Warning - 2003 Lightning Has Wrong Trans Dipstick
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From: Botswana
Originally posted by B4THNDR
Sounds kinda funny that the tranny shifted okay being three and a half quarts low. I would check my svy owners manual and see what it says. Sounds like you could have the wrong dipstick!!!!!!!!
Sounds kinda funny that the tranny shifted okay being three and a half quarts low. I would check my svy owners manual and see what it says. Sounds like you could have the wrong dipstick!!!!!!!!
The tranny in our trucks hold 16 or 17 some odd quarts. Three quarts low is not exactly a good thing but in cooler weather the tranny could run fine for awhile like this. Over the long term is when this will bite ya. He caught it in plenty of time to avoid damage.
I am open for constructive correction if wrong about thus theory.
Rocks
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
the SVT owners supplement just says "Mercon", just plain Mercon with a subnote stating:
WTF??? Which is it? regular Mercon or Mercon V.
To confuse matters worse, here is the next paragraph in the owners manual:
If this is supposed to be the owners SUPPLEMENT. SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SVT LIGHTNING, then why are they even mentioning both kinds of fluids??? it takes one or the other, not both.
If I have to take my transmission apart because some dummy put the wrong dipstick in my tranny, I will be pissed! I will be calling FORD first thing in the morning to get this straightened out.
on a lighter note, I wonder if having the tranny out will save me any time when installing my long tube headers?
later,
chris
P.S. why am I getting this sinking feeling in my stomach?
Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. Transmissions fluid requirements are indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick handle.
To confuse matters worse, here is the next paragraph in the owners manual:
Some transmission fluids may be labeled as dual usage, such as MERCON and MERCON V. These dual usage fluids are not to be used in an automatic transmission that requires use of the MERCON type fluid. HOWEVER, these dual usage fluids may be used in transmissions that require the MERCON V type fluid.
If I have to take my transmission apart because some dummy put the wrong dipstick in my tranny, I will be pissed! I will be calling FORD first thing in the morning to get this straightened out.
on a lighter note, I wonder if having the tranny out will save me any time when installing my long tube headers?
later,
chris
P.S. why am I getting this sinking feeling in my stomach?
Last edited by superfords; Jan 4, 2003 at 12:20 AM.
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From: Houston, TX
I work on transmissions at a Ford dealer and I hae never seen a 4R100 or E4OD use Mercon V, I am thinking perhaps you have the wrong dipstick in there. Might want to look into that a little deeper.
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From: NJ
Originally posted by superfords
...If I have to take my transmission apart because some dummy put the wrong dipstick in my tranny, I will be pissed!...
...If I have to take my transmission apart because some dummy put the wrong dipstick in my tranny, I will be pissed!...
Originally posted by Rob_02Lightning
Nothing surprises me anymore with Ford after 5 years of defective heads and front ends that clunk and shift when you turn the wheel.
Nothing surprises me anymore with Ford after 5 years of defective heads and front ends that clunk and shift when you turn the wheel.
So true
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From: Botswana
Originally posted by superfords
LOL,
At first I thought you meant that maybe I was checking the power steering fluid or something! But then after I thought about it, it would almost make sense if it was the wrong dipstick! Labeled for wrong fluid and reading incorrect level. THAT would be my luck!
but I kinda don't think thats the problem.
later,
chris
P.S. I have clean nails for a mechanic huh...
LOL,
At first I thought you meant that maybe I was checking the power steering fluid or something! But then after I thought about it, it would almost make sense if it was the wrong dipstick! Labeled for wrong fluid and reading incorrect level. THAT would be my luck!
but I kinda don't think thats the problem.
later,
chris
P.S. I have clean nails for a mechanic huh...
Superfords,
Something is wrong. I just went out and checked my 03 L and I have a different stick than you.
Please let me know what you find out from Ford.
Rocks
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
Originally posted by svt4rd
I work on transmissions at a Ford dealer and I hae never seen a 4R100 or E4OD use Mercon V, I am thinking perhaps you have the wrong dipstick in there. Might want to look into that a little deeper.
I work on transmissions at a Ford dealer and I hae never seen a 4R100 or E4OD use Mercon V, I am thinking perhaps you have the wrong dipstick in there. Might want to look into that a little deeper.
I do know something doesn't add up though:
*tranny shifts fine while missing 3.5 quarts of fluid?
