Please Help 2000 LX 3.8 intermittant stall and jerk???

[12Ounce]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

.... just ask your ford dealer, he knows best.
MT-2500

REALLY! Forgive me for being skeptical!

[MT-2500]

No problem.
The first ford TSB's called for and required a total fluid change and then they later came out with the flush machine because on some trans they had no converter drain plug that you could use to get a total fluid change.
So a total flush is required to solve the problem with the fluid going bad and causing a TCC shudder and or shift shudder.
Her is the momma TSB of them all and some more came out later on the total flush with the flush machine.
http://members.troublecodes.net/crunch/1fordflush.pdf
MT-2500

[12Ounce]

Hmmm ....

Good info, but I don't read any reference to a machine flush of the tranny ....? Reads much like the Haynes manual to me.

[MT-2500]

12Ounce
You are right on they do not actually state that a flush machine is rquired.
Just that a total fluid change is required to get all of the old fluid out.
But on the ones that do not have a converter drain plug.
The only way to do it is to take a cooler line lose and pump the old fluid from cooler line into a bucket or container while pouring in new fluid or just use a flush machine.
Quick lubes and ford dealers push the flush machine and sometimes just for a money maker. But if used right it is good for a lot of trans.
I still use the old 5 gal bucket. I have a 3 way valve that I hook into the cooler line and can turn on and off as needed.
MT-2500

[jaydadder]

Does that TSB even apply to the Windstar's?

I'm going to email the Ford dealer where I purchased the Windstar to determine the warranty requirements for the 60,000 mile Trans. service. The warranty booklet is pretty vague.

Thanks again for the assistance.

[MT-2500]

The TSB I posted is on older modles. But there has been more TSB's put out on later modles.
Have your dealer run your vin no. for TSB's
Every make and modle and trans are different.
See what your dealer recomends.
MT-2500

[jaydadder]

I contacted the Ford dealer where I purchased the Windstar concerning warranty requirements for the 60,000 mile service and this was the reply:

Transmission fluid flush should be done every 30k miles. Cost of the service is $135.00.

I guess I still don't know if this is a warranty requirement or a dealership money maker.

[12Ounce]

Forgive me for repeating: Get them to supply you with a (Ford Motor) document stating that it is required.

The warranty compliance terms should be complete and not confusing. I would send a (reqistered) request letter if necessary. You should have been supplied with this before signing ... anything they try to "add" now is certainly not binding .... in fact, is a breach of contract.

[12Ounce]

... AND SOME MORE of my ramblings on the tranny flushing subject ... should we, or shouldn't we?

Today while I was picking up some repair parts, a friend/service manager shared some company gossip: Ford Corp is taking issue with the (independent) dealers on the subject of tranny flushing. The flushing machines have become a cash cow for the dealers ... but Ford apparently now has data that shows the customers and Ford Corp are getting ripped in the process.

Apparently most of Ford dealerships are independent businesses. (Just like Henry Ford set it all up in the beginning.) A few are owned by the company, but not many I'm told.

You can imagine the conflicts this can cause when the dealership does maintenance service, not by the book, and then wants to pass on to Ford Corp the costs of failures of this unprescribed maintenance.

So this may become a very public debate between the dealers and Ford Corp.

...or it may all be BS. I don't think so, as it came "out of the blue" while we were making small talk about business in gereral.