Taking the '03 5.4L 4x4 Expy in for 30K service. What should I expect to pay?

 

Prices vary from dealer to dealer. It pays to shop around.

 

or do it your self the average price here is 475.00 at the dealer its a rip if you ask me you get a oil change tranny fluid change and some other junk.

 

You can easily do it yourslef for much cheaper. Have some ramps and some jack stands ready. It may still cost $100.

 

My dealership tried to sell me a jacked-up 30k mile service that included several things NOT recommended at the 30k interval by Ford. Be sure you ask for only the items recommended in your service manual.

 

Be sure you ask for only the items recommended in your service manual.

I just wanted to reiterate that. Many 30K services at dealerships are terribly inflated in price and what really needs to be serviced. At 30K it's an oil change and tranny fluid swap. Everything else is just an inspection...unless you actually rotate your tires.

 

and be careful most sdealers won't even cahnge the tranny filter they only flush the system thats why they use tricky language like transmission fluid change instead of transmission service it takes 13 qts to do the tranny you could do both for under a 100.00 and would take you 2 hrs max.

 

According to the scheduled maintenance guide I received with my 04, this is the suggested 30k service:

. Change engine oil and replace oil filter.
. Inspect tires for wear and rotate.
. Inspect brake pads/shoes/rotors/drums, brake
lines & hoses, and parking brake system.
. Inspect wheel ends for endplay and noise.
. Inspect engine cooling system and hoses.
. Inspect exhaust system and heat shields.
. Inspect steering linkage, ball joints, suspension
and, if equipped, halfshafts, driveshaft and
u-joints.
. Replace engine air filter.
. Replace fuel filter (except natural gas) (see page
46).
. Replace cabin air filter, if equipped.
. Change automatic transmission fluid on all
vehicles equipped with 4R100. Inspect
automatic transmission/transaxle fluid level on
all other vehicles, if equipped with
dipstick. Consult your dealer for your particular
requirements.
. Replace climate-controlled seat filters (Navigator,
Expedition, and Aviator) if equipped.
. Lubricate 4X2 ball joints and steering linkage if
equipped with zerk fittings.
. Inspect and lubricate 4X4 front axle shaft u-joints
(F250/350/450/550 and Excursion).
. Inspect fuel tanks (natural gas and propane
only).
. Multi-point inspection (recommended)

Looks like the main things you want to do are:

oil + filter change
air filter change
fuel filter change
tranny fluid change (not sure why it mentions 4R100 and not 4R70W) - it doesn't mention the tranny filter. (?)

Other things like tire rotation and the items in a multi-point inspection are extras, IMHO.

 

Well i finally got a little time and warm weather to change the tranny fluid. I couldnt figure out which line to disconnect at the Transmission, as stated in the tech article. Both my lines are connected to the tranny in a vertical fashion.

The article calls for "Disconnect the transmission-fluid return line at the transmission - from where the ATF returns to the transmission from the cooler. This is the line towards the rear of the transmission. Clamp the clear tubing over the line that you removed from the transmission. This is where the fluid comes out. "

Does the fluid return to the tranny from the radiator? or does it return from the external cooler mounted in front of the radiator?-this would help.

Thanks in advance for any help. Trying to get the truck ready for a trip to Disney

Digger