Transmission went out in my 2007 F-150

[Jim Oaks]

Back around the 21st of September the family and I were coming back from visiting my parents when I got a 'Trans Fault' error on my dash. I stopped, checked the transmission fluid and it appeared to be really low. I got some transmission fluid (Mercon V can be a pain to find on a Sunday night) topped it off and away we went. The error went away. I thought it seemed odd that I was low on fluid and haven't seen any leaks anywhere.

Well, a few weeks later my transmission started making a whining noise under accelleration. About 2 weeks later I finally got tired of it and took it to the dealer. There was too many ignition cycles, so the previous trans fault codes had been cleared, but the mechanic said is was 1/2 quart to full of transmission fluid. That's strange, because I checked it putting it in so it wouldn't overfill. All this time since putting the fluid in I hadn't had any trans fault signals. The dealership drained some fluid out and sent me on my way. They couldn't hear the noise in the transmission that day because it was raining that day and the noise isn't that loud to begin with.

Within about 40 miles of them draining the excess fluid I got a trans fault signal and took it back. They gave me a fully loaded 2008 Ford Taurus (Leather, sun roof, etc) to drive for almost a week and my wife is now in love with it.

When they checked the codes they got a transmission temperature sensor error. It was reading the transmission temperature real high, but the fluid wasn't as hot as it was saying. They replaced it and took if for a test drive. The mechanic said it was running normal and sounded good and all of a sudden the transmission started rattling and the mechanic didn't think he was going to make it back to the garage.

The transmission self destructed at 33,000 miles while the dealers mechanic was driving it and I got a reman under warranty.

The fixed it, cleaned the truck, gave me my keys and sent me home under warranty. They told me they would mail me some paperwork that had the new transmission's warranty info.

It's a little baffling because the dealer says adding the trans fluid shouldn't have affected the trans fault signal, but taking it out definitely caused it to come back on.

I'm just glad I got another transmission under warranty.

 

[kevinsranger]

is sucks making a car payment and still having the normal worries of an old car. at least they didnt give you a hard time over it. i had my sport trac bac to the dealer for brake problems once a week for 4 weeks and they kept telling me it had to break in, finally the replaced everything and it was good.

 

[almostclueless]

I've always thought it was lame that remedy under warranty on most products means you get remanufactured assemblies. Total crap.

 

[Jason]

That happens when there is an abundance of failures. They eventually get enough bad ones that they begin to remanufacture them to save money.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I like the truck. Shocked the tranny went out. Shurely isn't like the old days when they made indestructable C6's.

It tows great, but I don't tow much.

I didn't go to the dealer I got the truck from. I went to Columbiana Ford in Columbiana Ohio. They have better customer service. On the first trip they drained the excess tranny fluid at no charge and told me to bring it in if I got a trans fault error again. When it happened, I drove it in without an appointment and got service and a loaner right away without any hassles.

Hopefully this one wil last until my lease is up. Not sure what I'll do then.

 

[chittybangbang]

Jim which tranny did you have.My E250's 4r70w tranny took a dump after 76k.The truck was never the same and traded it in for a new vehicle.

 

[Jspafford]

Well now you know what that whining was.

 

[Will]

Damnit.

Checking tranny fluid is a black art and the procedure can differ between vehicles--for instance my Ranger's owners guide says to wait 30 minutes after prolonged driving before checking it. It's worse to overfill it than to have it a little low so some new cars don't even have a dipstick. It's common for owners to incorrectly check it and overfill it and damage the tranny. If it's not leaking then it doesn't need checked (also says that in the manual) except maybe at a 50,000mile interval when other major PM is due.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The f150's have a nasty habit of the seal between the trans and tcase going and then the tranny will dump the fluid into the transfer case. I see the, all the time at work with trannys being a liter low and the tcase being overfull.

 

[Kdawg532]

I like the truck. Shocked the tranny went out. Shurely isn't like the old days when they made indestructable C6's.

It tows great, but I don't tow much.

I didn't go to the dealer I got the truck from. I went to Columbiana Ford in Columbiana Ohio. They have better customer service. On the first trip they drained the excess tranny fluid at no charge and told me to bring it in if I got a trans fault error again. When it happened, I drove it in without an appointment and got service and a loaner right away without any hassles.

Hopefully this one wil last until my lease is up. Not sure what I'll do then.

Frederick Motor Company where i got my truck has an amazing customer service as well, so if youre ever in maryland and have trouble thats where i'd recommend to take it

 

[alaskan155]

man i got an 06 f150 with the 4r70w has 34k on it now an no transmission problems, but doesn"t the 4.6 and 5.4 use different trannies? i know mine is the same exact one basically from behind a exploder 5.0, so i would expect it to last a long time being designed to be behind a v8 and being behind a v6, only towed my b2 with it once about 700miles, only whine i get from its in 1st gear usually in parking lots

 

[snake]

Holy crap, Jim. You sometimes have crappy luck with vehicles. This makes the Honda look good by comparison, eh?

 

[milje]

When it happened, I drove it in without an appointment and got service and a loaner right away without any hassles.

Heater fan in my Ranger went out when it was -20*F and snowing like a bitch at college last winter (had to drive with my head out the window to see, lucky there was no traffic because it was so shitty). Went to the Ford dealership, asked when they could get it in. They said Wednesday (it was Sunday morning), I asked if I could get a loaner until then. Nope, didn't buy the truck from them, no loaner. I asked if he'd seen the forecast, it was supposed to be cold as hell all week, he said nothing they can do.

Told them to get fucked and ate the $40 and changed the fan myself at Todd's house (which wasn't very fun in that weather)......


I wish we had good dealers around here.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Holy crap, Jim. You sometimes have crappy luck with vehicles. This makes the Honda look good by comparison, eh?

I trust the Ford more.