cgl102770
New Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2015
- Messages
- 4
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Ford Explorer
I haven't taken good care of my car the last few years and am paying the price. I'm seeking advice so I can do the right thing from now on.
It's a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport with 132,000 miles. At 124,000 it broke down, with smoke coming out of the hood. Firestone replaced the thermostat & did a coolant flush.
A few thousand miles later, the Check Engine light came on, and around that time transmission fluid started leaking onto the driveway. I waited a few more thousand miles to take it in (my mistake, lesson learned).
The diagnostic code was "Torque Converter" and I got quotes from 2 places, I went with the $2800 rebuild from Speedy Transmission. They said that whoever replaced the thermostat (Firestone) didn't flush the transmission, which was why the car was running hot, so I assumed Speedy would flush it.
I got the car back and though the check engine light was off, soon after it was running hot again. I put some antifreeze in and that got it back to normal, however, Now I'm at 132,000, and have only put about 400 miles on since the rebuild, and the "Service Engine Soon" light is on. Before it was leaking a little oil, but now its leaking more, though not running low on oil yet. The hood is also smoking a little, and white smokes coming out of the tailpipe, so I've parked it.
These symptoms could mean a blown head gasket, which would be another $1500. I feel like I'm just paying people to do bad work and not fix my car. It makes me wonder if it even needed the transmission work or not. I guess I did since two different places showed a Torque Converter code. However, why didn't the transmission place notice the other problems?
And now I don't know where to take it, since I'm not sure what the problem is and don't trust either repair place. Any insight or advice is appreciated.
It's a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport with 132,000 miles. At 124,000 it broke down, with smoke coming out of the hood. Firestone replaced the thermostat & did a coolant flush.
A few thousand miles later, the Check Engine light came on, and around that time transmission fluid started leaking onto the driveway. I waited a few more thousand miles to take it in (my mistake, lesson learned).
The diagnostic code was "Torque Converter" and I got quotes from 2 places, I went with the $2800 rebuild from Speedy Transmission. They said that whoever replaced the thermostat (Firestone) didn't flush the transmission, which was why the car was running hot, so I assumed Speedy would flush it.
I got the car back and though the check engine light was off, soon after it was running hot again. I put some antifreeze in and that got it back to normal, however, Now I'm at 132,000, and have only put about 400 miles on since the rebuild, and the "Service Engine Soon" light is on. Before it was leaking a little oil, but now its leaking more, though not running low on oil yet. The hood is also smoking a little, and white smokes coming out of the tailpipe, so I've parked it.
These symptoms could mean a blown head gasket, which would be another $1500. I feel like I'm just paying people to do bad work and not fix my car. It makes me wonder if it even needed the transmission work or not. I guess I did since two different places showed a Torque Converter code. However, why didn't the transmission place notice the other problems?
And now I don't know where to take it, since I'm not sure what the problem is and don't trust either repair place. Any insight or advice is appreciated.