I always do my own work on all my rigs. I just like to know it's been done right. I just threw the 08 alum diff cover on this weekend and the transfer case oil change this week. Problem I'm having is deciding on the tranny flush. It will cost me ~$100 for the Mercon SP then all my time and a questionable method of DIY flushing. I say questionable because I don't like the idea of running the trans low on fluid then stopping, adding etc.
The "Quick Lube" at my local Ford dealer said they'll do a trans flush using Mercon SP for $129 while I wait. I'd rather get it flushed with the machine for a complete fluid change and for $129 I don't think you can beat it. I'm wondering if I'm missing something though.... I don't want to wind up out here asking about replacing a tranny next week.
Somebody either talk me out of it or give me the warm and fuzzy that I'm not asking for trouble.

 

I wouldn't do it for $29 labor if you drove to my house... :-)

Me, I'd pay the extra $29....

 

Agreed. Thats a good deal. If I didnt have access to a flush machine at my work I would have paid someone to do it. Im not much in favor of flushing it like alot of guys on here do. Just be absolute SURE that the minimum wage guy at the quick lube puts SP in it.

 

Definitely have the dealer do it.IMO, it's not anywhere near worth the trouble to DIY. For a few more bucks I'd have them change the external filter element as well.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm just worried about all the tranny flush horror stories. I've had dozens of cars and trucks and never got one. I always just changed the fluid and filter w/o worrying about what's left in the converter. I plow with my truck and with it holding 19 quarts or so of fluid, I figured a flush might be a good idea after three winters of plowing. I'll change the filter as soon as I get back home. I can picture them cross threading it... I know, paranoia... It's served me well this long though.

 

If you dont have an impact good luck getting it off.

 

Biggest prob with DIY is keeping the fluid hot while trying to change it. Don't forget, there's no plug in the converter in the 5R110W !

 

Getting what off? The filter housing cover? Not a big deal. I've done it a couple of times. You hit that with an impact? I'd be afraid of cracking it. I remember it being a pain though...
If there was a plug in the converter, I'd think harder about doing it myself because I would just do a drain and fill.

 

I've had mine done at the dealer and it was well worth it. To easy for them to do.

 

$129 is a great deal! Get a cup of coffee and a magazine and wait while they get that stinky pink junk all over themselves.

 

$129? That sounds way too low. I called the local Ford Fast Lane service and the guy said "it's around $100 or so". So I went there with my truck and after pulling into their shop the guy said "oh its one of those, we cant do that here, you have to make an appointment with the service dept next door". The cost now went to $250. Included trans oil change, new filter, and t/c oil change. Maybe the guy at the Fast Lane didnt know what he was talking about, I dont know. A rip-off, but at least they have a machine that gets all the old fluid out.

 

Hmmm.... I was wondering about that. So is the Fast Lane / Quick lube separate from the dealer service?

 

That price is not unheard of at the Ford shop. Some of us have got a similar price, although for me it did not include the filter. You can spin that on yourself afterward, if you want. I would do it every other flush.

I do not believe anyone can do the torqshift properly at home in the driveway.

 

Here it is part of the same dealer but a different dept - they are right next door to each other.

 

I've read the horror stories too. There's a thread that has a detailed how-to for the 4R100 (including the TC, the 03 doesn't have a plug either). Don't know if there is one for the 5R110 or not. I chose to do it myself. It got a little messy, but I know everything was flushed, filled and torqued right. I've got some miles (170K now) and I've heard that if you haven't been having it flushed with pressure then you shouldn't start. All I did was swap out the fluid and put some fresh Mobil 1 Mercon in there. It took me longer to do it than a dealer, but I still saved in the end (compared to what my dealer would have charged), even with the synthetic ATF. Plus I installed a new valve body from Factory Tech while I was under there.