I know this is a general question but my 99 Expedition just hit 100,000 miles and I'm trying to decide if I should sell it and get something new or hold on to it. It has been an awesome vehicle with no problems at all. It has the 5.4 and it is a 4X2 with a tranny cooler. I tow a boat on a tandem trailer (about 3700 lbs combined dry weight) with surge brakes about 20 - 30 80 mile round trips to the lake a year. There are a few hills to and from the lake. How long do these last without a rebuild? Is there a way to tell if it is going to die soon? I still owe about $9,000 on it (I bought it after my lease was up). If it was paid off it would be an easier decision but I hate to be paying on something that is going to need major work soon. Thanks and sorry for the long (my first ) post.

Steve

 

The cooler really helps the transmission to last longer. How you drive makes a big difference, and so does regular maintenance. A 99 unit serviced every 35k with a cooler should last 200k if it is not driven hard. You may have to replace some electronics soon ,but they are very easy to do while servicing.
Alan

 

Another thing that will add life to your transmission is a filter in the cooler line. You can use a full flow spin on filter. Kits are available at auto parts stores etc. Use a good Purolator filter. You can also get a small inline filter at auto parts stores or Ford:

Wix transmission/PS filter
===================
Wix transmission/PS filter #58964
200 psi working, pressure relieved, magnetic
change yearly or 12000 miles
Ford equivalent filter kit #XC3Z-7B155-AA
filter alone #XC3P-7B155-BA

 

The tranny in my 99 at 120K was about shot when i had it rebuilt, it would shift hard from 1st to 2nd, hard as in jerky with lots of lag time and that truck was used. is was a 4x4 and stayed pulling something. My clutch plates were almost bare metal. I would guess in a 2wd not driven hard 200k would be feasible. and besides $2500 on a rebuilt to last another 200k is cheaper than a new truck and the motor will far outlast the tranny.
my 2 cents

 

Thanks for the input. I think I'll hold on to it until my youngest is driving (yikes) in about 2 years.
Another quick question...as far as servicing it....is fluid replacement enough or should I have the whole service done where they drop the pan and force the old fluid out etc?
Thanks again.

 

I don't reccomend permantly using those filters if the clog up they restrict flow. We only use them after service for the first 5000 miles to catch any debris from the radiator that did not come out during flushing. Those filters also become another service item.
Alan

 

some would debate this but my opinion is have the flush done. it cost me $100 with the filter and oil and i thought this was well worth it. some will say that it may cause the tranny to start leaking

 

one thing that will help: a bigger pan with a drain plug. yes you will have to drop the pan eventually but you can drain the pan between then and most importantly the extra fluid will help

 

I had a 98 conversion van 5.4 with towing package, and it puked the transmission at 92K and the Ford Remanufactured Transmission lasted almost 1 year to the day and it blew, Ford fixed it for free the second time. Transmission always serviced at 30K, and Ford replaced front and rear seals at 60K. I think the transmission was a lemon from the beginning, but I still bought a 04 F150. Ford gets 1 more shot at me, and if any transmission problem it is back to GM.,

 

Don't expect much from your GM transmission. The 4L60/4L65E aren't the greatest transmissions. I had two impala SSes and went through 6 transmissions. I never had any mods on my car and most miles were highway. Of course I drove it hard occasionally. The 4L80 transmission and the allison are the only ones worth looking at. Stay away from the 4L60/4L65 series.

 

Tell me something I didn't know I have seen 4l60e's and 700r4's break at 15k alot. The 4l60e's have some serious valvebody problems.
Alan

 

I just got rid of a GMC with a driveline vibration that I couldn't find. After changing everything (including the tcase) I came to the conclusion it was probably in the tranny but it was going to be more money to dig through that and find it than it would be to trade it off on a Ford. .

Mike