Taking my '21 FX4 to dealer for possible transmission issue

[RescueMe1060]

Metering lights are the little stop lights as you merge on to the freeway. At times of peak traffic it’s meant to act as a spacer or barrier between cars. So that not a ton of traffic is flowing on to the freeway at one time to create more traffic.

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[got3fords]

Metering lights are the little stop lights as you merge on to the freeway. At times of peak traffic it’s meant to act as a spacer or barrier between cars. So that not a ton of traffic is flowing on to the freeway at one time to create more traffic.

Well damn, I just learned something.

 

[Chris M]

Well damn, I just learned something.

Lots of metro areas have them. We have tons of them on the freeway on-ramps here in the Phoenix area.

 

[Big Blue]

Have the forum members come up with any ideas of the what why and how this happens to all of our! trucks that arent even 5 years old yet? Was it really just shit engineering and bad manufacturing parts due to Covid? Really makes me lose faith in Ford because my safety and those who are driving behind me on the freeway; their lives matter just as much.

I want to be sensitive here. I realize this is a very emotional and possibly expensive issue for the people that it happens to. First of all this does not happen to "ALL" of our trucks! Please remember this forum only represents a small portion of ALL trucks using this transmission.

In my personal case my 2019 XLT "IS" over 5 years old and works perfectly, even with the suspect CDF drum. In most cases I do not even feel it shift, the only way I know what gear it is in is if I have the gear display up. Granted it only has a little over 37k on it and only occasionally tows a 4k TT. I do have the extended dipstick and plan on doing a filter and fluid change with the 40k oil change.

I also dislike yours and other's use of the term "SHIT engineering". As a retired designer/engineer I resent that term. I do agree that in some cases compromises are made because of economic conditions forced on them, but no self respecting engineer would knowing put out a dangerous design. Too much liability involved.

I do agree that COVID did have a huge affect on the quality of EVERYTHING! Ford was not spared from this. I am happy that my truck was built in the very early stages of this mess. I normally do not like buying the first year of a model, but in this case I may have been lucky.

As for ideas, there are many, mostly centering around the CDF drum and dirty fluid and the solenoid valves. And yes the control software too.

As far as the software goes. I feel alot of it comes from the difference between the ten speed transmission and anything we have had before. And, the varied expectations of the drivers. Some, like myself, who simply drive my truck and occasionally tow. Some, want the truck to perform like a performance sport vehicle. Others, want it to be an offroad 4x4 beast. All that, and the EPAs requirements on Ford for getting the best possible mileage. Not an easy task, considering Ford is a vehicle manufacturer not a software design company. A capability they need to work on.

Sorry for the long post, but I do get sick of the continued reference to the 10R80 as a "ticking timebomb", not term, and the bad or "shit" engineering.

"DISCLAIMER" I have no association to Ford or any other vehicle company. I worked for 40 years for an international consumer products company doing high speed converting equipment design.

 

[RescueMe1060]

I’ve expressed my opinion and so have you. I expected better from a $45k investment. Thanks for the input.

 

[got3fords]

Lots of metro areas have them. We have tons of them on the freeway on-ramps here in the Phoenix area.

I avoid metro areas at all costs. Love central Va.

 

[Chris M]

I avoid metro areas at all costs. Love central Va.

I can dig it.
I grew up in South Central VA (Henry County/Martinsville).
Central VA is beautiful country, for sure.

 

[TJC]

I want to be sensitive here. I realize this is a very emotional and possibly expensive issue for the people that it happens to. First of all this does not happen to "ALL" of our trucks! Please remember this forum only represents a small portion of ALL trucks using this transmission.
...
...
In my personal case my 2019 XLT "IS" over 5 years old and works perfectly, even with the suspect CDF drum. In most cases I do not even feel it shift, the only way I know what gear it is in is if I have the gear display up. Granted it only has a little over 37k on it and only occasionally tows a 4k TT. I do have the extended dipstick and plan on doing a filter and fluid change with the 40k oil change.

