Stuck in tow mode

Tiny
NORTHERN
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  • 2003 FORD
  • 70,000 MILES
F350.6.0. Was stuck in tow mode. Light on end of shifter flashing. Drove it and after shutting it off it would not restart. Scaned it and says bad neutral safety switch.I ordered it. My question is. Is the fact it was stuck in tow mode relalated orunrelated to the bad switch?
Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 7:59 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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If it doesn't know what gear it's actually shifted into then I would think that it's possible.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
NORTHERN
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So in your opinion when I replace the bad neutral safety switch that besides for not starting it will come out of tow mode?
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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As long as don't have more then one problem. How long have you had this won't come out of tow mode?
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Hopefully your code reader was able to read all the codes you have. Sometimes a professional scan tool is needed to get all the codes.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
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It happened this past Saturday. Was driving it and noticed it was in tow mode. Kept it under 50. When arriving at my destination I shut it off. Returned to truck 4 hours later and would not start.I have a towing policy so had it flatbedded back to my shop ( overhead door biz ) friend stopped by and scanned it few days later.I am hoping its related to the switch but have read where it may be a solenoid in tranny.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 9:03 PM
Tiny
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Well exactly my concern is it more then one problem? The truck wont start and is stuck in tow mode . But again it all happened the same day.I'm hoping its related
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Did he just have a basic diyer code reader?
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
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Not sure. He is not a mechanic. He borrowed it from a friend who works at an autozone. And that person diagnosed the code.I guess I will start with the neutral safety switch when it comes in and see what happens.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 9:19 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Yeah it sounds like a diyer scan tool do you know the exact code numbers not code descriptions it set?I have a program I can put them in will usually tell how many cases and different parts fixed it. Also what they found and usually other symptoms it had from the bad parts. Problem is these days you really need a professional scan tool that can read all the computers and data. Plus do special tests coding etc to properly diagnose Alot of the problems. Even on not so new cars and trucks I didn't want to but I had to finally break Down and get a really nice one. It took way longer to diagnose things and had to turn away some jobs So I ended up getting a really nice used one on eBay.I really lucked out because I have had it almost a year and the one year software update it had on it when I got it still works. So it's still fully updated I can do 2016 cars and trucks. But on the diyer side unless you got the deal I got then it would be not really practical to get. New it's 2600 I got mine for a small fraction of that price. Even AC problems it's needed sometimes. For the diagnoses and repairs.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 9:58 PM

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