My perfect Ranger with an imperfect transmission...

[TJC]

At the cost or that mine's broken?

I am not surprised that it is being replaced instead of repaired, and that the failure was catastrophic.

Cost is a little lower than I expected.

I do not trust the Ford fluid change schedule (which is NEVER! (150K miles is essentially never)). My opinion is that the transmission is designed to last no more than 150K miles. Essentially Ford is only concerned with making it last beyond the 36K mile warranty.

I do not believe that the torque converter is efficient or built strong enough with adequate cooling capabilities. It overheats the oil. Ford built it "just good enough".

I have heard clanking noises emanating from out of my transmission on occasion when the torque converter can't decide to lock or unlock. It gets confused. Maybe it is a possible software problem.

As an old SW/HW developer, I can tell you it is very easy to code something to do a given thing, but it is very difficult to cover all the possibilities of it doing something that you don't want it to do. You must think of every possible scenario and code for it.

You must also code for the design limitations of the hardware. And code in allowances for less than optimal performance of the hardware. Timing tends to be critical.

Building a reliable mechanical transmission is far easier than building a reliable computer controlled transmission. Instead of having to deal with only a mechanical failure, you must also concern yourself with software errors, computer electronics component failures, power supply voltage and current fluctuations, and proper grounding, as well as the mechanical failures of the transmission itself. The more complicated the plumbing the easier it is to stop it up.

Of course this is all simply my opinion. but it is based up 40+ years of experience in the I/T technology industry.

Me, I am going to err on keeping fluid in the correct temp range, changing it every 30K miles adding the deep pan that holds an additional 1.75qts, and adding a proper dipstick to make the maintenance of the transmission easier.

And I may still suffer the same result as you. Only time will tell. But I will know with certianty at the end of this journey whether it is a service related or design related problem.

On a related and similar note I added a catch can at 3K miles. I just took a trip of 500+ miles on interstate. Before beginning the trip I checked my engine oil level (1500 miles since last change) and emptied the catch can. I noticed that the engine oil level had gone up by .5" on the dipstick. First time I have seen it happen on my truck.

Upon returning home, the next morning I checked the oil level. It was down 7/16" and just 1/32" or so above full! I then checked the catch can - which was found to be full of water and gas mix with a trace of oil. The first 1500 miles on this oil was primarily short trips of 50 miles of less. The second trip was a long distance run.. Ambient temps were in the 30's at night and 50's in the day.

Something unusual is going on inside the 2.3L ECO boost engine as well.

My old 2005 Ranger with a 4L V6 has a closed PVC system as well and the oil level remains constant between changes.

- T

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[KJRR]

If I was going rebuilt, I would definitely go with a trans shop and not let the Ford techs deal with. But then again, that would cost about 3K for a rebuild, with a 1-year warranty, if you were lucky.
This way, OP is getting a brand new trans and 3-year unlimited mile warranty. No trans shop would offer that.

The 'buy once, cry once' principle. May cost more but hopefully it's fixed right and you don't have to worry about it again.
I still haven't fully learned that lesson.

 

[BS67]

Sid, for the price they quoted you did you get them to throw in a free damper??? Just wondering!

 

[Msfitoy]

Sid, for the price they quoted you did you get them to throw in a free damper??? Just wondering!

My TGD lasted longer than my transmission...will probably out last the replacement... ?

 

[Rhino]

Easy.

The thread started out about transmission problems.

It's only natural that Chrysler products would make an appearance in any transmission problem discussion



I prefer the TJ, though the LJ does have more room for stuff in the back.

Several issues with the LJ:

1: People seem to think they're made of platinum.

2: Most have the problematic 42RLE transmission (a front wheel drive minivan transmission that Jeep knocked a hole in the side of and added an output shaft to make it RWD. Seriously) or the equally problematic NSG370 manual. The 06 model seemed to mostly fix the NSG370.

That leaves the rare 2004 model with the NV3550 manual as the one to get if you can find one.

I wanted a fun runabout so the TJ fits the bill.

Plus I have my Ranger if I need to carry more stuff.

got a point people love the damn lj and price them crazy! but if you plan to wheel it they are a better platform then the tj because of how short the tj is

I am interested in failure analysis. What failed, and why did it fail. Then real avoidance measures.

- T

agreed

My TGD lasted longer than my transmission...will probably out last the replacement... ?

lets hope the next transmission last until you get a new truck haha but at least the price on the new trans was lower then your original thought



also i never got any updates on this thread even thou i watch it... so i missed it all lol

 

[AdamHarris]

If I was going rebuilt, I would definitely go with a trans shop and not let the Ford techs deal with. But then again, that would cost about 3K for a rebuild, with a 1-year warranty, if you were lucky.
This way, OP is getting a brand new trans and 3-year unlimited mile warranty. No trans shop would offer that.

