Transmission Horror Story (replacement/factory underfilled?)

[thetylerstanley37]

Hello 5g friends,
Here's my story. In January I took my 2020 Ford Ranger XLT to my local Ford dealership to take a look at my transmission. In cold weather I was experiencing lag between shifts and hard shift until warmed up. I have put it in drive and have had to wait 20+ seconds for the transmission to get it rolling forward on a flat surface. I've also put it in drive and had it roll back a few feet on flat ground before slamming into drive with authority. Sometime I would get a hard jerk/clunk when going from park to drive. Worst of all I would experience what I believe to be the clutch slipping, RPM increase and no acceleration. The dealership reset the adaptive driving tables, told me to give it at least 500 km (Canadian lol) and said to bring it back if it continued. The service department went ahead and ordered parts for my transmission anyways and actually reached out before I did. I brought the truck back to them on February 24 as they were planning to replace the transmission valve body as they believed that was the issue (I'm no mechanic). They called me back on February 25 saying that once getting into my transmission they found extensive damage. They've ordered a new transmission from Sacramento that they will be slapping into the truck in a couple weeks. I read on here awhile back that some trucks transmission were underfilled from factory and I wonder if that was the case with my truck. Has anyone else dealt with anything similar?

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[Wytchdctr]

Low on fluid from the factory or you need to stop doing standing 3 to 5 minute long burnouts.... would be my guess.

 

[thetylerstanley37]

Low on fluid from the factory or you need to stop doing standing 3 to 5 minute long burnouts.... would be my guess.

I thought the only repercussion to burnouts was having to beat the ladies off with a stick...

 

[Greymouser]

What you are describing is exactly what my transmission was doing. they tried to reprogram it that did not fix it eventually they replaced the valve body assembly that didn't work either,the dealer wanted to put a new transmission in but Ford wanted them to break it down the point of failure and rebuild. the mechanic told me but it needed a new gasket kit and some 0 rings but the parts on a galactic backorder and didn't know when the parts were coming in. I contacted Ford customer care and set up a warranty claim to see if they could help me get the parts they said a few dealers had the parts I needed but we're unwilling to send the parts they were hoarding them for themselves eventually I was able to contact a dealer in Oklahoma that had the parts and felt sorry for me and shipped them to me. About three weeks later they got my truck back together and they said it still wasn't working and that they were going to put a new transmission in. Meanwhile half the mechanics came down with covid-19. I took my truck in in the middle of July didn't get it back until December it's been about 2 months and everything is good so far they gave me an extended warranty for my truck and reimbursed me for the parts I bought they did give me a new F150 to drive while they're working on my truck, the dealer did offer to buy my truck back at full price

 

[halligan1201]

What you are describing is exactly what my transmission was doing. they tried to reprogram it that did not fix it eventually they replaced the valve body assembly that didn't work either,the dealer wanted to put a new transmission in but Ford wanted them to break it down the point of failure and rebuild. the mechanic told me but it needed a new gasket kit and some 0 rings but the parts on a galactic backorder and didn't know when the parts were coming in. I contacted Ford customer care and set up a warranty claim to see if they could help me get the parts they said a few dealers had the parts I needed but we're unwilling to send the parts they were hoarding them for themselves eventually I was able to contact a dealer in Oklahoma that had the parts and felt sorry for me and shipped them to me. About three weeks later they got my truck back together and they said it still wasn't working and that they were going to put a new transmission in. Meanwhile half the mechanics came down with covid-19. I took my truck in in the middle of July didn't get it back until December it's been about 2 months and everything is good so far they gave me an extended warranty for my truck and reimbursed me for the parts I bought they did give me a new F150 to drive while they're working on my truck, the dealer did offer to buy my truck back at full price

You're a more patient person than most. Six months at the dealership, most here would have gone the buyback route. We've seen the stories where they did over much less.

 

[paval3]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question... but can service department tell if truck is low on transmission fluid when in for normal maintenance visit (meaning, is it something they can tell quick)? I posted this not too long ago in another thread, but didn't get any opinions... my truck has about 3400 miles on it now (got it end of April 2021; it's a 2021 XLT SCREW). Transmission has seemed fine up until I experienced this one time. Usually I let the truck warm up 3 or 4 minutes when it's super cold, but one morning I didn't and I exited my driveway in reverse as I usually do... when I got out in the lane (no snow, road dry), I went to put it in Drive, and it wouldn't go forward.... I put it in Reverse, no movement. Only when I put it in 4H did it more forward. Once it got moving I was able to put it in Drive 2H on the fly. It only did it that one time. Should I be concerned?

I need to take my truck in for annual inspection in March and want to get my first oil change and tire rotation, so wondering if I can ask them to check the transmission fluid.

 

[BrassSlinger]

What you are describing is exactly what my transmission was doing. they tried to reprogram it that did not fix it eventually they replaced the valve body assembly that didn't work either,the dealer wanted to put a new transmission in but Ford wanted them to break it down the point of failure and rebuild. the mechanic told me but it needed a new gasket kit and some 0 rings but the parts on a galactic backorder and didn't know when the parts were coming in. I contacted Ford customer care and set up a warranty claim to see if they could help me get the parts they said a few dealers had the parts I needed but we're unwilling to send the parts they were hoarding them for themselves eventually I was able to contact a dealer in Oklahoma that had the parts and felt sorry for me and shipped them to me. About three weeks later they got my truck back together and they said it still wasn't working and that they were going to put a new transmission in. Meanwhile half the mechanics came down with covid-19. I took my truck in in the middle of July didn't get it back until December it's been about 2 months and everything is good so far they gave me an extended warranty for my truck and reimbursed me for the parts I bought they did give me a new F150 to drive while they're working on my truck, the dealer did offer to buy my truck back at full price

Yikes,what a shit show. Glad you got it back.

