2018 Platinum, in the shop with transmission problem

[NyackRob79]

The truck is at 86,000 miles. Yesterday while driving on the highway, I began to notice transmission slipping in 10th gear. A few minutes later, I noticed the transmission temperature going up, and up, and up. Luckily for me, the Ford dealership is right in town, so I drove her straight there.

Once I pulled in, I noticed transmission pan leaking oil.

I was hoping it was just a gasket, but they called me today that the oil was leaking from a vent, not the pan, and was due to internal pressure within the transmission.

They're having their transmission tech inspect it.

Will report back what they find.

The transmission was last serviced in November, and underwent a full oil and gasket change. Prior to that, no issues.

 

[SyndicateZ]

The transmission was last serviced in November, and underwent a full oil and gasket change. Prior to that, no issues.

Why did it get serviced in November? Looks like whatever they did messed it up now

 

[Calidad]

Just a side note a friend had a Explorer that did this for yrs. Multiple dealers “couldn’t find an issue “ finally took it to a crusty old Ford tech at a dealer. He had it fixed in an hour. Plugged faulty cooler from the factory!! New cooler no issues had that exploder for another 12yrs no issues.

 

[NyackRob79]

Just an update. A week later. They don't seem to know why or how the transmission oil pressure goes up so high. They're actively investigating. I did mention to them to check on the transmission oil cooler lines. They're looking into everything.

 

[Mediamonkey11]

CDF Drum bushing failure?

 

[NyackRob79]

Okay another update. Apparently they're in touch with Ford corporate, as the only 10-speed transmissions that are overheating and venting oil are the ones in the Expeditions, and not in any other models. They're telling me we're currently in a "holding pattern" until they hear back from Ford as far as how to best address this (large cooler, etc.).

 

[NyackRob79]

Well, heard an update today, two weeks later. They're down to one A/T tech, and I'm looking at potentially 4-6 more weeks.

All the transmission issues are related to the 10-speed unit. They've got about 20 Expeditions waiting in queue with A/T issues.

Thanks Ford, and the government to a lesser extent, for requiring vehicles to have such abysmally low emissions, that manufacturers are forced to design transmissions with more gears than they were ever meant to have in order to meet these federally-mandated emission standards.

I've called 4 other dealers in the area. Same story. Wait time on A/T work is 4-6 weeks with another 1-2 weeks for repairs.

 

[Hellwig]

Just an update. A week later. They don't seem to know why or how the transmission oil pressure goes up so high. They're actively investigating. I did mention to them to check on the transmission oil cooler lines. They're looking into everything.

This is obviously an overfill of transmission fluid, at least to me. Did you replace the fluid and the filter in the same dealership back to Nov last year?

 

[Hellwig]

This is obviously an overfill of transmission fluid, at least to me. Did you replace the fluid and the filter in the same dealership back to Nov last year?

I assume, the cause is the tech of the dealership didn't fill up the tranny fluid after the tranny hitting operating temperature, which is from 200ish F to 210ish F. And that caused overfilling. If I were the tech, I would fill fluid at least when tranny temp hitting 180F and above.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Well, heard an update today, two weeks later. They're down to one A/T tech, and I'm looking at potentially 4-6 more weeks.

All the transmission issues are related to the 10-speed unit. They've got about 20 Expeditions waiting in queue with A/T issues.

Thanks Ford, and the government to a lesser extent, for requiring vehicles to have such abysmally low emissions, that manufacturers are forced to design transmissions with more gears than they were ever meant to have in order to meet these federally-mandated emission standards.

I've called 4 other dealers in the area. Same story. Wait time on A/T work is 4-6 weeks with another 1-2 weeks for repairs.

The transmission failed on my 2015 Ford Expedition Limited 4x4 (passenger use only and purchased new) at about 70,*** miles (6-speed transmission).

The government doesn’t force manufacturers to design poor-quality transmissions with numerous design and manufacturing defects - that’s Ford’s doing.

The lack of timely parts and repair is also on Ford (mine took 3-months to fix at a Ford dealer due to lack of parts).

I wish you luck - you will hate Ford by the time this is over.

