transmission replacement - your thoughts

[Waxhaw]

Hi Northern Piper,
Last year the trans went out in our '01 at 140k, pulling away from a stop light and jerked with grinding. Drove gently the 10 miles home with no futher problem but then would not back out of driveway, only grinding. Sounded like more than a regular rebuild so I bought a trans from Pull-a-Part for under $100 with core charge and no warranty.

I had a choice of several vans with no idea of mileage so chose the one with less brake pedal wear, clean trans fluid and tore the filter open and found no metal. It took me almost three days working by myself to get the trans out at the junkyard. It was a learning expeirence...found that backwards facing bolt in the back of the trans! I put a rebuilt torque converter ($80) in it and it works great - except it doesn't go into overdrive. I haven't fixed that yet..

12 Ounce is right as usual, they are heavy and unwieldy, out and in.

As you know you can get the support to hold the engine in place and lower the subframe and r & r the trans. Sounds like you have a car lift? Then you can do what I did and put 4 jack stands under the subframe, disconnect the steering rack, pull the drive axels out of the trans (no puller need just pry gently and pull), disconnect everything else needed to raise the car up to leave your engine -trans - subframe on the jackstands while the car is six foot in the air. That makes it easier to get to the trans but easy is relative!

You say you have some rust? Mine too and this van was only a few years in the salt. Plan on multiplying time for bolts that are frozen or break! My subframe long bolts were rusty and an exhaust manifold to pipe stud broke.

If I did it again I'd think more of getting the support bar to hold the engine in place but I did what a mechanic suggested and had a shop with a lift available. Yeah with the engine support on and the car on the lift, I think you would need a trans lift as it is too heavy for two guys to wrangle that thing out head high. Either way you must be careful, if working alone have someone within holleren distance.

Nearby in Charlotte, NC there is a transmission parts place called Whatever it Takes, https://www.wittrans.com They have a reputation for good parts and prices and ship all over.

Good luck sir, it's a big job for a home mechanic but you'll smile when finished, even if it doesn't go into overdrive.

Waxhaw

[northern piper]

HI Waxhaw,

thanks for your lengthy post. It was very informative and certainly outlined what I figured I'd do...

Since posting earlier I have some new thoughts. I did a check to see what this van would sell for. Sadly, the price range is $339 to $969. Now I'll grant you that the van is worth more to me but with a wife and daughter who's recently started driving I gotta be honest, I've lost faith in the van for reliability. If it were me driving it 100% of the time I'd do the repairs. At this point, I'm facing the fact that I need to sell the van and look for some other reliable transportation. If the max price it will fetch is just under a grand, it doesn't make sense to buy a junk yard trans ($450) plus the overhaul kit ($300) plus the extra stuff that undoubtedly crop up. That's $1000 right there.

So, I'm thinking I'm going to replace the servo soft parts that are easy to get to and relatively inexpensive. The new fluid and slip stop has really helped. I honestly think that if you aren't looking for the slip you don't notice.

It's a sad day but I think the writing's on the wall...

[12Ounce]

Uh, Uh ... You know what I said about considering market value.

[northern piper]

yup 12Ounce... you're so right!

My trouble is, I really don't feel super comfortable with my wife (who IS a competent driver) and my daughter (who's ok but very inexperienced) driving the van any more. As I said, if it were me driving it every day I'd be ok. As I have a work vehicle I have to drive, they're in the van. So, my approach now is to get the trans working as best as possible and put it on the market.

It's a tough call as I really have got good value from the van, had it since new. But with 190,000 km on the van, the time I fear has come.

If the undercarriage was in better shape I'd be more inclined to replace the trans. I just don't think it's worth the $$ only to have the frame continue to deteriorate.

Anyway, I'm gonna think on this a bit more..

[tempfixit]

What about finding a tranny that is need of repair for core price and overhauling and installing? This sould save you some $$$$.

Just a thought

[12Ounce]

OK, I agree with you if the chassis is rusting away ... that can be impossible to overcome.

[jack renoud]

Hi Folks,

I have had a nightmare with the 2003 Ford Windstar transmission. Replaced it twice now. Suggest you look up any and all TSB notices on this van including especially # 06-14-10. Apparently Ford manufactured this van with a transmission that is subject to water leaking into the trans from the cowl cover vent. When water gets into the transmission it cooks it. Ford knows about it. It was not running properly and we took it to Ford. The young punk there called me back and said that there was water in the transmission, they 'cleaned' it up and he drove it home and it was 'fine'/ I am not too familiar with stuff like this and took his word for it. The first rebuild on the transmission was done by a recommended transmission place here in Fairfield, CT. It falied at 1 year two months, He never pressure tested the radiator and that was replaced. He also never checked the TSB bulletin mentioned above. I will Never use him and never recommend him ..ever. Water in transmission. Told me that it would last for quite a while. Had it checked every 4 months.Has 87,000 original Easy local driving. After that , just recently had Ford look at it again as it wasn't working properly. I looked at the FORD service ticket from initial Ford visit and noticed that the punk service tech never mentioned the water he found in the transmission on the ticket ! Check out the TSB bulletin 06-14-19. Ford knew that this defective cowling leaked water right into the transmission vent and each time I was there , they never mentioned this. The Slugs that work at the FORD SERVICE department in Bridgeport are complicit with a cover up of a major problem here. Fixed now, finally. Lots of $ Going to keep it until it dies.It's become my company vehicle now and will be checked as recommended. I will Never buy Ford again. My Ford Taurus had the front axle snap with my wife and two young daughters in it. The Ford van prior to the Windstar had the transmission fail on it also. Hmmmmm Makes me pine for a foreign made German car.