i like having the easiest route to check my truck and its lifeline (parts, fluids, etc).
But after seeing people who actually want to work on their own cars and trucks, to save money, I can see why ford is removing the part on the lighter duty truck. Im sure Ford is saving money on not having to spend time for someone/machine to add the dipstick and tube (plus the cost of the part) but i seriously think this is Ford's part to idiot proof the truck from their owners. Now im not meaning that to Crazy001 or anyone on here but im sure everyone can think of at least one person im talking about.
I know it can be considered a joke posted on here but i personally know a guy that added motor oil into the transmission dipstick tube cause he thought his truck was low on fluid. If you make it difficult then maybe that wont happen. i dont know.
NOW, I do not like the fact their making the trucks gauges inaccurate (just a idiot light as mentioned) and now proper maintence steps are more difficult. But i came into the realization that this type of stuff would eventually happen when they have to put "Warning Hot Beverage" on the side of cups (yes to stop layers but also for morons too.lol).
__________________ 2000 Ford F-250 Crewcab Shortbed 4X4 5.4, 4.10 gears
stock height (for NOW), T3 grille guard with hella lights, cherrybomb extreme muffler, cb and satellite radios, many minor mods with more be putting on everyday.
I predict in a few years we won't be able to open the hood! Dealerships will be the only ones with the key or a computer program. Of course we'll have to pay to have them check the oil, coolant, etc.
That's what the EPA wants, actually. Total, 100% inability to change anything under the hood (or anywhere else) that might, POSSIBLY, maybe, effect emissions.
In a somewhat less conspiracy-theory-minded note, BMW figured out a LOOOONG time ago that it was cheaper to pay for all scheduled maintenance than it was to fix maintenance (or lack thereof) induced problems under warranty. Ford may be trying to go down that road, as well.
1. Sounds like your dad never used the dipstick anyway if he let the dodge get to the point where it was stalling....
2. Its not a matter of ford not valuing customers....its a matter of vehicles progressing and owners refusing to. The tranny doesn't need to be touched for 100,000 miles..... its the same thing as sealed wheel bearings.....sure we can't repack them and check their condition...but do we really want to go back that route?
You're right, he didn't! He just wondered one day why it was stalling, which led me to look at the tranny fluid.
As for 2, you're completely correct that you don't have to check and repack sealed wheel bearings. The same can be said for differentials! BUT...
Neither a differential or a sealed wheel bearing comprise the most complex mechanical device within the motor vehicle. Nor do they have complex cooling system that pumps it's lifeblood throughout various devices scattered throughout the front half of the vehicle. Such cooling devices that can leak externally or internally, causing fluid to drip outside the vehicle or worse mix with the engine cooling system.
In which case the home mechanic would find it difficult to find the source of the mystery coolant considering how he'd have to climb under the vehicle while it's at operating temperature to have any indication of the tranny fluid's condition and level.
Seriously, I wanted to check because I pushed my dad's truck pretty hard last weekend, towing nearly 10,000 lbs up hills in rural Ohio. The "gauge" never showed above normal, but I wanted to see for myself that the fluid looked fresh, rather than burnt.
Berry1234, thanks for the instructions! As it recommends, I don't think I'll be checking the level unless I suspect something foul is going on. It's nice to know how, though!
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Tom,
Current truck - 2008 F250 CC 4x4 PSD
Previous Fords:
2007 F150 Screw 4x4
2003 F150 4x4 r/c auto
i work at a ford dealership and these new vehicles f150 expedition what not are non serviceable they can be serviced obviously when there is a problem. so far we have had no problems wit them. but we do have a special service tool basicly a big hollow candy cane that we use for filling these trucks once the fluid starts pouring out of the filler hole while the vehicle is idling hot in park ur good to go ut we do take the veicle for a drive run it through all the gears and re check the level. its not that hard to check the fluid urself. but unless u see evidence of leaks u have nothing too woorry about .
