mustangs had to have it's tranny ripped out and rebuilt with brass bushings.

1 minor, overlooked detail not of Fords making but the result of the Troopers normal driving habits and Fords ignorance of those habits. Running around town in D instead of OD is fine, even beneficial if staying around the 30-40mph range at most, but that can and will change according to each drivers driving habits, how heavy or light on the gas pedal etc.

 

Running around town in D instead of OD is fine, even beneficial if staying around the 30-40mph range at most

Yes.

 

I use Drive in town and Overdrive if freeway is consistently flowing over 50.
I view drive as 1/2/3/2/1 and Overdrive as 1/2/3/4/3/2/1.

I do use the ratchet floor shifter to go from Drive to O'drive, or drop back down to Drive.
I think my TH700r4 (not a 2004r) was beefed a little stronger to handle that manual shifting.
If I am going to stop very soon, I still will wait for that stop to change the gears.

 

Trannys work on pressure. The gear selector isn't a shifter as such, it's a limiter. So if you put it in 3, it'll stop at 3 and not engage 4, the pressure gets bypassed.

When in OD, it starts in 1, builds pressure with speed until pressure activates the clutch pack and 2 engages, then D, then OD. The governer sets the speed and pressure limits, so the harder you step on the gas, the higher the speed before shift. It's why the kickdown cable must be set right or you over-pressure the tranny before it shifts, and start burning up clutches.

 

I run the 2004RD trans also and if you have a few extra bucks you can install a B&M shift for it as I have . You can shut the OD off/on and adjust it to come in from around thirty five to 90 mph.. I absolutely love mine and wouldn't have it any other way. They have really increased in price but you may be able to shop it somewhere else. Here's Amazons :b&m 70244 torque converter lockup kit

 

Uh, umm, well . . . not in all cases. Putting it into OD all the time somewhat depends on your rear differential ratio. With my 2.73 gears in the back, my 4L60E rebuilder recommended that I put it into a manually selected D3 for around town, 45-50 MPH use. This prevents lugging my engine down to 1100 RPM all the time because the PCM wants to get the trans into OD quickly to save gas. In a manual D3, I still depart a stop sign in first gear, it shifts to second at a reasonable speed and RPM and then it proceeds to D3 at an optimal RPM and speed without burdening the engine down to 1100 RPM. This, in my rebuilder technician's mind, also keeps the strain lower on the 3-4 clutch pack friction disks - a well known weakness in the 4L60E. He also quickly mumbled something about higher apply pressure being applied to the forward sprag in D3 that I still don't completely understand. I'm a simple man when it comes to automatic transmissions and a good bit of that conversation might as well have been in the Martian language as far as my brain was concerned. I only go to D4 OD on a road that requires a 55 MPH speed or higher. At 70 MPH, with those 2.73 diff gears and in D4 OD, I'm at 1800 RPM and sipping fuel at the 21 to 23 MPG rate like many modern vehicles. I can't smoke a tire (even if I wanted to) but I love those MPG numbers. Rick

Put it in drive in town and overdrive at 55 mph. Change the fluid and filter at 25000 miles. Easy to do. Keep it cool too

 

Thats why i love the B&M torque converter controller .

 

Just drive normal but don’t tow in OD

 

To use the TH200-4R transmission, it's best to keep it in overdrive (OD) most of the time. Overdrive helps save gas by lowering the engine's RPM when you're driving at You can drive in overdrive both in the city and on the highway. The transmission will shift through the gears as needed. However, if you're towing something heavy or driving in very hilly areas, you might want to use the regular drive (D) mode to give the engine more power. Overall, overdrive is good for everyday driving and saving fuel.