I have a 2000 V10 excursion. Twelve days ago I took it to my Ford dealer for the 90k service. Included was a "transmission service" which, according to the dealer,involved disconnecting the hoses to the transmission radiator (if I understand it) and hooking the transmission up to a machine which flushes it. 12 days later white smoke is pouring from behind my vehicle and when I stop and inspect, transmission fluid is leaking. Had it towed to the dealer who said that a pump seal was blown: $1200 cost to repair. I told them that I thought it strange that a transmission would fail so soon after a service when there was no history of trouble. He said there was no connection, that the transmission was not even opened, just hooked to the machine.
I am ignorant but I wonder if there is a transmission filter, and if so, if it might have been clogged by stirring up gunk during the flush, and if this could have caused enought back pressure to blow the seal. Don't even know if this is the way the transmission works. Any expert able to shed some light for me and tell me if it was just bad luck or if the dealer is responsible for this problem. Any information, thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I do plan to call Ford Customer Service tomorrow.
Another note: This transmission was installed about 50,000 miles ago by a Ford dealer in Canada. This probably was unnecessary as this one slipped (at that time, not now) like the original one until they replaced the electronic control unit for the transmission. Talk about poor diagnosis and an unneeded expense!

 

I think you dealer may have caused the problem. I have heard a lot of people complain about worse transmission performance after a transmission flush. With only 50,000 miles on your transmission the pressure from that machine should have not effected anything. The transmission does have a filter. I am suprised that they did not change it. It was probably a poor quality rebuild all together.

I think the front pump seal can be replaced for a little cheaper at a local transmission shop.

Is you transmission still under warrenty.

I would complain and complain until the work was free.

 

Thank you deshet1980, The Excursion is already in the dealership. The transmission was a remanufacture from Ford and had worked flawlessly for the 50k until the flush. It seems odd that they would not drop the pan and replace the transmission filter! Unfortunately, it is not under warranty. Hoperully we will get some satistaction from the Ford Consumer Help Line. I will post any success.

 

The power flushers are known to do this. That is why I never use it and always do it the old fashioned way (droppind pan and replacing filter as well) The flusher probably caused the lip of the seal to be dislogged and transmissions run a lot of pressure and it took a little while to completely dislodge it. You see seals sit in a closed area enclosed into the transmission housing. A seal never leaks by itself and why $1200 thats a lot of money shoule be aroung $700. They also need to check the hub on the torque converter neck (for scoring) and the bushing behind the seal for scoring as well. That could be the only reason they could charge you. That would be excessive wear or not a properly alligned transmission.
More than likely they caused it though !!!
let me know if ai can help !

 

I had the transmission flushed in my Expedition at a quick lube place. After that the performace wasn't the same. About 15K miles after the flush, I brought it to a transmission shop. They dropped the pan and said the filter was filthy. They replaced the filter and fluid and all was good. I will NEVER have another transmission of mine flushed again.

 

I agree that in most cases the flush system is bad for tranny. The only time I use the flush is when the tranny is on it's way out(have helped). But other than that I've lost 2 tranny's to flush. I prefer replacing filter and chanch oil more often.

 

They tried to sell me on that when I was having the GPR replaced under warranty, w/75k on the tranny, I had them TAKE the pan off and change the filter. I just don't buy into that flush crap, the engineers put a filter in there for a reason, AND a reusable pan gasket!! Drain it, change it, do it right.

 

I agree - The filter IS there for a reason. Change it.

Flushing a transmission is an easy way to do a somewhat messy job, but at YOUR expense. Would you consider "flushing" your engine oil out and leaving the filter, (that bypasses when plugged), behind?

The only part that should be power flushed is the cooling system - and my jury is still out on that one.