I also dislike yours and other's use of the term "SHIT engineering". As a retired designer/engineer I resent that term. I do agree that in some cases compromises are made because of economic conditions forced on them, but no self respecting engineer would knowing put out a dangerous design. Too much liability involved.
...
...
Sorry for the long post, but I do get sick of the continued reference to the 10R80 as a "ticking timebomb", not term, and the bad or "shit" engineering.

I get what you are saying. Your truck has performed flawlessly. I am sincerely happy for you.

My 2020 Ranger was built just before covid lockdowns. At 5K miles my transmission began showing subtle signs of poor shifting. By 12K miles my transmission was misbehaving on every trip. Symptoms would come and go, and change. I could go 20 miles without a hiccup, then things would go crazy. Didn't matter if it was a cold start and fully warmed up. By 18K miles i was ready to unload it. I finally tried as a last resort, a fluid change with LubeGard Platinum, and the problems ceased.

I have read where a Ford lead engineer argued that the ULV fluid was missing key modifiers, and he predicted high failure rates would be the result.

I have no idea why the transmissions fail other than what I read from transmission specialists who are marketing higher quality replacement parts, and Ford announcements.

But Ford quality issues are real: warping AC duct doors, transmission issues, and fan clutch failures, cheap shocks, poor driveshaft implementation, water draining into the spark plug wells, openings that allow mice into the intake track and truck interior, wiring that is mice food.... all are where corners were cut - for whatever reason.

Ford has publicly acknowledged that they have a major quality issue and that it is adversely impacting the financial bottom line.

Believe what you will, but my experience has been 180 degrees out from your experience. Enough so that I won't be purchasing another Ford product until I see a substantial improvement in quality.

This has been the most expensive vehicle that I have purchased, the one that has cost me the most to correct flaws, and the most unreliable. The only vehicle that is close was a 1978 Olds Delta 88 350ci V8 Diesel. And I have not purchased a GM car since.

 

[TJC]

I can dig it.
I grew up in South Central VA (Henry County/Martinsville).
Central VA is beautiful country, for sure.

IMO, The Shenandoah Valley is as close to heaven as you'll find on this earth!

 

[Chris M]

IMO, The Shenandoah Valley is as close to heaven as you'll find on this earth!

I was privileged to work for 2 yrs with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) as a teen. We were headquartered in Luray, but worked for the Forest Service in Shenandoah National Forest building and maintaining trails.
This would have been 1974-1976 ish.
It was an awesome time in an awesome place.

 

[NotBudule2]

Doubtful ill get enough miles on mine for it to come apart and be replaced, and my dreams of trading on a new SuperCab seem unlikely also , so it appears we are stuck with each other... ehh , I'm ok with it I guess ?, it shifts good when I drive it hard and has never embarrassed me in front of a Tacoma, so...

 

[got3fords]

IMO, The Shenandoah Valley is as close to heaven as you'll find on this earth!

Can't argue with that!

 

[Msfitoy]

Well damn, I just learned something.

Metering lights are a clear sign that this is not a place you'd want to live in...

 

[Big Blue]

I’ve expressed my opinion and so have you. I expected better from a $45k investment. Thanks for the input.

That is fine, it is when people start making absolute statements that gets to me when there is no data to support it. As far as expecting better, I think we all did about a lot of things, but then reality set in.

 

[AzScorpion]

Metering lights are a clear sign that this is not a place you'd want to live in...

It means there's a lot of traffic and pollution! This was one many reasons I had to get out of AZ there's just to many people there now and I've never ever lived in a city. It's getting to the point where there's no good time of the day to go/do anything without traffic. The highways are already crowded at 5am and now that it's snowbird season there's thousands more there making it impossible to do anything. Good luck trying to get into a restaurant without a couple hour wait unless you go at 4 pm. The only nice thing was everything was close by (about 2 miles away) and we could walk to the grocery store if needed.

Here in AR there's a few local places (about 3-5 miles) but most everything is a good 20 minutes away. But that's a small price to pay for less traffic, clean air and IMO a better quality of life!

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