F150 tranny issue...what to do?
 

My ten year old F150, with 140K miles began displaying a "Trans Fault" last week and I've just recieved word "second hand", that the tranny is shot (though I hadn't percieved "anything" up to now) and needs to be replaced/rebuilt. I'm "hearing" around 2K...so now it's decision time. Go ahead and give the OK, or is it time to look for a "new" (used) truck? Throwing this out to the PPOT braintrust while I go visit the shop and decide what to do....drive it 'til it dies (which was my intent anyways), give the OK to replace/repair, or begin shopping for another F150? What say ye? Thanks!!!

Although it is sometimes a gamble, you can always go the used trans route. Probably for half the money.
2 k sounds reasonable for a rebuild by a trans shop.

I'd say 2k is a good price for an overhaul. If yours is a 4R-100, then that's a real good price for an overhaul. So long as the truck not all beat up, nor have some other deferred service items, it's worth doing the repair because most of the modular engines run for well past 200,000 miles. It's roughly the same as four truck payments.

Throw some swepco through it to see what happens

I'd try to find a lower-mileage used transmission for under a grand, with some sort of limited warranty like a 30 day exchange.

You should be able to find a used one out of a wrecking yard for $800 or less with a 30 day warranty (all you need to know if it's a turd) and swap it in. Depends a bit on which truck you have ...2WD, 4WD, V6, 4.6, 5.4, etc.... but either way probably cheaper.

i was in the exact same boat. i opted for a new tranny. cost me $3400. painful but it worked. drove it for two more years, and sold it for..you guessed it $3400.

i guess it depends on the rest of the truck..and if it is a ticking timebomb.

What is the "retail" value of the truck? If you fix the transmission, will you drive it several more years?

I'm in a similar situation with my 03 Tundra. I still haven't decided. If I liked any new trucks it would help, but spending $20-$30k on something I need but don't like is painful to contemplate.

In what world does a tranny expire after only 140K miles? Were their warning signs? What does it do to tell you its failing, besides the light? Do you tow a lot or anything unusual? Which engine?

I had my 01 Ford F150 Trans go out at 200k. Pulled it out myself and had it rebuilt for about $1250, incl a new heavy duty torque converter.

Did the $2k include R&R or you pull it and rebuild only.

Thank you all for your replies! For clarification, it's a 2wd w/ the 4.6L, and other than the beep/display, I haven't had any other indication that anything was amiss before now. Of course, bringing her home yesterday, I was imagining/feeling EVERYTHING and going hmmm :eek:. Truck is in good condition otherwise, and I'll likely keep it for years if I decided to fix it...which I'm leaning towards along with sourcing a "used" tranny, or having it rebuilt. No heavy towing, and I'm getting ready to sell my bass boat so I just need a "work truck"....I do haul more heavy loads (dirt/wood, etc.) than I ever anticipated however :D. I'm gonna visit the tranny shop that was recommended to me later on and keep weighing my options. Appreciate the feedback...probably wouldn't have even considered a "used" tranny, and that's why I posted...PPOT rocks!

You should try to narrow down what the fault is. Could be anything. Something as simple as valve body which is an R&R DIY'd by removing the pan. I'd get a little smarter on it instead of opting for a rebuild right off the bat. But that's me.

There's a great Ford truck site "Ford Truck Enthusiasts" with great people just like here that can help you sort out the problem. Check it out if you're not a member
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I forgot, I had my OD light flashing in my F350 (no digital display) and it turned out to be a bad speed sensor in the rear axle. There are a lot of electronic gadgets in these so before you decide to just have it replaced, I'd take it to a REPUTABLE transmission shop and have them read the trans codes.

I would get a second opinion and have the transmission serviced, codes cleared (assuming that clearing the codes clears the light like it does for the CEL). Worst case, you are out the cost of the service. Best case, you keep on driving it.

angela

Well, that was an easy decision...the original original option of the "driving it 'til it died" part :D. Set out this morning to run some errands, gas up, and stopped by an AutoZone to see if they could pull the codes (nope...) all on the way to visit the recommended tranny shop in a small neighboring town. Along the way, I was close to my parents' house, so I pulled in for a quick visit and entering the driveway I felt a "shudder"....not good. At that point, I decided I'd be dropping the truck off to stay and asked my dad if he'd drive too so I'd have a ride back...no problemo. Pulling out of his driveway, it suddenly got BAD and I immediately turned around and decided a AAA tow was better even though the shop was less than 10 miles away. Got a REAL good feeling from the "good 'ol boy" at the shop (and also based upon my original shop's recommendation of them) that it still might not be anything major...he wouldn't know until they pulled the codes with a proper "transmission module" for the reader. A bit later he calls back...they'd pulled the pan and found metal everywhere...probably not even "rebuildable" (more $ for his shop than replacing), so the decision was new or used tranny. I was feeling so dang lucky that I opted for the latter :p. $2600 verses $1600 (total costs)....not a lot of $ difference, but I'm a PUNK and I just felt LUCKY. It's a calculated gamble and time will tell....thank you all for your suggestions!

cool..i love the plan.

one time my brother's truck lost all forward gears. we were stuck. it was the worst rain storm in El PAso..tow trucks were not even responding. me, being the older brother got a plan together. i asked him to call in a couple of cop cars.,,he called a police car in, two of them..they shadowed us with two cars, lights flashing..and we drove it all the way to a tranny shop in reverse. it was freaking fun as hell...i got to do the reverse drive. my idea and all.

good luck!!

Wow, that went south in a hurry!

I put used power units in for people all the time. Most of the time , on an older vehicle that is not getting used hard, for towing, or racing, it is the smart way to go. I am sure I have done hundreds over the years, and only been stung by a bad unit a few times. You should be in good shape.
I am predicting transmission rebuilders are the next segment of the auto industry to die. They are almost all going towards purchasing units from the BIG trans parts suppliers.
I run into this alot , I use a local builder. and as soon as a few hard parts get chewed up inside the case the cost to rebuild goes over the cost to purchase.
When I was young, I worked for a trans rebuilder ,and he would buy junk transmissions by the truckload and warehouse parts. Part of my job as a young grunt there when we were slow, was tearing down used units, cleaning up , and organizing it all on shelves .I used to be able to identify every piece of nearly every domestic trans you could imagine.

The first generation tranny on the Tundra was weak, they fixed it in 2004 I think. Get a used newer version and swap it in, much stronger (and cheaper as there is more supply in the yards..think I paid $4-500). They and the books will tell you they are not compatible with your truck...they are wrong. I have a 200X (can't recall but it's the newer version) in my 2000 and not a single bolt of difference. It does spec a different fluid which is why I imagine they claim they are not compatible.