I was pulling my 13' cargo trailer with two motorcycles inside through the Blue Ridge mountains... had the overdrive controller turned off because of the mountains... when the overdrive controller indicator starts to flash and I get a Trans Fault error on the LCD. Took it in to the Ford dealership and was told that that torque converter clutch is slipping and that I need it replaced. I asked how this could happen on a three year old truck and was told that it was due to my not having the transmission flushed every 30k miles according to manufacturer recommendations. Amazing.
1. Power flushing is not recommended for the 4 speed automatic w/overdrive transmission because it has a filter element.
2. The transmission oil was pink, did not smell burned and would not cause a torque converter clutch failure.
3. Every third oil change was done at the dealer, and not once did they tell me that I was due for transmission service.
4. The web is chock full of complaints about the F150 and Expedition torque converters going bad on this transmission. The local AAMCO says they replace at least two a month.
So there you have it... Ford Motor Company has a poorly manufactured torque converter in these trucks and is refusing to fix the issue... either because its out of warranty (at 50k miles) or the customer didn't have their transmission serviced every 30k miles at a cost of $200 a flush.
Moral of this lesson... spend the $200 and get the trans flushed at your local Ford Dealer... if for no other reason than to give them no excuses when your torque converter fails. OR... buy a GM truck which has a 100k miles power train warranty and only requires transmission service ever 50k miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I was pulling my 13' cargo trailer with two motorcycles inside through the Blue Ridge mountains... had the overdrive controller turned off because of the mountains... when the overdrive controller indicator starts to flash and I get a Trans Fault error on the LCD. Took it in to the Ford dealership and was told that that torque converter clutch is slipping and that I need it replaced. I asked how this could happen on a three year old truck and was told that it was due to my not having the transmission flushed every 30k miles according to manufacturer recommendations. Amazing.
1. Power flushing is not recommended for the 4 speed automatic w/overdrive transmission because it has a filter element. 2. The transmission oil was pink, did not smell burned and would not cause a torque converter clutch failure. 3. Every third oil change was done at the dealer, and not once did they tell me that I was due for transmission service. 4. The web is chock full of complaints about the F150 and Expedition torque converters going bad on this transmission. The local AAMCO says they replace at least two a month.
So there you have it... Ford Motor Company has a poorly manufactured torque converter in these trucks and is refusing to fix the issue... either because its out of warranty (at 50k miles) or the customer didn't have their transmission serviced every 30k miles at a cost of $200 a flush.
Moral of this lesson... spend the $200 and get the trans flushed at your local Ford Dealer... if for no other reason than to give them no excuses when your torque converter fails. OR... buy a GM truck which has a 100k miles power train warranty and only requires transmission service ever 50k miles.
Thank you Ford... may I have another.
- William B., Youngstown, OH, US