 

[GixxerJasen]

I posted this elsewhere, but just got mine back last week. 1.5 months total. About 3 weeks just to clear the backlog so they could diagnose it, then another 3 weeks to complete the repairs. No idea how long they waited on parts. I had a loaner truck so wasn't too bad about waiting. Mine was also still under warranty. CDF drum replacement and my receipt has 4 pages of parts that were replaced as a part of the process. I as well, wish you luck.

 

[NyackRob79]

Those are good suggestions. Yes, the same dealership replaced the transmission oil, filter, and gasket last November.

However, if the transmission had too much fluid, that still wouldn't explain why it heats up to over 265F+, would it?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Those are good suggestions. Yes, the same dealership replaced the transmission oil, filter, and gasket last November.

However, if the transmission had too much fluid, that still wouldn't explain why it heats up to over 265F+, would it?

An engine or transmission overfilled with oil or transmission fluid can cause air bubbles in the fluid (cavitation), and cause the fluid to not cool the engine or transmission properly, or even damage the mechanical parts.

The transmission failed on my 2015 Expedition after the Ford dealer changed the transmission fluid and filter (not a flush). I will never know - but I suspect the transmission was overfilled with fluid by the dealership.

Ford made it extremely difficult for an owner to check the transmission fluid, and I believe that has lead to damaged transmissions when the fluid is not replaced properly after a fluid change (and the owner has to trust that the dealership installed the correct amount of fluid).

 

[SyndicateZ]

Ford says the tranny fluid is lifetime.... so im never going to change it because I dont trust the dealer to put the correct amount in and cause damage. Ill just keep my ESP going and if it ever fails then im covered

 

[Hellwig]

Those are good suggestions. Yes, the same dealership replaced the transmission oil, filter, and gasket last November.

However, if the transmission had too much fluid, that still wouldn't explain why it heats up to over 265F+, would it?

It actually would. Overfilling 10R80 can cause overheating and spills.

 

[Hellwig]

Ford says the tranny fluid is lifetime.... so im never going to change it because I dont trust the dealer to put the correct amount in and cause damage. Ill just keep my ESP going and if it ever fails then im covered

The key point is to refill the transmission after the fluid hits over 200F, and then check the gauge stick after several tranny cycles (between 5 to 6, as I remember) . Or collect all the wasted fluid and refill the tranny with the exact same amount. But it not easy to collect All the wasted fluid during the whole maintenance process.

 

[Hellwig]

The key point is to refill the transmission after the fluid hits over 200F, and then check the gauge stick after several tranny cycles (between 5 to 6, as I remember) . Or collect all the wasted fluid and refill the tranny with the exact same amount. But it not easy to collect All the wasted fluid during the whole maintenance process.

 

[NyackRob79]

I honestly don't even think they've taken one look at the unit. They have 20+ Expeditions waiting in line for transmission service, and only one tech doing them all. At least they gave me a brand new Explorer as a loaner. Also, happy I purchased ESP for another two years last December.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I honestly don't even think they've taken one look at the unit. They have 20+ Expeditions waiting in line for transmission service, and only one tech doing them all. At least they gave me a brand new Explorer as a loaner. Also, happy I purchased ESP for another two years last December.

When my Expedition’s transmission was acting funny - I made an appointment and took it to the dealer.

The technician drove it and the transmission failed and locked into a lower gear while he was driving it. He also pulled numerous failure codes.

The technician talked to me in the waiting room and said the dealership would have to install a new transmission. I told him that was fine and to proceed.

Later, when the service advisor realized I had a Ford Premium ESP (purchased at their dealership), their tune changed.

Instead, the transmission would have to removed, disassembled, examined - then rebuilt - at Ford’s direction. It took three months (after diagnosis) due to lack of repair parts from Ford.

It was clear the dealership would have sold me a new transmission if I was paying full-tilt. When they realized I had a Ford ESP - then a rebuild was in order.

Ford has two levels of service repairs - one for those paying full-tilt, and one for those that paid for an ESP.

Let us know what is done to your transmission.

 

[NyackRob79]

A new 10-speed tranny is around $4800. I can't imagine what the labor cost is to take one apart and rebuild it. I'll keep you posted.