Need some advice ASAP on a shop quote.

[xFatcatx]

One of my co-workers has a 96' AWD explorer with the 5.0L. Around 180,000 miles i think but need to comfirm that. Not sure what transmission that has? He stopped in town this weekend and thought he saw smoke but figured it for dust after seeing nothing out of the ordinary. 45 miles later and there was dinner plate size puddle of ATF underneath the truck. ATF also splattered all on the undercarriage from the drive there. He had it towed back to a shop here in town. Never noticed any difference in the driving/shifting. They told him it was leaking from where the tranny connects to the engine.

The shop he took it told him "the pump pushed something into the transmission and he needs a rebuild/remaned transmission". they quoted him $2900 for a rebuilt trans that is here in town with a 3year/100,000 mile warranty. He does want to keep the truck but would not be able to do any of this work himself. I guess his only option is to have a shop fix it but what does this sound like, also the price and warranty? Sorry i do not have more info for you guys. Thanks

p.s. i thought the troque converter was the pump? they never mentioned anything to him about the tc though?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The transmission is a 4R70w. The pump is behind the torque converter.

Did the shop pull the transmission or just assume it's the pump?

Could be as simple as the front seal.

 

[xFatcatx]

ok ok i was way off on the miles, its has 283,000 on the original transmission. the shop said a "vein" from the pump broke and broke the seal? I dont know, he doesnt really have any other options, he needs it back and cannot do it himself so i think he is just going to have them do the job??? can what the shop is saying be diagnosed without removing the transmission? if it just the front seal, how simple of a job is that, any link on it?

 

[CDW6212R]

They seem to be guessing that a vein(wall) inside the pump broke and thus blew out the front seal. The trans has to come out to work on the seal, pump, or torque converter.

The rebuild parts should be under $200, figure $250 for a TC, and a pump can be as much as $250 new from Ford. You should look around to try for a better labor rate. R&Ring the trans is less than a day's work, most rebuilds can be done in a couple of hours(pros). Regards,

 

[Donner]

Confused: The friend doesn't want the vehicle, but needs it; the value is about the same as the amount he's about to pay to have it fixed. Why is the friend keeping the vehicle?

 

[Cobraguy]

You know, nothing pisses me off more than something like this. How the heck do they know what's wrong inside that pump?? If the pump broke a vane (not vein), then the darn thing wouldn't move! But here is the deal...with that many miles, I would probably just replace the trans and be done with it since it's served a useful life. But not at that price without shopping around. Shoot...call a Ford dealer and see how much they will charge him for a factory reman that will come with all the updates. He should get one of those for that kind of money...maybe cheaper. But you can find high quality rebuilds with a convertor for $1200. Add the labor to R & R (shouldn't be over $500) plus fluid, and you're in this a heck of a lot less than 3 grand.

 

[Turdle]

Yeah-but if it was moving and pumped all the fluid out under load-the clucthes are 90 percent likely fried.

 

[410Fortune]

283K miles the 4r70w will need all new hard parts a complete rebuild.

I just had mine rebuilt for $1800 in 1/2 a day
$2900 is ALOT of $$$
BUT
if you figure the average 4r70w full rebuild cost about $1500-2K (to have a local pro shop do it with warranty) and all the labor involved in the V8 to remove and install the trans $2900 is at the high side of what shops get around here but it is close

I am going to guess that $2900 "estimate" is going to go UP once they start the tear down. With those miles I would not be putting that trans back into the truck with any band aid fixes I would either buy a new 4r70w or do a full rebuild

I would think like Cobraguy pointed out, if you shop around $1200 can get you a good built 4r70w and $500 pays for all the labor, flush the cooling system and then re-install with all new fluid another $100-200 we are still not at $2900 closer to $2k

$2900 is also BEFORE they tear into it... have you ever seen an automotive estimate GO DOWN???
once they have your truck and then have it apart you are at their mercy

 

[CDW6212R]

Good details guys, the estimates we keep hearing of around the country are ridiculous. The rebuild stuff is on eBay always for about $700 or so. I prefer to start with an existing known transmission, but sometimes you can't.

With that mileage it should come down to whether it's a keeper or not. If it isn't, then the cheapest way out would be best. If the truck will be kept for another 100k or more, than do start with another trans.

 

[Cobraguy]

Just for grins and giggles, I did a quick down and dirty search for a Factory Ford reman and came up with one for just under $1400 with a $600 core charge. That would be a trans with all the updates that your current trans doesn't have...or an independent rebuilder may not have due to costs. And if I'm not mistaken, those come with a converter. But if not, the converter should only be a couple hundred dollars from Ford.

 

[CDW6212R]

For a cheap way out I would likely try the sellers like on eBay. The difference between a 96 and 98 4R70W is minor, and costs not much more that $145 to upgrade. The costs of the rebuild kit and electrical parts would be the biggest stuff. Try to be sure to get new shift solenoids, EPC etc. Do replace the DTRS sensor, that one sensor is the biggest hiccup when swapping different year 4R70W's.