To all of you who are defending Ford and the other manufactures on this dipstick issue: It is steps such as this that is causing me to NOT want to purchase a new vehicle of any kind. I have always done my own maintenance and always will. The fact that Ford is making it more difficult for me to do so will eventually lead me to go looking for an older truck or 2 and keep them on the road thru the aftermarket suppliers. Ryan, it's not that hard to pack your own wheel bearings every time you do a brake job. The old set up lasted longer and was more inexpensive for the consumer in the long run than the junk that is shoved down our throats now. And the old set up never caused the death wobble that 99 and newer super duty owners get on their 4x4's. It does far more harm to the environment to keep throwing away stuff like wheel bearings than it does to service them when required. This planned obsolesence that the manufactureres are using is what has contributed to their demise. Nobody can afford to replace with new every few years like they could 30 years ago when there were good paying jobs for the masses. If you doubt me, then why has the average age of motor vehicles been steadily increasing over the last 15 years?
And these are probably the same people who complained about a 6 speeds in a transmission when 3 were totally sufficient. That is just more hardware to go wrong.
My 01 had 180k miles on it when I traded it on a 2010. Lots of towing a bass boat and one transmission fluid change (did the transfer case at the same time) at 150k or so. Original spark plugs as well!
Allison has gone to sealed units on many of their transmissions. It is only time. Differential have been sealed for a while.
I happen to think 6 speeds are great. But I like to keep an eye on things before there is a problem. There is no excuse for not being able to check the fluid in my automatic transmission in my driveway without going under the truck. Just like I'd like to have manual windows in my XLT. I am a believer in the Henry Ford philosophy. Keep it simple. It does not have to be complex to be effective. A good example is in Afghanistan. Our troops are having more problems with their M-4 rifles than the Taliban is having with their old AK-47's. It seems the M-4 is having the same problems that we had with the old M-16's in Nam.
To everyone saying that they are glad there is no dipstick/ bearings to pack, etc. I have to ask, do you do your own maintenance or does someone do it for you? No disrespect to anyone but if you don't actually do your own work then you really should not blast people who do. (blast may not be the right word buy you know what I mean). Just because it is printed in a manual or is told to you does not make it true. Just because something is sealed and supposed to last 100k miles does not make it so in the real word. Yea cars and trunks are made very well today, but for a guy who is doing a lot of towing, they can wear the trans fluid out, the additives only last so long. Now someone who buys the truck just to drive on the weekends or for pleasure then yes the fluid will more then likely make the 100k change interval, but people also need to realize that at 100k the warranty will be up, so when you do go for the change and something is wrong then guess what you are the one footing the bill! Yes sealed bearing and stuff like that are nice, but like a previous poster said repacking old ones is really not that hard. As for those saying just because the trans is sealed you don't have to worry about it then you are really just like the person sticking his head in the sand and thinking just because he cant see the bomb coming then it won't affect him at all. On a final note if its so great to have everything sealed, then why didn't they seal the cooling system, PS, etc? I have had to add transmission fluid more then I have ever had to add antifreeze or PS fluid. Yes they are more then likely trying to idiot proof the stuff, but thats no excuse to make it hard for the rest of us.
What do you call maintenance? Yes, I do oil changes, brakes, trans fluid, plugs, bearings, etc. Ball joints are not worth my time and u-joints are rusted in so bad it isn't worth the time.
Technology changes which makes maintence requirements obsolete. Tubes are gone from radios. When was the last time a light bulb burned out on a vehicle, belt failed, hoses failed. Technology improves and you can for practical terms reduce if not eliminate general maint.
Years ago you replaced plugs and points on a very frequent basis, today? Points are gone and ugs last for years.
180k on the last truck and it had original rotors, exhaust, belts, hoses, coolant, plugs, diff fluid, bulbs, etc. Replaced were brake pads, u-joints, tires, ball joints. Used this site for information to correct the black out odometer and door lock actuators.
