Ok, with 101,250 or so on the clicker, on the way to the Airport! The tranny in her Ex takes a crap.... 2 questions, Ford had replaced 2 flywheels under warranty, 1st replacement cracked after 3000 miles, I was worried about tranny then, then with new replacement, #2, maybe about 2000 miles ago now the tranny is dead. Do I fight Ford and try to get somewhere, anyone had any luck with Ford? Or do I get a new ATS or other kind and go from there...
So what are opinions on replacements?! I have no mods, and basically want a nice strong replacement, nothing fancy.
2002 7.3 4x4 Ex
Thanks

Joe

 

Lets say you fight and spend time with them and finally win. Are you going to get something better or more of what you already have? Do you want that aggravation?

ATS is a joke warranty wise. They want to charge aftermarket prices for OEM transmission warranties.

Get a BTS and you won't ever have to pay for a fix. Or you can try BTS and there is also BTS or if you are wanting something different, how about BTS? He practically dares you to break it and tells you it is the last trans you will pay for in that truck.

www. brianstruckshop.com $4100 plus freight to your door or $4100 installed if you go there. 1-870-422-3673

 

Joe, Andrew (aklim) is spot on about ATS. And he gives good advice by recommending a BTS tranny. But since you're on this side of the coast, in my opinion, you have only one true option, and that's John Wood at John Wood automotive.

Where are you located, Oakhurst? If you are on the southern end of Yosemite, you're not too far from John, who is located in Holtville, CA.

I live on the Monterey Peninsula, the Central Coast of California, and when my tranny developed a bad hiccup, I called JW and picked his brain about how he builds his transmissions. Then I drove the 9+ hours down to JW and had him install one of his hand built, custom machined 4R100's.

I didn't get one of the monster transmissions he custom builds for the desert racing teams down in his area. A transmission able to withstand monster torque, while at the same time perform in, and handle, 120+ degree heat, while racing in the desert.

Nah, I opted for a bullet proof tranny and billet converter that will handle towing 10K+ lb trailers, while also enhancing all the performance, "go-faster" mods I have on the Excursion, and plan on bolting on, in the near future.

I basically got his entry level 4R100.

Give JW a call. Leave him a message, and when he calls you back, pick his brain. Ask him questions. Tell him what you want. He can do it in his sleep!

Stewart

 

ATS Automatic Transmissions
This section incorporates “In the Event of a Failure” above.
ATS Automatic Transmissions carry a 3-year/150,000 mile warranty. This warranty shall not apply to any automatic transmission that has been improperly stored or installed. This warranty shall not apply to misapplication, improper operating conditions, accidents, or neglect. This warranty shall not apply to an automatic transmission that has been improperly repaired, maintained and/or altered by the owner or his agent/tech. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. ABUSE resulting in broken, fractured, or sheared shafts/gears; damaged clutch packs/bands (except as identified in “Clutch Pack Failures” above).
2. Damage to the front pump due to mis-installation or misalignment of the torque converter.
3. Damaged gear train due to insufficient lubrication as a result of:
a. Low fluid level
b. Improperly serviced transmission
c. Modifications to cooler system that is not approved by ATS (i.e.: external transmission filter, restricted cooler lines)
d. Non-updated snap-in connectors in cooler lines (Dodge Specific: 94-98.5 must be upgraded to screw-in cooler lines)
4. The use of other than Factory or ATS TCM/PCM programming.
ATS will not pay for any fluids replaced in the event of a transmission failure. Synthetic fluids are not covered under any circumstance. The customer is responsible for the cost of Synthetic ATF.
Most importantly, all transmission shafts are not covered by warranty on any transmission due to the capability of certain situations to cause stress-loads beyond the structural ability of the shaft.

Oh yeah! Aftermarket prices for stock warranty. No thanks.

 

BTW, I didn't go to either JW or BTS at the time my trans broke. I had BTS ship it to me and my mechanic install it after hours for $250

 

I am debating things, in Madera, abuot 1 hr away, Madera tranny will replace with a 3yr/100k warranty, all said and done for $3000. He gets them from someone else,,,, not sure who. BTS is $4100+400 S&H, then I need to have installed,,, and cash ain't the handiest thing right now! Seems like it is going everywhere else, cept where I need it! Where is Holtville? 760 area code, down by Camp Pendleton? And it isn't driveable,,,, it took a crap @ 1230 a.m. on the way down the hill when we were heading down to LAX for a flight. barely made it home, 15 miles away.

 

I'm not interested in the warranty as much as I am intrested in the exclusions. Look at ATS. See their exclusions? Pretty much if you sneeze at it, you are SOL. BTS doesn't care why it broke or when it broke. It breaks, he replaces. Installation is pretty simple. Any place can install. My cash doesn't grow on trees either which is why I picked BTS. Yes, it costs more today but I know it isn't going to cost me more tomorrow. I even asked Brian if he knew of a way to get boost up without doing a torque stand. He asked why. I said I didn't want to chance the trans. He said "So? You break it, I fix it" or words to that effect.

 

Well, can't argue with that! I am going to check on a shop about installing it tomorrow and see what they run. Again, Thanks, that is why I am asking for info!!

 

OK, new Ford Tranny in by local mech here, $3000 w/ 3yr/100k warr at any Ford dealer. Also found the reason why my flywheel was cracking, when ford dealer replaced 1st one that cracked, they didn't align tranny up to engine, ended up pushing aligning dowell back into engine, and just tightening down. So now, I am going back to dealer w/tranny and seeing if they want to pay for it now?! Nothing I hate more than LAZY, shoddy mechanics.