The warranties vary from 1 yr to 5 yrs with independent shops or chain shops depending on a bunch of factors I guess. My $$, I believe, would still go to the best possible indy shop where they are gonna implement key upgrades and end up with a unit that will outperform and outlast a factory one. Hopefully lol. Prolly cost even More than $5900 for that though…

 

[Wytchdctr]

It will be interesting to see how many more go around 100k when 200k really seems to be the old 100k in terms of car reliability issues.

Sucks it died so early.

Looks out at the driveway.... Crap. That would suck. I think I'll get it's trans fluid done at 50. Maybe that will help?

 

[Yinzcity]

At that price, I'd be rolling the dice on a junkyard trans. The local yards are asking $700-$1500 for them here. But I'm not sure if your average backyard mechanic can do that anymore or if the transmission needs programmed in with some special Ford software.

Doesn't make me feel good about my own selectively clunky transmission. I'd be thinking of doing a fluid change this weekend if it wasn't winter.

 

[Langwilliams]

At that price, I'd be rolling the dice on a junkyard trans. The local yards are asking $700-$1500 for them here. But I'm not sure if your average backyard mechanic can do that anymore or if the transmission needs programmed in with some special Ford software.

Doesn't make me feel good about my own selectively clunky transmission. I'd be thinking of doing a fluid change this weekend if it wasn't winter.

I was thinking that too but it would depend on the mileage on the truck an the used transmission. If the truck were over 120K or so an I could find a trans with under 50K I would think it's an option.

 

[Yinzcity]

I was thinking that too but it would depend on the mileage on the truck an the used transmission. If the truck were over 120K or so an I could find a trans with under 50K I would think it's an option.

Most of the ones I see locally are under 30k miles. Lots of front end damage, a few rollovers. I wouldn't pick one from a rollover if given the choice. Having a transmission go through a spin cycle while it was presumably still spinning can't be good for it.

 

[AzScorpion]

At that price, I'd be rolling the dice on a junkyard trans. The local yards are asking $700-$1500 for them here. But I'm not sure if your average backyard mechanic can do that anymore or if the transmission needs programmed in with some special Ford software.

Doesn't make me feel good about my own selectively clunky transmission. I'd be thinking of doing a fluid change this weekend if it wasn't winter.

I'd go this way too if I wasn't planning on keeping it long but Sid is in it for the long haul, 200,000 miles or bust. lol There's nothing worse than taking a chance on a bone yard part especially a transmission and having it soon fail again. Then this deal he's getting now will be gone and the transmission might not be readily available. While it's considerably more money having a brand new transmission with a 3 year warranty gives him peace of mind.

 

[Rhino]

I'd go this way too if I wasn't planning on keeping it long but Sid is in it for the long haul, 200,000 miles or bust. lol There's nothing worse than taking a chance on a bone yard part especially a transmission and having it soon fail again. Then this deal he's getting now will be gone and the transmission might not be readily available. While it's considerably more money having a brand new transmission with a 3 year warranty gives him peace of mind.

i agree with you on this big time! on a truck this new i wouldnt be putting a used one in it especially if im wanting to keep it for a long time

 

[Yinzcity]

I'd go this way too if I wasn't planning on keeping it long but Sid is in it for the long haul, 200,000 miles or bust. lol There's nothing worse than taking a chance on a bone yard part especially a transmission and having it soon fail again. Then this deal he's getting now will be gone and the transmission might not be readily available. While it's considerably more money having a brand new transmission with a 3 year warranty gives him peace of mind.

I get that. My dad had an 86 C10 back in the day with the 6.2 Diesel and a TH400 that gave up the ghost a couple years into owning it. We spent a miserable afternoon swapping a junkyard trans into it working in a muddy field in the rain. Lasted for all of 3 months before that one quit too. It went to the transmission shop after that..

 

[Jason B]

We need to get away from the thinking that the 5G Ranger has a 'weak' or faulty trans that will fail before 100K. Although there aren't many 5G Rangers out there above 100K, there are plenty of F150's out there with the same trans, and I'd guess many above 100K. And how can the trans be weak in the Ranger when it's doing fine in an F150 that's heavier, has a higher payload and tow rating. If the
10R80 was 'weak' and flawed, there would be a lot of F150's (and Explorers) affected. Stop believing a report from a company trying to sell a 5K 'upgrade' to this trans.

 

[Superspirit]

A whole lot of fear mongering going on in this thread. I thought most ranger owners loved their flawless trucks.??

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