To everyone saying that they are glad there is no dipstick/ bearings to pack, etc. I have to ask, do you do your own maintenance or does someone do it for you? No disrespect to anyone but if you don't actually do your own work then you really should not blast people who do. (blast may not be the right word buy you know what I mean). Just because it is printed in a manual or is told to you does not make it true. Just because something is sealed and supposed to last 100k miles does not make it so in the real word. Yea cars and trunks are made very well today, but for a guy who is doing a lot of towing, they can wear the trans fluid out, the additives only last so long. Now someone who buys the truck just to drive on the weekends or for pleasure then yes the fluid will more then likely make the 100k change interval, but people also need to realize that at 100k the warranty will be up, so when you do go for the change and something is wrong then guess what you are the one footing the bill! Yes sealed bearing and stuff like that are nice, but like a previous poster said repacking old ones is really not that hard. As for those saying just because the trans is sealed you don't have to worry about it then you are really just like the person sticking his head in the sand and thinking just because he cant see the bomb coming then it won't affect him at all. On a final note if its so great to have everything sealed, then why didn't they seal the cooling system, PS, etc? I have had to add transmission fluid more then I have ever had to add antifreeze or PS fluid. Yes they are more then likely trying to idiot proof the stuff, but thats no excuse to make it hard for the rest of us.
Thanks for asking.
YES, I do all my own maintenance as required by the manufacturer/manual.
YES, I am glad the transmission is now better and does not need the dipstick to be checked.
I'm just curious what actually changed in the tranny that it doesnt need to be checked? Maybe I am confused but I dont think this really has anything to do with technology advancement and more to do with ford not wanting consumers to have anything to do with maintenence any more. Yes, some things do improve with technology, but car manufacturers do make things harder for us over time, thats a fact.
Its great if they make the transmission better such that it needs less frequent maintenence. That has nothing to do with eliminating and easy to get to dipstick. What would happen if it starts to leak 5 or 10 years down the road??? is it some kind of scientific impossibility that the fluid level would ever go down lol? Some folks apparently dont give a crap and trade in and get brand new vehicles every couple years and dont deal with maintenence. Those are the folks the auto makers really like. Me, I like the KISS principle and do as much work as I can myself. Big reason I went to the SD so I could still get the manual transmission, manual transfer case, manual lock-out hubs, solid axles.
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09 F-350 V10 4x4 6spd CC/8' ordered 5/26/09 delivered 7/6/09
99 F-150 4x4 Reg/Short bed
78 Big Bronco 4x4 (a work in progress)
84 Tbird (351W project still in dry dock)
I remember this argument on the Mustang forum back in '05 when I bought mine. This was also the year the Mustangs went to the 5R55S transmission without the dipstick.
I think the consensus was that there was less of a risk of a mistake leading to an expensive warranty claim. Ever read the occasional post in the SD forums about someone doing a transmission service on their 5R110 and shortly afterward it starts shifting funny? Almost always the root cause is the ignorant "mechanic" putting the wrong fluid in. As most of us know, Mercon SP is NOT compatible with Mercon V! This has cost many a do-it-yourself-er lots of money.
I just hate it when they dumb things down to the lowest level! I seem to fit both of 78BB's categories, here. I buy new vehicles constantly, but I always do my own work on them! I do NOT like paying for labor! This lack of dipstick trend is threatening to make it harder for me to maintain my own vehicles!
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Tom,
Current truck - 2008 F250 CC 4x4 PSD
Previous Fords:
2007 F150 Screw 4x4
2003 F150 4x4 r/c auto
I suspect the above poster is right about eliminating issues with fluid... even some Mercon V mixed into Mercon SP to bring the level up could cause problems. If you aren't scared to change fluids, why is this a big deal? There is a dipstick - yeah, it's not quite as convenient - but it takes a wrench. I could do this in the driveway in 10 minutes. Seriously... it's not like they sealed the hood and told you to go to the dealership for every bit of maintenance.
The tranny is a sealed system, unless it is leaking, no worries as rustee pointed out.
Crazy001- for being such a stickler for maintenance, why would you tow such a heavy load with only 500 miles on the clock when the manual recommends not towing for the first 1000 miles?
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