*this type of trans has never used mercon V before.
*owners manual calls for mercon (but then also says use what it calls for on the dipstick???)
I can't even go to sleep for thinking about this...
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From: Anchorage, AK
I think he got the wrong dip stick. Mercon V was developped for the new 5 speed torque shift tranny thats behind the new Power Stroke. The Ford dealer here still doesn't have any Mercon V fluid for the new trannys and some trannys have started to leak at fittings and come in for PDI low on fluid.
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From: Botswana
Yeah, that is some crazy sh#t. My production date was 12/09 and it actually rolled off the line that day. Maybe they changed it or something. I am betting that a wrong stick got put in some of them. That makes those a collectors item.
Rocks
Rocks
Originally posted by Rob_02Lightning
Now that is weird, two differant sticks saying to use two differant fluids
Now that is weird, two differant sticks saying to use two differant fluids
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
Originally posted by 03LightninRocks
Superfords,
Something is wrong. I just went out and checked my 03 L and I have a different stick than you.
Please let me know what you find out from Ford.
Rocks
Superfords,
Something is wrong. I just went out and checked my 03 L and I have a different stick than you.
Please let me know what you find out from Ford.
Rocks
I guess we've reached a conclusion. the low fluid but still shifts fine, and the owners manual (sortof unclear) ,and now 03LightninRocks's truck has a standard Mercon dipstick! It would all appear to add up to my truck has the incorrect dipstick installed! WHAT A BUNCH OF BS!
<--- this little face DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN to show how angry I am right now. the real pisser is that according to Factory Tech, my damn torque converter doesn't even have a drain plug any more so how am I supposed to get all of the fluid out without using a transmission flush machine?
Ford opens at 8:00am tomorrow, their phone will be ringing when they arrive at work
oh well, goodnight everyone, thanks for the help (especially 03Lrocks for going out to look under your hood in the middle of the night)
later,
chris
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From: Botswana
Originally posted by superfords
I was literally just getting ready to make a new post asking somebody (if anybody else is awake at this hour) to go out and look at their '03 and see what their dipstick says.
I guess we've reached a conclusion. the low fluid but still shifts fine, and the owners manual (sortof unclear) ,and now 03LightninRocks's truck has a standard Mercon dipstick! It would all appear to add up to my truck has the incorrect dipstick installed! WHAT A BUNCH OF BS!
<--- this little face DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN to show how angry I am right now.
the real pisser is that according to Factory Tech, my damn torque converter doesn't even have a drain plug any more so how am I supposed to get all of the fluid out without using a transmission flush machine?
Ford opens at 8:00am tomorrow, their phone will be ringing when they arrive at work
oh well, goodnight everyone, thanks for the help (especially 03Lrocks for going out to look under your hood in the middle of the night)
later,
chris
I was literally just getting ready to make a new post asking somebody (if anybody else is awake at this hour) to go out and look at their '03 and see what their dipstick says.
I guess we've reached a conclusion. the low fluid but still shifts fine, and the owners manual (sortof unclear) ,and now 03LightninRocks's truck has a standard Mercon dipstick! It would all appear to add up to my truck has the incorrect dipstick installed! WHAT A BUNCH OF BS!
<--- this little face DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN to show how angry I am right now. the real pisser is that according to Factory Tech, my damn torque converter doesn't even have a drain plug any more so how am I supposed to get all of the fluid out without using a transmission flush machine?
Ford opens at 8:00am tomorrow, their phone will be ringing when they arrive at work
oh well, goodnight everyone, thanks for the help (especially 03Lrocks for going out to look under your hood in the middle of the night)
later,
chris
No problem Chris. I like to go out to the garage every hour to check on her and make sure she does need anything anyway. It gave me another excuse to visit with her.
I may set up a cot out there to keep her company at night.
Good luck on Monday. Greg over on the NLOC forum is an ex factory tech. He may be able to answer questions on wether or not damage could have been done.
http://www.nloc.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=452
Rocks
Last edited by 03LightninRocks; Jan 4, 2003 at 02:37 AM.
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
hopefully it didn't hurt anything, I mean I only drove it about 1.5 miles ( I live really close to work) with what appears to be 3.5 extra quarts of the wrong fluid in there.
