neilpridenz
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 6
- City, State
- Christchurch, NZ
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 4.0 XLT
Update on my trans 'clunk' - got a whole lot worse...
OK - so we are 18 months from when I last posted.
I had every Explorer drivers nightmare last weekend - just driving along quite fine, the warning beep goes off and 'Check Transmission' comes up on the message display. O/D light flashing too.
Seems pretty bad, the truck was revving in first up to about 3K RPM before it changes - into 3rd. Would change into 4th but no 5th.
Took it to Ford agent who pronounced it dead on the spot and quoted me NZ$7K (US$5.5K) plus labour for an exchange rebuild swap out. Off the road 1-2 weeks.
The truck is 9 years old and worth only about 2.5 times that repair cost - not sure I want to drop that amount of money on it. Vehicle is just drivable so I take it home. I love the truck but cant pour too much cash into it.
So I find an ATRA member independent transmission specialist - probably the only one in the South Island of New Zealand - and he reckons he can get me on the road for a lot less and just fix the actual fault, not a full rebuild. Slightly skeptical but prepared to give it a try.
This guy was amazing. I dropped the vehicle off next morning at 8.30am, by 11am he called me to say the problem was fixed, impressively broken O/D solenoid, and did I want to have a fluid and filter change at the same time. Servo piston had come away from dome almost completely - he gave it to me as a souvenir - and fortunately servo bore looked in good condition.
He also wasnt happy with harsh shifting and severe hesitation and clunk going D to R, wanted to check out solenoid block on bench. Happy to give him the go ahead, bill is NZ$900 at this point incl full Mercon V refill and filter.
Got another call an hour later, solenoid block was bad and that would cost me another $780 and a half hour labour as the pan was off anyway - gave the go ahead and then I get the final call at 4 pm saying all was well and they had road tested and were very happy with it.
So was I !
The truck has never shifted so well, all the time I have owned it. The reverse clunk is 100% gone and I can barely detect the point where it is actually going into gears now. Very very happy with it.
Total bill including taxes just shy of NZ$1900 (US$1550). Felt like a bargain.
If you are in S.I. NZ and have transmission problems, give Aceomatic in Stanmore Road, Christchurch a call - if my experience was anything to go by they will not disappoint you. Customer service and quality of repairs outstanding.
OK - so we are 18 months from when I last posted.
I had every Explorer drivers nightmare last weekend - just driving along quite fine, the warning beep goes off and 'Check Transmission' comes up on the message display. O/D light flashing too.
Seems pretty bad, the truck was revving in first up to about 3K RPM before it changes - into 3rd. Would change into 4th but no 5th.
Took it to Ford agent who pronounced it dead on the spot and quoted me NZ$7K (US$5.5K) plus labour for an exchange rebuild swap out. Off the road 1-2 weeks.
The truck is 9 years old and worth only about 2.5 times that repair cost - not sure I want to drop that amount of money on it. Vehicle is just drivable so I take it home. I love the truck but cant pour too much cash into it.
So I find an ATRA member independent transmission specialist - probably the only one in the South Island of New Zealand - and he reckons he can get me on the road for a lot less and just fix the actual fault, not a full rebuild. Slightly skeptical but prepared to give it a try.
This guy was amazing. I dropped the vehicle off next morning at 8.30am, by 11am he called me to say the problem was fixed, impressively broken O/D solenoid, and did I want to have a fluid and filter change at the same time. Servo piston had come away from dome almost completely - he gave it to me as a souvenir - and fortunately servo bore looked in good condition.
He also wasnt happy with harsh shifting and severe hesitation and clunk going D to R, wanted to check out solenoid block on bench. Happy to give him the go ahead, bill is NZ$900 at this point incl full Mercon V refill and filter.
Got another call an hour later, solenoid block was bad and that would cost me another $780 and a half hour labour as the pan was off anyway - gave the go ahead and then I get the final call at 4 pm saying all was well and they had road tested and were very happy with it.
So was I !
The truck has never shifted so well, all the time I have owned it. The reverse clunk is 100% gone and I can barely detect the point where it is actually going into gears now. Very very happy with it.
Total bill including taxes just shy of NZ$1900 (US$1550). Felt like a bargain.
If you are in S.I. NZ and have transmission problems, give Aceomatic in Stanmore Road, Christchurch a call - if my experience was anything to go by they will not disappoint you. Customer service and quality of repairs outstanding.
