2002 Taurus 30,000 Mile Tranny Service

[Shadetree 1953]

I just had a 30,000 mile transmission service performed at the local Ford dealer. I got charged $42 for labor, $21 for a Trans Flush Kit and $32 for 12 quarts of fluid. The tranny oilpan doesn't appear to have been removed. Don't these things have filters that should be changed anymore, or did I get shafted?

[Willyum]

Is puzzling what they did. Are you sure they replaced w/Mercon V? I have an '02 and a dealer in Vegas quoted me nearly $250 for a complete flush, filter and refill with Mercon V. Dealer charges $7 qt for the fluid. Am going to do a drain/refill and filter change myself. The filter kit was $21.95 @ Pep Boys, is a flat, half metal device. I was cautioned to only use type V, type III will cause problems, what I don't know.

[sahib]

It really isn't necessary to change the filter on these vehicles as the fluid backflushes it each time you shut down. It's a fine wire mesh and any that I have looked at you couldn't tell from new. The shop probably used a vacuum/suction type machine run through the filler tube to evacuate your transmission. Hard to say what the transmission flush kit is. Call them on it and see if they squirm any. The job sounds pricy to me, but then I don't deal with those people so Lord only knows what is "reasonable" anymore.

[Shadetree 1953]

The bill says Mercon (R) V Auto. I suppose there could be a regional price difference. The fluid smells and looks new. It's obvious they opened at least one of the lines to the cooler. There's a metal retainer that's been moved and they didn't clean up too well when they were done. If the filter info is correct, it makes sense they didn't pull the pan, which is what surprised me. I imagine the flush kit may have a filter for the flushing machine, but I'll have to question the parts department on that.

Thanks for the responses.