I just hope that stuff hasn't mixed into some kind of toxic trans fluid brew sitting out there in the garage eating my tranny clutches as we speak
we'll call it mercon IV
oh, well if it's screwed, ford can send me a NEW (read not remanufactured) transmission off of the assembly line. I'm not rebuilding my own freaking transmission (or even worse installing a reman unit) under warranty at only 300 miles because somebody put the wrong dipstick in my $33,000 dollar supertruck.
I better go to bed, its 2:30am and I've gotta get up at 7:00am to drive to work and service the transmission on my 8 day old truck!? WTF
g'night all.
sincerely,
chris
I just hope that stuff hasn't mixed into some kind of toxic trans fluid brew sitting out there in the garage eating my tranny clutches as we speak
we'll call it mercon IV
oh, well if it's screwed, ford can send me a NEW (read not remanufactured) transmission off of the assembly line. I'm not rebuilding my own freaking transmission (or even worse installing a reman unit) under warranty at only 300 miles because somebody put the wrong dipstick in my $33,000 dollar supertruck.
I better go to bed, its 2:30am and I've gotta get up at 7:00am to drive to work and service the transmission on my 8 day old truck!? WTF
g'night all.
sincerely,
chris
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From: Houston, TX
Originally posted by superfords
I understand your point, but think about it like this, if no 4R100/E4OD has ever used Merc V, then they probably don't just have mercon V dipsticks laying around the 4R100 building facility waiting to be improperly installed. If they have never used mercon V then why would they even have a mercon V dipstick?
I do know something doesn't add up though:
*tranny shifts fine while missing 3.5 quarts of fluid?
*this type of trans has never used mercon V before.
*owners manual calls for mercon (but then also says use what it calls for on the dipstick???)
I can't even go to sleep for thinking about this...
I understand your point, but think about it like this, if no 4R100/E4OD has ever used Merc V, then they probably don't just have mercon V dipsticks laying around the 4R100 building facility waiting to be improperly installed. If they have never used mercon V then why would they even have a mercon V dipstick?
I do know something doesn't add up though:
*tranny shifts fine while missing 3.5 quarts of fluid?
*this type of trans has never used mercon V before.
*owners manual calls for mercon (but then also says use what it calls for on the dipstick???)
I can't even go to sleep for thinking about this...
Last edited by svt4rd; Jan 4, 2003 at 02:56 AM.
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From: Cincinnati, OH
It's not the transmission plant's fault!!!
Your dipstick is wrong! No 4R100 uses MERCON V, only MERCON. Take it to the dealer and have them fluch it and you'll be okay, but the wrong dipstick will read 4 quarts off, you had the correct fill and the wrong dipstick. The dipstick is installed at the assembly plant, the stub tube is fromt he transmission plant. This is the second one I've seen this happen to, BTW. Drain out the fluid before you drive it, or it will vent out the case and could blow a forward clutch seal (if this happens you won't have any forward gears, if you have the forward gears, it didn't hurt anything.
And MERCON V was not developed for the Torqueshift, it uses a new oil that is not even named yet, we call it C oil (Mercon is H oil, MECON V is B oil)
MERCON V was developed more or less to correct the conveter shudder on the 4R70W. It's used in 4R70W and the 5R55S, 5R55E, 5R55N and 4R44E transmissions, and mybe some FWD one too, but I don't do FWD so I'm not sure.
DO NOT LET YOUR DEALER TELL YOU IT TAKES MERCON V!!! The manual they use will specify MERCON V for a regualr F-150 (4R70W) and if they don't look it up right they'll swear it's what it gets, but trust me on this, it's MERCON.
I'm not a "former Ford Tech" I still work there. Factory Tech is my hobby.
Hope this helps,
G
And MERCON V was not developed for the Torqueshift, it uses a new oil that is not even named yet, we call it C oil (Mercon is H oil, MECON V is B oil)
MERCON V was developed more or less to correct the conveter shudder on the 4R70W. It's used in 4R70W and the 5R55S, 5R55E, 5R55N and 4R44E transmissions, and mybe some FWD one too, but I don't do FWD so I'm not sure.
DO NOT LET YOUR DEALER TELL YOU IT TAKES MERCON V!!! The manual they use will specify MERCON V for a regualr F-150 (4R70W) and if they don't look it up right they'll swear it's what it gets, but trust me on this, it's MERCON.
I'm not a "former Ford Tech" I still work there. Factory Tech is my hobby.
Hope this helps,
G