Ford in for a Tranny.

[StevieC]

So the Ford Windstar my dad was given is in the shop to get it's transmission removed and rebuilt. One of the planetary gears is is skipping and the torque converter is not functioning properly.

The guy my dad is friends with is going to pull it out... Update it with all the updates issued since it was built in ('03) replace all the internal parts, reprogram the TCM with updates as necessary and put it back in. $1800 cash (No tax)

We could have pulled it out and done it ourselves but thanks to Ford's ridiculous design you have to drop the whole frame to get the bugger out. (Not fun, and not worth it without a hoist)

I'm planning on letting dad run the truck for 30K KM (18K miles) and then dumping the fluid and changing the internal filter and putting on a Magnefine filter and Amsoil transmission fluid once the break-in is done over those 18K miles.

We are having an axillary cooler installed as well to save the transmission premature wear in future and also because the van has a trailer hitch and might tow some stuff here/there.

Thoughts... ?

 

[Herz]

transmission repairs suck.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

what year is the Windstar?

 

[PandaBear]

I though the Ford transmission problem is fixed in 00/01 when they switch to steel piston valving.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
what year is the Windstar?
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I though the Ford transmission problem is fixed in 00/01 when they switch to steel piston valving.


It's an 03. It is much better as the truck made it over 300K KM's (180K miles) before it died and the previous owner (neighbour) drove the snot out of it and regularly towed a boat all summer long. It saw transmission maintenance but not as regular as it should have been.

I don't fault Ford at all.

 

[JustinH]

I would look at replacing the radiator also, and have him flush the lines before he puts it back together.

Ford used to require a radiator replacement, now they install a magnefine filter (with a ford logo on it) after every transmission overhaul.

A good cooler is a great idea, while its all apart, put one in.

I get all my transmission parts and coolers from bulkpart.com they are awesome to deal with, and stock a lot of weird parts.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I though the Ford transmission problem is fixed in 00/01 when they switch to steel piston valving.


They did that in 98. I believe that was not this transmission, but the one that came with the older Taurus with the Vulcan engine. The Windstar and the Taurus with the Duratech engine share the same transmission I believe.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

honestly, any auto transmission that's had a hard life and lits of towing will need a rebuild/replacement at that many miles.

i think it should do just fine with a rebuild and a new rad (or upgrade to a separate transmission fluid cooler)

 

[Colt45ws]

ANY FWD Transmission is a POS to remove. I do not care if it is manual, automagic or whatever.
Watch it, because some later Ford products have a nice oil-to-air cooler, but it has thermostat. If it has a thermostat, it cannot be flushed and it will need to be replaced.

 

[JustinC25]

Good to know it made it that long, seeing as I have an '03 Windstar. Mine has about 77k.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
ANY FWD Transmission is a POS to remove. I do not care if it is manual, automagic or whatever.
Watch it, because some later Ford products have a nice oil-to-air cooler, but it has thermostat. If it has a thermostat, it cannot be flushed and it will need to be replaced.
Not true at all.. The Caravans are a piece of cake. (Probably because they go so often).

My Santa Fe will also be easy when if/when it needs to be done.

I think it was just these previous designs from the bright headed morons at the Big-3. "Make 'em Pay" mentality. JMO though.

It seems all cars other than GM and some Fords are usually a peice of cake to rip 'em out and replace.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Good to know it made it that long, seeing as I have an '03 Windstar. Mine has about 77k.
Yeah the van saw regular service for everything but the transmission. Transmission was only serviced 3 times in the 300K KM (180K miles) and it towed a boat 3 months of the year.

 

[01rangerxl]

Considering the use, and the fact that it's a Windstar, 180K isn't too bad.

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee

Watch it, because some later Ford products have a nice oil-to-air cooler, but it has thermostat. If it has a thermostat, it cannot be flushed and it will need to be replaced.

My truck has one of those. If I ever have to replace my trans I'll just go with a big aftermarket cooler with no thermostat.

 

[Colt45ws]

I like the thermostat feature. Keeps it from getting over cooled in the winter. It has 40F today and I never hit the thermostat and I was decently hard on it. Although I have a +2 quart aluminum transmission pan.

 

[01rangerxl]

Mine gets up to 188F on the Scan Gauge in the summer towing a small trailer. I don't know if getting rid of the thermostat would even help with that, but getting a bigger cooler would. The transmission fluid has never been burnt or anything, but I'd still like a lower temp than that. I'm sticking with the factory cooler for now though.

 

[Colt45ws]

188F is fine, IMO. I get up to 200 pulling the mountain going over to Seattle. It unlocks the converter and the temp goes right up. You could add an small additional cooler after the stock one.

 

[PT1]

If you got 180k and it towed without an oil cooler you did good. The oil cooler should be standard which is why I always get the towing package on all my trucks. No cooler? Better do a trans flush every 30k.

 

[StevieC]

Now that we own the van and my dad intends to keep it for a while we will be putting on an External cooler, Magnefine filter and using quality Amsoil Synthetic. I have it being shipped to the transmission place. (We know the guys there)

The van has the 3.8 in it... It has 300K KM's (180K miles) but you can't kill these engines. It has used 5w20 its whole life and doesn't use a drop of oil. We switched it to 5w30 anyways because it's what we use in other stuff and the 5w30 is generally cheaper up here.

The van should last forever given the maintenance habits we have and the fact that my dad drives them until they die and aren't worth even for scrap metal.

 

[oilboy123]

I would normally do what you mention as far as running the trans into a break in period. When put a rebuilt trans in my Dad's 91 Caravan I decided to go without a break in.

Amsoil tech literature said it's not needed. I just put in the trans and Amsoil with a magnifine and let him drive. He was at 85K before I decided to change the filters and fluid. I did not change anything for the whole 85K run.

I just looked and have pics of the Magnifine filter. The pan was spotless and the pan filter looked pretty clean as well. I took the Magnifine apart and could not see any contaminants.

 

[Spector]

I believe WIndstars had a rep for premature transmission failures