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Overdrive button and wire replacement writeup

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Posted by: scott9050

As most of you know, Ford did not design the overdrive wire on the Mark VIII’s very well. The wire would rub against the metal substructure near the shifter and saw the wire in half. I saw that there was no write up on the site on how to replace this, so I decided to add this one. This is on my 94.

1. Ford sells both the overdrive button and the overdrive wire separately. Part number for the button is F5LZ-7G550-AA and the part number for the new wire is F5LZ-7E276-AA. Both combined cost me around $50. It’s a bit pricey but the dealer is the only new source for these parts.

2. The first step is to move the shifter back into 2 or 1 and set the parking brake.
3. Next, remove the trim from around the climate control unit. It just snaps out, so you can use your fingers or a small screwdriver.

4. Now remove the 2 screws that are holding the shifter panel trim to the console. Just move this trim to the side, you do not have to disconnect anything.

5. Underneath the 2 screws you just removed are 2 more screws that hold to console on at the front. Remove these.
6. Pull up the rubber mat in the storage bin. You will find 2 more screws that need to be removed.

7. Take a small flathead screwdriver and pry out the retaining clip on the back of the
shifter handle. Pull up on the shifter and it will come off the shaft. Don’t worry if
your shifter button comes out, the spring and button are retained when you
reinstall the handle later on. Just depress the button fully while working the
shifter back onto the stalk.

8. Unbolt the shifter plate, there are 2 small screws at the back and one at the front.
You need to do this so that you can properly route the wire under the console.

If yours is as bad as mine it should look something like this:

9. Slide the console back about 4 inches. You can now remove the other end of
the broken overdrive wire. It has a retaining clip and a small notch that needs to
be depressed to release it.

10. Now you can remove the old overdrive button and wire. Take a small flathead screwdriver and pry the button out. Make sure you are prying on the outside plastic and not the inside part of the button, especially if you are reusing the button. The button should pop out as a complete assembly. Now all you have to do is pull the wire down and the wire and plastic end assembly will slide right out. This is what you will have left:

11. Take the new wire assembly and slide it up into the groove in the shifter handle.
Make sure that the side with the electrode (white plastic piece) is facing the wall
of the shifter. Next, push the overdrive button in fully. When you are through, it
should look like this:

12. Route the wire through the shifter panel hold where the shifter shaft fits through
and pull it back and connect it. The rest of the install is the reverse of
disassembly.

Congratulations, you should now have this site on your dash:

Posted by: Dern Humpus

did it get stuck in OD of in OD off when the wire broke?

Posted by: scott9050

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dern Humpus

did it get stuck in OD of in OD off when the wire broke?

By default you can not turn off OD when the wire breaks.

Posted by: 1wykdmk8

Should have said something to me, I could have told you how to rewire it so you did not have to buy a new wire. I have mine wired to the T/C button. Everytime I hit the T/C button the O/D is off as well.

Of course, only if you wanted it to be that way. I turn the O/D off as well as the T/C at the same time, so it worked for me.

Nice write up.

Posted by: scott9050

I actually had it wired up like you did, but was having problems for some reason with it blowing out the fuse from time to time.

Posted by: JMiles_T

Nice writeup, and great pics. I think this should definately be put in the tech article section.

When I did mine, I just took my existing one out and soldered the leads back together.

Whichever you choose to do, I recommend wrapping a layer or two of tape around the wire when before re-installing it. It'll make sure the wire doesn't get worn down for a long time.

Posted by: scott9050

I tried to solder mine originally and because of the location of the break it did not work. Then my OD button got stuck so I decided to just replace both. The new wire is the upgraded version from later Marks with the news style wire cover.

Posted by: newguy

so my OD should work all the time,but I cannot turn it off if the wire is broken
is this correct,cause I have no OD now

Posted by: 93' Blue on blue

Correct. The green O/D light stays on. Just had this problem with mine - replaced the wires and fitted some conduit over them.

Posted by: mespock

Dang that was Scott9050's post.. cool..

Posted by: newguy

I was hoping my OD did not work because the wire mite be cut,and I could just fix the wire and my OD would work again,so I guess its trans replacement time

Posted by: 93' Blue on blue

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93' Blue on blue

Correct. The green O/D light stays on. Just had this problem with mine - replaced the wires and fitted some conduit over them.

I guess what i meant to say is the green light stays off. I think! Lol. Mine is playing up again - can't turn OD off - its not the wire this time - think i have disturbed a connection or the switch itself when doing the repair. Guess i'll have it back apart... Such fun...