ULDlose
Member
- Joined
- January 22, 2008
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Lyndhurst, NJ
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2013 Explorer XLT 3.5 NA
History.
PTU was replaced roughly 3 years ago at 56-58k. Under 5/60k drivetrain warranty.
Present day.
The Explorer now has 113xxx on the clock. I was in the garage and noticed a few spots on the floor where the Explorer rests. When my wife came home with the car I stuck my head under and noticed that the PTU had a oily film on it. I was able to to get a little smear on my finger of course sniff test it and it doesn't smell like gear oil more like Trans fluid threw it up on the quick jacks and couldn't really pin point the leak as the bottom as the bottom of PTU is wet and so is the Trans near the PTU. Fast forward a few days and some research and FSM reading and the evidence of oil sling on the Passenger side of the PTU, I'm pretty sure its the intermediate shaft seal. 2 out of the 5 local ford dealers quoted me 700 to 1000 to do the job but that is only speculation with out of course a diagnostic fee. I have been searching around and could get the required tools and parts for around 4 to 500. Most of the tools I can use to also service my 14 Escape and the Explorer again in the future if need be, so it makes a little sense the upfront cost is so high considering the seal kit and a few extras only come out to like 40 my cost. I have considered just changing out the PTU but I maintain the fluid in it every 20k and it comes out dark but still flows well(I drain/extract and fill it 3 times using the FSM procedure) and very little to any metal particles in after straining the old fluid.
I think that's everything and one to the question.
How many here have attempted this repair successfully? Should I be looking for a underlying issue as to why this seal failed or is it just a poor(S**T) design like the rest of the PTU on Fords part.
Update. Decided to go under car and spray the hole thing down with brake clean to get a better idea of where the leak is coming from. It's definitely the passenger side and migrating over to the bottom of the transmission case. Interesting finding the plastic dust shield moved while spraying brake clean. Reached up and I can free spin it only feeling a slight bit of resistance at certain points of rotation.
So now I'm at the point of. Do I bother replacing the seals and dust cover or for a few hundred more just replace the entire PTU with a new FORD unit roughly 700.
PTU was replaced roughly 3 years ago at 56-58k. Under 5/60k drivetrain warranty.
Present day.
The Explorer now has 113xxx on the clock. I was in the garage and noticed a few spots on the floor where the Explorer rests. When my wife came home with the car I stuck my head under and noticed that the PTU had a oily film on it. I was able to to get a little smear on my finger of course sniff test it and it doesn't smell like gear oil more like Trans fluid threw it up on the quick jacks and couldn't really pin point the leak as the bottom as the bottom of PTU is wet and so is the Trans near the PTU. Fast forward a few days and some research and FSM reading and the evidence of oil sling on the Passenger side of the PTU, I'm pretty sure its the intermediate shaft seal. 2 out of the 5 local ford dealers quoted me 700 to 1000 to do the job but that is only speculation with out of course a diagnostic fee. I have been searching around and could get the required tools and parts for around 4 to 500. Most of the tools I can use to also service my 14 Escape and the Explorer again in the future if need be, so it makes a little sense the upfront cost is so high considering the seal kit and a few extras only come out to like 40 my cost. I have considered just changing out the PTU but I maintain the fluid in it every 20k and it comes out dark but still flows well(I drain/extract and fill it 3 times using the FSM procedure) and very little to any metal particles in after straining the old fluid.
I think that's everything and one to the question.
How many here have attempted this repair successfully? Should I be looking for a underlying issue as to why this seal failed or is it just a poor(S**T) design like the rest of the PTU on Fords part.
Update. Decided to go under car and spray the hole thing down with brake clean to get a better idea of where the leak is coming from. It's definitely the passenger side and migrating over to the bottom of the transmission case. Interesting finding the plastic dust shield moved while spraying brake clean. Reached up and I can free spin it only feeling a slight bit of resistance at certain points of rotation.
So now I'm at the point of. Do I bother replacing the seals and dust cover or for a few hundred more just replace the entire PTU with a new FORD unit roughly 700.