2000 Transmission Gone!!!

[bmcneill1]

Does anyone have any experience with dealing with Ford Customer Assistance on this topic? And getting Ford to foot the bill?

I have 39,000 miles on my 2000 Explorer XLS - and the transmission just went out. Taking the advice of CR, I didn't purchase the extended warranty a couple of months ago when the warranty expired. And I just had a reputable independent shop evaluate the bad transmission today - $1800 to replace!!!

It seems quite unacceptable for a transmission to go out on a vehicle that is not even 3 years old.

If they don't pay for it, that's enough for me and my wife to trade our two Explorers in for something other than Fords - especially since her 2002 Explorer transmission started slipping just last week (thankfully, that's still under warranty).

 

[2001ExpSport]

What exactly is wrong with it? I have the 5R55E and lost 3rd gear at 45k. AAMCO quoted me $4000 for a replacemnt w/heavy duty converter and plates. That price you got for a replacement is very low. Are you sure it is not for a repair?

Anyway, I had my tranny flushed and after that it worked fine. Tranny fluid was dirty and had some water in it.

 

[Doug]

Thats why i have a 5spd MANUAL.

 

[Robert]

Your original selling dealer can offer you a special program where they can pick up up t 80% of the bill if you have less than 50K miles on it and have not used the program more than once before. Only your selling dealer can supposedly offer it. I forget what he program is called. If you dealer works with you they will tell you about it once you ask. Most will not volunteer the information unless as a last result and they are certain you won't pay for it any other way.

 

[Jason_25]

As for your 2002, I highly doubt that is a mechanical issue. I believe there is a TSB out on the 2002 explorer trannies that simply involves a reprogramming of the engine computer.

 

[bmcneill1]

Thanks for the help. I'm taking to the Ford dealer tomorrow and we'll see what happens. If they do not offer to pay, I'll try flushing the fluids. My father suggested that that might be an alternative before I have to shell out the money.

By the way, the estimate came from Coleman Taylor - not sure if you have those in CT - but I checked and the quote was for a rebuild (they said it around the same price for either option). Either way, I've used them before on other vehicles and trust them (at least here in Memphis).

thanks for the help on the 2002 as well...

 

[addkev]

Change your fluids, then make sure that you fill it wilth the proper amount of fluid. Reason:
I almost paid $2200 to have my tranny rebuilt because it was slipping, if you search you will find I wrote about 10 threads about my tranny starting to slip. It all went back to when I had Ford change my tranny filter they put too much fluid in my transmission, not a lot but about a quart and a half. About 2-3,000 miles later my tranny started slipping. Before paying $2200, I added and Aux. filter and changed the fluid myself and made absolute sure that I had the right amount of fluid in it. There are instructions in your owners manual on how to check your fluid, follow them to a T. Once I did that, all my shifting problems went away.
That is a big thing with these tranny's you need to change the fluid every 15-20k miles. That is the only way they will last.