 

[BrassSlinger]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question... but can service department tell if truck is low on transmission fluid when in for normal maintenance visit (meaning, is it something they can tell quick)? I posted this not too long ago in another thread, but didn't get any opinions... my truck has about 3400 miles on it now (got it end of April 2021; it's a 2021 XLT SCREW). Transmission has seemed fine up until I experienced this one time. Usually I let the truck warm up 3 or 4 minutes when it's super cold, but one morning I didn't and I exited my driveway in reverse as I usually do... when I got out in the lane (no snow, road dry), I went to put it in Drive, and it wouldn't go forward.... I put it in Reverse, no movement. Only when I put it in 4H did it more forward. Once it got moving I was able to put it in Drive on the fly. It only did it that one time. Should I be concerned?

I need to take my truck in for annual inspection in March and want to get my first oil change and tire rotation, so wondering if I can ask them to check the transmission fluid.

Hell yeah ask them to check the fluid,better safe than sorry

 

[thetylerstanley37]

What you are describing is exactly what my transmission was doing. they tried to reprogram it that did not fix it eventually they replaced the valve body assembly that didn't work either,the dealer wanted to put a new transmission in but Ford wanted them to break it down the point of failure and rebuild. the mechanic told me but it needed a new gasket kit and some 0 rings but the parts on a galactic backorder and didn't know when the parts were coming in. I contacted Ford customer care and set up a warranty claim to see if they could help me get the parts they said a few dealers had the parts I needed but we're unwilling to send the parts they were hoarding them for themselves eventually I was able to contact a dealer in Oklahoma that had the parts and felt sorry for me and shipped them to me. About three weeks later they got my truck back together and they said it still wasn't working and that they were going to put a new transmission in. Meanwhile half the mechanics came down with covid-19. I took my truck in in the middle of July didn't get it back until December it's been about 2 months and everything is good so far they gave me an extended warranty for my truck and reimbursed me for the parts I bought they did give me a new F150 to drive while they're working on my truck, the dealer did offer to buy my truck back at full price

Oh man, I thought I had it bad. Hope all goes well with the new transmission.

 

[thetylerstanley37]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question... but can service department tell if truck is low on transmission fluid when in for normal maintenance visit (meaning, is it something they can tell quick)? I posted this not too long ago in another thread, but didn't get any opinions... my truck has about 3400 miles on it now (got it end of April 2021; it's a 2021 XLT SCREW). Transmission has seemed fine up until I experienced this one time. Usually I let the truck warm up 3 or 4 minutes when it's super cold, but one morning I didn't and I exited my driveway in reverse as I usually do... when I got out in the lane (no snow, road dry), I went to put it in Drive, and it wouldn't go forward.... I put it in Reverse, no movement. Only when I put it in 4H did it more forward. Once it got moving I was able to put it in Drive 2H on the fly. It only did it that one time. Should I be concerned?

I need to take my truck in for annual inspection in March and want to get my first oil change and tire rotation, so wondering if I can ask them to check the transmission fluid.

I would make sure to ask them specifically to do it. When I have taken my truck in for oil changes they rotate the tires and do an inspection. If my transmissions demise was due to low fluids then I don't think that's something they check. I believe the only place to check is the dipstick off the side of the transmission.

 

[paval3]

I would make sure to ask them specifically to do it. When I have taken my truck in for oil changes they rotate the tires and do an inspection. If my transmissions demise was do to low fluids then I don't think that's something they check. I believe the only place to check is the dipstick off the side of the transmission.

I was wondering if it was something I could check myself, but I'm guessing it's not in a location I could get to it.

 

[Megawatt]

I was wondering if it was something I could check myself, but I'm guessing it's not in a location I could get to it.

If you have a lift you can check it easily otherwise it’s no fun. Gotta get under the truck.

Yes be concerned.

 

[Trigganometry]

Trick to checking transmission fluid level. When cold crack nut that holds the dipstick. Warm up truck to operation temp. Now crack nut and remove it. It’s near catalytic converter so watch yourself! Heavy leather gloves if you have them. Check level and reseat cap when cold again.

 

[andybj]

I just did a drain and fill along with a filter replacement on my 2020 Lariat. Fluid was VERY dark (35k miles) and clearly underfilled by about 1 qt. I was having delayed and harsh shifting when cold. After the service, the truck is noticeably smoother at all times and especially when cold.

Also, the delay going into reverse is completely gone. If you truck has the delay going into reverse, I would suspect the trans is underfilled. The fluid looked so bad that I am planning another drain and fill in about 10k miles.

 

[thetylerstanley37]

I just did a drain and fill along with a filter replacement on my 2020 Lariat. Fluid was VERY dark (35k miles) and clearly underfilled by about 1 qt. I was having delayed and harsh shifting when cold. After the service, the truck is noticeably smoother at all times and especially when cold.

Also, the delay going into reverse is completely gone. If you truck has the delay going into reverse, I would suspect the trans is underfilled. The fluid looked so bad that I am planning another drain and fill in about 10k miles.

Quick question since you have got the first hand experience. When checking/changing the transmission fluid are you supposed to check the fluid when warm? Also from videos I’ve seen that the dip stick says “see service manual” (which I don’t think cam in my truck) followed by a cross-hashed section and then a waffle-like section. Is it supposed to be in the cross-hash section when warm?

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