As some of you may recall, I had a front pump seal leak on my 4R70W. I finally broke down and took it to the tranny shop on Monday. A guy calls me today and says my clutches are fried, all the bushings need replaced, and the sun plate/shell something or other needs replaced. Out the door, I'm getting raped for $2500. Since my truck only has 70k on it and I've NEVER ran it low on fluid (even with the leak), it's really hard for me to fathom how my tranny can die on me this soon. Also, I rarely tow anything. Anyway, I just felt like ranting. Maybe I should start looking for a Chevy afterall . . .

-Craig

 

I have 78,xxx on mine and mine just went out as well. I havent taken it to the shop yet (driving the beater truck around) but i harldy ever do any towing. I do go mudding alot and pull people out alot. Thats probaly the reason.

I do have a question though. How well do these transmissions do in water, as far as getting sumerged?

Brian

 

I've heard it's bad joo-joo to submerge an auto tranny. I know these trannys have a breather tube on the top of the cases and there's also an access port on the bottom of the bellhousing. I'd imagine water could enter the tranny through both places.

-Craig

 

$2500 is insaine. I paid $1700 for everything, with redline clutches and a shift kit.

 

How often did ya'll change your fluid? I'm not talking about dropping the pan and then adding 4-5 quarts;I mean mostly "all" the fluid.Converter drained or total flush? I do mine every 15k miles;drain the converter,drop the pan,and blow out the lines and cooler.I usually get about 13 quarts of old fluid out.The 4R70W holds 13.9 quarts.
Proper fluid changes are what keeps your tranny working well and helps avoid what ya'll are going thru.

 

I bought the truck with 40k on it and have performed two oil/filter changes on the tranny- once when I first acquired the truck and again at 60k. The only thing I can figure is that the guy before me must have F'd up the tranny. And yes, I drain the pan AND the torque converter . . . about 12 quarts is what I get out.

-Craig

 

Did you have your entire transmission rebuilt or just partially rebuilt? I've called various tranny places and all have said that an entire rebuild on a 4R70W is in the avenue of $2300-2500. Apparently the electronics package for the tranny is pretty spendy. You may have not had your electronics replaced when your tranny was rebuilt . . . or maybe you just got a hell of a deal!

-Craig

 

1st thing were you having any other trans problems other than the leaky front seal? If not tell them you want your truck back and get a second opinion. Theres a chain shop called Aamco here and it dont matter what you need done to your trans its always shot and they want to rebuild it.....

 

No, I wasn't having any other issues with my tranny. However, the shop my truck is at is VERY reputable- not an AAMCO by any stretch of the imagination. The shop is keeping my bad parts and will show them to me when I pick my truck up. If I don't think they're as bad as they told me over the phone, there will definitely be some words exchanged.

-Craig

 

Still find it hard to believe a leaky seals turns into a trashed trans when that was your only issue. And as far as the old parts go they could show you parts from a brunt trans and you would never know that they did not come from yours unless you should there watching them tear it down. And also how the hell they know all these internal parts are bad from pulling out a front seal. All thats required to replace the seal after the trans is out is to remove the converter and the seal is right there not inside the trans. Its your call and you trust them but I just dont see it with that low milage, clean fluid and no other issues just sounds like your getting screwed long and hard.....just my thoughts

 

I have a 02 150 4x4 with the 4R70 in it, I have 57588 on it and it needs a rebuild, my circumstances are a little different but I had multiple opinions on mine and found most places dog Ford tranny's. Cottman and 2 other local shops come in at 1900-2100 pending hard parts. This has a 12mo/12000 warranty with all new soft parts and new/rebuilt torque converter.

 

Aww mann... That's a little excessive isn't it?!!! My truck has 170,000 miles on it, and I've only changed the fluid once. My girlfriend's ranger had 190,000 miles on its original fluid, then I found out about it and changed it. It didn't help anything.

But... I'm not recommending going 190,000 miles, I'm just saying.....

 

Regardless, I'm not impressed with this tranny. And to think all this time I thought tranny issues were common only to Chevys. I love my truck, but I really wish Ford would make a tranny that lasted me longer than 70k.

-Craig

 

I just wanted to add that a post like this draws responses like fly strips do flys.

I've a '97 4x4 Lariat with 230,000 miles, 197,000 on it when I bought it. Original 4R70W Transmission and a 4.6L, she pulls and pushes with the best of them. I was also averaging 16 MPG when I last drove her.

My favorite experience was pulling out a friend who got his Dodge stuck in the road. Not off the road mind you, but in the middle of a city street. I will allow that the snow was a good 20 inches deep, but it was priceless.

I look forward to this fall when I get home and take the truck out of storage.

Doug

 

You think thats excessive? I drain and flush my coolant once a year or every 15k miles,fuel filter every 3rd oil change,air filter,every 12k miles or when I cant see the sun shining thru it when I hold it up in the air,oil and filter every 3k miles,rear end fluid every 30k,flush the brake fluid every 30k miles,power steering fluid flush and refill every 30k miles,repack the wheel bearings every 30k miles.....is that too excessive? I just believe in preventive maintenance.And I like to do it anyway!