# 2004 Ford Focus - overdrive off light

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** focus, ford\
**Created:** [May 10, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116 "2019-05-10T20:18:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![melissainman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbce88/32.png) [@melissainman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melissainman)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/1 "2019-05-10T20:18:22Z")

</div>

i will be driving down the road when my over drive off light comes on my dash and my car sounds like it is looking for a higher gear sometimes it quits by its self ot her times if i push the buttom on my gear shift it stops but its becoming a hassle whats wrong?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/2 "2019-05-11T16:12:06Z")

</div>

Is your check engine light on? What you are describing sound like the transmission is shifting down to 3rd gear from overdrive randomly. There is an overdrive button (your owners manual will show you its location - usually the end of the gearshift lever) are you hitting that button accidentally? Or possibly that button is failing and triggering the overdrive off when you hit bumps. either way, I suggest that is where the problem lies.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Burger1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/burger1/32/3164_2.png) [@Burger1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Burger1)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/3 "2019-05-11T22:34:17Z")

</div>

Overdrive off button on a 2004 focus, I believe, is on the shifter handle.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/4 "2019-05-11T22:41:10Z")

</div>

> [@melissainman](#):
>
> if i push the button on my gear shift

> [@Burger1](#):
>
> Overdrive off button on a 2004 focus, I believe, is on the shifter handle.

OP knows where the button is, they want to know WHY the overdrive light keeps coming on.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Burger1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/burger1/32/3164_2.png) [@Burger1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Burger1)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/5 "2019-05-11T22:45:27Z")

</div>

I noticed after re-reading. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. I wanted to point the location out in case OP didn’t know, since a “wonky” button is suspected.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-focus-overdrive-off-light/140116/6 "2019-05-11T23:38:29Z")

</div>

Ask your shop to check for diagnostic codes and the transmission fluid level.