This is my first post to the site, but I have already gotten huge benefits from others postings - THX !

Anyway, I have a 2003 EXPY 5.4L EB, with upgraded towing package, that I purchased new from dealer. I have had it for 2.5 years and I am just out of my warranty with 37,106 miles. Last Saturday night while driving it the transmission begain to slip and after parking it and retrying the gears I came to find out I had no reverse.

The dealership I purchased it from said the following:
1.) Transmission faults showing up on diagnostics tests.
2.) After dropping the pan there was no metal shavings, which they said is good news.
3.) They are not sure what the problem is, but they need to rebuild the transmission which will be $2600.

My questions are:
1.) Do the symptoms reported indicate rebuilding the transmission is necessary?
2.) What are some of the likely causes for this, as I am continuing to probe the service department about the cause of the problem?
3.) Are the transmission upgrades something that the service dept can easliy show me, just to verify they exist?
4.) Is $2600 a reasonable price for this effort?
5.) Being just out of my warranty, what expectations should I have as far as what Ford should/will cover? Any advise on how to proceed with getting re-imbursed for this?

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance with my "newbie" questions.

 

I think you are not responsible for the charges as you are still within the powertrain warranty period of 6/60,000.

 

there is no such thing as a 6/60 powertrain warranty. it is only 3/36 bumper to bumper.

 

Thanks for the clarification ford390gashog, I was pretty sure and even double-checked I was not covered under any other warranty.

 

well if there is no metal shavings in the pan i would have to say. the problem is in the valve body. not sure why they want a full rebuild. the valve body has electric actuators in them that do get stuck. it could even be the trans computer which controls it has gone bad.

 

Just got some more details on the actual problem from the dealers service department, they are saying the problem is due to a "sling gear that broke" and they can't be certain that it is caused by a part failure or something else. Would that require a full rebuild? I have also gotten the dealer/Ford to cover all but $1000 (which I am still working to get lower) of the repairs. I am still curious if they problem they are quoting would really require $2600 worth of work, and I am not just being charged the full amount ($1000) of the work - not trying to be negative, just get educated.

 

never heard of a sling gear. maybe its the sun gear. but a tranny rebuild does go for about 2500-3000.00 . seems like you have found a very good dealer.

 

this is the sun gear http://www.askbw.com/parts/TS-Pictures/34500-z.jpg