2000 Protege: Blinking "OD Off" light
 

I have a 2000 Protege LX automatic with just under 40,000 miles. Today, I noticed that the orange "OD Off" idiot light on the dash started blinking steadily after I shut off the cruise control (at around 65 mph). Not sure if it started blinking immediately after the cruise was shut off, but that's around the time that I noticed it. I did not touch the OD button on the shifter and the car was operating as normal in 4th gear when the light was flashing. The check engine light was not on, so I'm not sure what to investigate. Upon arriving at my destination, I turned the car off and then on again. The light was no longer blinking.

I bought the car new and it has had no mechanical problems. This is the first time anything like this has happened. Is this a common thing? What should I have checked out?

Thanks for any suggestions.

if it's not on anymore, it might have been a fluke experience. i wouldn't worry about it too much. check your tranny fluid to make sure it doesn't smell burnt and that there is enough of it in there. the tranny fluid is probably the second most overlooked critical fluid in automobiles (first being coolant). also note how the car shifts now. if it misshifts or overrevs before shifting, your tc might be going south for winter.

if you haven't changed your atf, now is a good time to do a complete system flush. if you got it changed at 30K, make sure the correct atf was used. good luck.

I had the same problem on auto tranny, Autozone pulled codes and it was my tranny speed sensor that has done bad.

if its under waranty, get the stealership to look at it. You will pulle your hair out later when waranty is up and you get the same problem. FREE is FREE. :) Soak them now for waranty as they WILL soak you later when out of waranty. :(