Went for trans problem, they say its the engine.

[bex]

2003 4X4, V8 EB, 70k miles. Went to take it in to the dealer today because for the last few thousand miles the trans has been rattling. Made a thread on here awhile back and after reading other threads, determined it was the torque converter rivets? Or something like that.

Well, took it in and this afternoon they said they think its an internal engine "failure" as they said it. I am suspicious of it as I can perfectly hear how the rattle goes away everytime the torque converter locks up and the noise seems very dependent on transmission shifts.

The explorer has a warranty that covers it, but the dealer said they will not touch it because the warranty company "reserves the right to play vender and supply the parts". The dealer said they are only going to put parts from Ford in it and that is it.

So after an hour or so hangling between the dealer and warranty company, the warranty company provided me with another area dealer and has already arranged everything for tomorrow morning for me.

No questions or anything, just sort of "what the heck?" about all of it. Any advice is appreciated as well.

 

[shadowless127]

sounds lik a dealer trying to make some $$$$

 

[bisjoe]

Be careful, those 3rd party warranty people will examine the old parts to make sure it's covered, and if the dealer "fixes" the wrong thing the warranty will not cover it. Then you'll have a fight with the dealer when they try to get you to pay for their mistake. Internal engine "failure" can mean a lot of things, such as a bad connecting rod bearing or wrist pin. Is their solution to replace parts or a new engine?

 

[bex]

Just as I thought, it was the torque converter.

The dealer is waiting word from the warranty company because the company probably wants the whole trans replaced because the procedure for replacing the converter calls for cleaning the valve body as well and the warranty company does not like the trans being gone into.

Anyway, I am quite pleased with this dealership. I am wondering though about the last dealership....seems they were trying to make a buck? There is no way that they could have misdiagnosed a torque converter problem, it was clearly obvious and should have been easily diagnosed by a Ford tech, it defintly should not have been called an engine failure with a "99% chance that the engine needs replaced", as they said.

I am going to make a complaint aginat them because they also wasted a lot of my time with useless admin and bickering where the new dealership took care of everything in a half hour, including care rental and got me a diagnosis in a few hours.