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Have a 1999 expy bought new off the lot. Only has 37000 miles on it. Had transmission fliud replaced and serviced last July. This past Sat. started hearing a whining noise, the began losing power. Just pulled into mechanics lot and lost reverse. Have can a tranny that have been properly maintained go out at only 37000 miles. This is our second Ford and doubt we will buy again. Had a lemon 3/4 ton pickup diesel that blew a tranny at only 8000 miles! Any ideas?
Thank you
What do you use your expy for and what kind of roads do you drive on? How often do you check your tranny fluid? I try to check my tranny fluid everytime I change motor oil. Then I replace my tranny oil every year. Who replaced your tranny fluids and how many miles ago was that. I could see something going wrong at the factory and chucking a tranny at 8000 miles but 37,000 miles makes me wonder if your tranny fluid was changed right? Fords usually have good tranny's. I currently have a Bronco with 330,000 miles and the original tranny. Otherwise you have really bad luck, let us know what the mechanic tells you.
I use this car to commute about 35 miles a day on the highway. When we started hearing the noise we pulled over and my husband check tranny fluid and it was not hot, pink and at the proper levels. The mechanic we took it to was the same one that did the service on the tranny last July withn 32000 miles on it. Have not heard from mechanic yet. We are hoping it is just some kind of sensor or something instead of a complete new tranny. He has already quoted us a price of 3700.00 for a rebuilt ford tranny. Driving us nuts with the problems we have had with Fords the last 8 years!
Just heard from mechanic---blown tranny! How can this be on a perfectly maintained vechicle with only 37000 miles on it! Can we get any help from Ford? How about the lemon law in California? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Had an extended warranty for 6/60000. Ran out last March!
I agree with pronstar, something is not right. My location would charge me $1300 to $1900 depending on the damage. You might want to get a second opinion but that will cost you an additional towing fee.
Yeah, $3700 for a rebuilt is really high.
And don't think that this is just a Ford problem, all manufacturers have their problems. I would take a Ford tranny over a Dodge any day.
It does seem odd that the same shop that did your maintenance is now quoting you a very high price for a replacement on a supposedly blown transmission. They didn't mention any problems only 5000 miles ago, and now it's blown? Definately get a second opinion!
Not to suggest any misdoing on your part, but there are some driving habits that would destroy a perfectly maintained transmission. I know of a person who drove her minivan with the parking brake on for about 7000 miles, she claimed she never knew it even had a parking brake. One new transmission and new brakes, coming up!
As far as the lemon law or any help from Ford, if your warranty has expired there isn't a whole lot you can do. Ford would be happy to sell you a rebuilt or new tranny and install it, but I doubt they will even entertain replacing it under warranty.
On hold right now with Ford customer service. They admit this is not right! Bit of history. Had a 1995 3/4 pickup with power strock deisel engine.
Tranny and torque converter blew out at 8000 miles! Ford knew of the defect! Replaced under warranty. After that had one problem after another! Oil sending unit blew out, etc.----Traded in in 1997. Leased an expy for two years. Had two years of nothing but recalls. I don't know why we then purchased this 1999 after the 1997 lease was up. Liked the vechicle and was hoping that Ford had worked the kinks out. I know believe this vechicle has had mutiple recalls which we have gotten fixed. This car has been perfectly maintained! Oil changes on time etc. Very frustrated!
For a 99...I'd do an internet search for wrecking yards. Find a good donor, pay someone to pull the tranny for you, have that installed in your truck.
That's what I'd do to minimize my cash outlay. These trannies are very durable, I wouldn't think twice about it.
You can also source a replacement tranny online, have it shipped to a shop, and let them install it. For likely less than half what your mechanic is charging you.
Seems fishy...I agree with the post above...tranny works fine...they "fix" it...it breaks and now they want big money to "fix" it again...
I have heard of people using Mercon V in transmission that don't call for it. My understanding is if you use a different trans fluid your just rolling the dice. When I changed mine in my 97 the dealer tried to sell me Mercon V. He told me they were all the same. If you look up the Motorcraft web site it tells you not to mix them. My 97 calls for stright Mercon/Dexron III. I will tell you this, I do a lot of heavy towing with it and have 103000 on her now. She has not giving me any problems up to this point. But I do service her every 3000 miles.
Bottom line is this. Look at your bill and find out what transmission fluid they used when you had it serviced. Check the dipstick to see what it calls for. You might have a case.
I agree with wldcat. Check that the correct fluid was used. Mercon and mercon V are NOT interchangeable! One thing I have found with my 2000 is that mechanics generally, even the at the dealers, are not as aware of some of the EXPY issues as those of us who visit this forum. So, you always have to be alert, even with "routine" service if you don't do it yourself.