Raging at Trans Mechanic

[alohamonte]

Vent thread. I brought the X to a shop as it was shifting rough and throwing the TCC solenoid circuit code.

Brought it to a local shop that has a good reputation. They looked at it, played with solenoids, and recommended a full rebuild, soft and hard parts, for $1500 and it would take a week. I agreed. They opened it up and confirmed the torque converter was bad. They ordered the parts and said they were delayed on shipping. One week turned into two. They also said a motor mount was cracked and they would replace it for free because of the delays. But then they started slipping to week three. They said they put it back together with new gears, clutches, TC, and electrical and the new rear seal was leaking. So they replaced it again. Took it out for another drive and they tell me together it's not shifting properly and if driven that way it will damage the parts they just replaced. They recommend replacement of the valve body and it will cost another $300. It's already been 3 weeks, and currently I'm over the $600 mark on a rental car. So if it's done this week, which is the 4th week, I'm looking at $1800 for the build and about $800 on rental car.

This is the second trans rebuild on this truck. The factory trans lasted to about 140,000. And the rebuild lasted about 90,000. I was on the fence about repairing it, since it has 230k on it, but $1500 with hard parts was reasonable enough to persuade me to keep it. But $2600....that's a solid down payment on something new. I am completely kicking myself over this.

 

[imp]

@alohamonte Wondering about that shop's good reputation. I bought a Ford Reman. from Ford for $2200, installed it without issues, worked fine, 36 month 36,000 mile warranty. imp

 

[alohamonte]

I got the explorer back, took nearly 4 weeks. It's shifting smooth, quite, so I was just happy to get it back. For about an hour, then I found a problem with the rebuild. It won't shift into 1 on the column. The column shift is smooth P-R-N-D-2 but it won't go into 1 and I don't want to force it. Any guesses at why before I bring it back to the shop? Any quick fix I could do myself to avoid another who knows how long of being without a car again?

 

[imp]

I got the explorer back, took nearly 4 weeks. It's shifting smooth, quite, so I was just happy to get it back. For about an hour, then I found a problem with the rebuild. It won't shift into 1 on the column. The column shift is smooth P-R-N-D-2 but it won't go into 1 and I don't want to force it. Any guesses at why before I bring it back to the shop? Any quick fix I could do myself to avoid another who knows how long of being without a car again?

Yes. The cable connection from the steering column to the Transmission Range Switch (TRS) must be properly adjusted to allow movement of the switch from P position down to 1 position. Apparently, they did not check their work. Shoddy. Takes a minute in the car to check all selector lever positions. imp

 

[alohamonte]

Great info. Thanks.

Does the cable have an adjustment screw or some kind to release the the tension on the switch?

 

[imp]

Great info. Thanks.

Does the cable have an adjustment screw or some kind to release the the tension on the switch?

@alohamonte The Transmission Range Switch has elongated holes, two of the; it is held on with two screws. Shop Manual practice is to use Tool # 307-351 to align it correctly. It can be done without the tool. Place selector lever in Neutral. The 2 screws are loosened just enough to allow rotating the switch all the way to each extreme of the limits of movement, noting the total amount it rotates, then centering it between those two limits, holding it stationary, and tightening the screws alternately. imp

 

[Perana]

@alohamonte Wondering about that shop's good reputation. I bought a Ford Reman. from Ford for $2200, installed it without issues, worked fine, 36 month 36,000 mile warranty. imp

The Ford stealerships down here in NZ do not offer remanned trans.....only new(new???..really)....from $6500.....and valve blocks from $800 and up...i have found it easier/cheaper/more reliable to order parts from the USA and fix whatever went wrong myself for about the last 20 years.
There is one outfit up in Aucks that offer a rebuilt trans for about $3500 , but their 1 year/20.000km warranty is only valid if they install box themselves(lol)....add labour for a box that got a ****e warranty for a total of $4500 plus (oh ....+gst@15%=$675)...for a grand total of $5175(give or take another $300 bucks....because :Specialist knowledge/storage/random **** added to bill/assuming folks know fk all about autos)

all $ amounts listed in piss weak Kiwi bucks...(too fkn lazy to drag out the currency converter)