Transfer Case Problem

[vsrivastava]

Hello Fellow Explorers,

I guess it was about time that my T-Case broke apart. I have a 97 Explorer Edie Bauer with 82K. I started hearing a fan like noise about a month ago but it so random that mechanic could not pin point anything and then after a while it just went away. Last week I took my explorer to Bay Area and drove about for 100 miles and that was it, I started hearing a noise like a jet is going over my head it would continue for about 25 seconds and then would go away before returning back every 2-3 minutes. Somehow I made it back and took an appointment with the Ford Dealer as soon as I could, but whille I was on my wayto the shop, it just died, I had to get it towed to the dealer and I was told that the problem could be rear diiferential, but after reading other posts about T-case from theis site I knew that the problem had to be my T-case and it was confirmed after they opened the case.

Now Ford Dealer is estimating the cost of replacing the T-case with a rebuilt one at about $2,600. T-Case itself is about $2,100.

Could someone please tell me if it is the right estimate? Can I do better someplace else?

You input is highly appreciated.

Vince.

 

[dejello]

Just a bump for ya because I can't help.

Holy crap! Are the 2nd gen t-cases that expensive???


Welcome to the site BTW

 

[JoshC]

Welcome to the site

That sounds about right for the price. They are expensive from the dealer. I just called about one and i'm waiting a return phone call for my 97 case also. But i called a salvage yard.

Not sure how often you use your tcase, but you need to run it in low range every so often to keep things lubed up.

If you have some mechanical ability you can put a tcase in yourself to save some money, but that's totally up to you.

Hope this helps.

 

[vsrivastava]

Thanks for the reply. I called a salvage yard myself, they are still looking to see if they have one for my year and model, but they said if they find one it would cost me about $450 ( A lot cheaper than the dealer's price) and it comes with 60 day warranty (Now that's scary).

I am willing to take the risk of buying it from the yard though. I think I can try to install it myself.. Do I need to buy special tools? where can I find the instructions?

Thanks

Vince

 

[JoshC]

Just go to you local parts store and pick up a repair manual for your year, probably about 20 bucks. That will tell you everything you need to know. It's not hard at all. Just a little heavy. So an extra set up hands will be needed to get it down safely and back on safely.

And of course we're here to help

 

[vsrivastava]

I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I got my transfer case all fixed now. Ford told me that my T-Case was broken up badly and there were metal pieces inside. There estimate was $2600. ($2100 for the T-Case and $500 labor).

I tried to find a T-case from junk yards with no success and then I heard about Conover's Auto shop in Sacramento Area from a friend of mine. They told me that they can do the whole thing for me for about $700 and they will buy the T-case for me as well. I got my car towed to their shop. They called me after a few days to let me know that the problem is not that big, it's just a plastic piece that had worn out and could be easily replaced. They fixed my car for less then $500.

I just wanted you all to know about the good work the mechanics did at Conover's autoshop and also to expose the Ford dearlership for giving me false information about the T-case. They charged me $90 for that diagnostic as well.