OK folks, I'm looking for a sanity check on what's potential cost for trans rebuilt. Got a 99', w/ 4.6L, 4WD, 147K miles and the trans is starting to act up. Took it to my local garage guy (not the stealer...) who's got lots of Ford experience. When you drive it w/ care, everything works normal, but when you have to get on the gas while moving and the trans does it's downshift, there's a lag between when the eng revs up and the trans does it's downshift followed by a nice 'clunk' where the trans finally engages the lower gear. From a dead stop, this issue is not there, only when you are 'moving'. My guy says it's clearly an internal trans issue (could be torque converter, clutches,...ect)and w/ 147K, the trans is probably geting to the point of needing rebuilt. He doesn't do rebuilts, but estimates that it'll probably cost me ~~$2500. My wife normally drives the Exp and has a lead foot which would lead me to agree with some premature wear issues.. :-( . Does $2500 sound like a typical cost for a rebuilt or rebuilding a trans? Another alternative would be to seach some junk yards, but I'm guessing that they'll be around $1500, no? I had a trans service maybe 10K miles ago, so it's not due to service neglect. Looking for other things to look for???

 

You're low speed clutch sounds gone, just like the other guy with trans issue. It'll spin freely, then catch quickly?

 

I had mine rebuilt 1.5 years ago for around $1400-$1500 with new torque converter. At the time, a local Ford dealership was selling a brand new tranny/torque converter combo for about $1700. If I had it to do all over again, I'd opt for the brand new tranny then pay a couple hundred to have it installed just because I had to take mine back to the tranny place five or six times for them to get things right.

 

Yeah, it sucks. When rebuilding, if the difference is marginal, say 20% or so, I always go with the better.

 

A new 4r100 tranny+torque convertor is going to cost shy of 2300$ plus shipping from what i see around. I see some "rebuilt" ones for around a grand including shipping..

 

Thanks for doing a quick search "heymrjd". If you include labor on that, it's right around the same price (~3000 +/-) from 2 other shops, so I guess it's on to plan B- take advantage of the $4K incentives that Ford has right now on new 2008 Expeditions!!

 

Very very smart plan

 

OK, here's the update if anyone cared. I took it into a transmission only shop and had the issue/problem diagnosed. It's the forward clutches, they're gone. Only solution is a new/rebuilt tranny which is anywhere btwn 2675 and 3300 installed/fuilds... depending on warranty and location. By the way, if you all are looking for a great transmission shop in the Baltimore area, check out Jim Jennings Transmissions in Essex, MD. These guys really know their stuff. Their lead tech (JC) not only was able to diagnose the issue, but clearly explain it to me. He must be married to a transmission, that'll be the only way someone can know these things as well as he articulated.

We'll, on to an 08'......