Cam Phaser Replacement and Transmission Rebuild.

[Jamaican Cruiser]

Took my 2019 Expedition Max in today for routine service, a couple open recalls and what I thought were a few challenges:

• Seeming Transmission Issue #1: There are many times a very pronounced delay in the transmission shifting to and from reverse, which can be 3-5 seconds. Very noticeable when trying to park on a busy street and sometimes there is a jolt when it finally goes into gear
• Seeming Transmission Issue #2: At times when driving down the highway the transmission feels as if it has gone into neutral and the vehicles feels like it has no power. When you press the accelerator there is normally a loud and physical bang/thump as it appears to reengage the gears.
• Seeming Transmission Issue #3: There are many times when the transmission simply bumps hard during upshift and downshifts while driving at normal speeds in traffic where the vehicle slows and then speeds up. This is happening with more and more frequency. One two occasions the traction control indicator on the dashboard lit up and stayed that way until the vehicle was stopped.
• Cold Start Engine Noises: Lately the engine has been making rattling/tapping/grinding noises upon cold engine start. It has always made some noises on cold start, however these are louder, more pronounced and appears to last longer than normal.

The diagnosis is that I need Cam Phasers replaced and complete transmission rebuild. The vehicle only has 25,000 miles and luckily I purchased the 7 year/90+K mile warranty. They have to schedule the transmission rebuild and the earliest is January.

Has anyone else had to wait that long for a transmission rebuild? Ford must be having a transmission rebuild convention or something like that.

I am worried that this will taint the love I have for my Expy Max. It has been a really good family hauler.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Took my 2019 Expedition Max in today for routine service, a couple open recalls and what I thought were a few challenges:

• Seeming Transmission Issue #1: There are many times a very pronounced delay in the transmission shifting to and from reverse, which can be 3-5 seconds. Very noticeable when trying to park on a busy street and sometimes there is a jolt when it finally goes into gear
• Seeming Transmission Issue #2: At times when driving down the highway the transmission feels as if it has gone into neutral and the vehicles feels like it has no power. When you press the accelerator there is normally a loud and physical bang/thump as it appears to reengage the gears.
• Seeming Transmission Issue #3: There are many times when the transmission simply bumps hard during upshift and downshifts while driving at normal speeds in traffic where the vehicle slows and then speeds up. This is happening with more and more frequency. One two occasions the traction control indicator on the dashboard lit up and stayed that way until the vehicle was stopped.
• Cold Start Engine Noises: Lately the engine has been making rattling/tapping/grinding noises upon cold engine start. It has always made some noises on cold start, however these are louder, more pronounced and appears to last longer than normal.

The diagnosis is that I need Cam Phasers replaced and complete transmission rebuild. The vehicle only has 25,000 miles and luckily I purchased the 7 year/90+K mile warranty. They have to schedule the transmission rebuild and the earliest is January.

Has anyone else had to wait that long for a transmission rebuild? Ford must be having a transmission rebuild convention or something like that.

I am worried that this will taint the love I have for my Expy Max. It has been a really good family hauler.

After the transmission failed and was diagnosed in my 2015 Ford Expedition Limited 4x4 (purchased new - passenger use only), it took the Ford dealer three months to repair the transmission due to lack of parts from Ford..

Good luck. Your Expedition love will be tainted before this is over.

 

[LazSlate]

The CAM Phasers are really the only big "known" issue on the Gen 3 engine. Once you get that fixed it should give you years and years of great performance.
2021 or 2022 is when they used the new parts on the new models.

Same with the 10R80

There are 2 Known Issues.

One is the clutch housing and the F Clutch. The housing teeth wear. Fords fix is a new anodized stronger housing.
The other is the CDF bushing slipping. Ford put a lip on it to fix it.
I believe these fixes are new and recently came out this year.

Once you get this fixed you will have a very reliable vehicle.

Example of known issues are I had a BMW 540 and everyone said there will be about 6 items that fail. (none terribly expensive). Low and behold I eventually got those issues in the first 80k miles. Once I fixed those the car literally went to 240k with no other issues.

Same with Ford. Those 3 are the big ones almost 100% guaranteed to happen. Cam Phasers pre 2022 (I think or 2021) and the 2 10R80 issues for all before 2024 and some 2024.

 

[GixxerJasen]

Mine took 3 weeks just to diagnose the transmission issue and another 3 weeks to rebuild it.

 

[1111ExpyEL1111]

Example of known issues are I had a BMW 540 and everyone said there will be about 6 items that fail. (none terribly expensive). Low and behold I eventually got those issues in the first 80k miles. Once I fixed those the car literally went to 240k with no other issues.

Please, can you share with me (in a PM or however you choose) what those 6 issues were?

 

[Russ16]

My 2019 limited had cam phasers replaced at 30,000. Then the transmission was overhauled, replaced cdf drum at 38,000. I got the same old crappy cdf drum, now at 76,000 my transmission needs to be repaired again. My expy love is severely tainted.

 

[mharwardt]

My 2019 Expedition XLT had cam phasers replaced. Next I got the dreaded wrench with shift sys fault service required message on the instrument panel. Took it in and they replaced a solenoid in the transmission. Picked it up and was occasionally hearing a clunk. Took it back in. They told me they were replacing the transmission (85,000 miles). Replaced it with a rebuilt one, didn't rebuild existing one. It has 3 year warranty or warranty until the end of my original extended warranty which is about the same time. Was told mileage doesn't count in this case. I love my Expedition but it's been in the shop a lot.

 

[Rezolution]

You don't need a complete transmission rebuilt. You just need a $30 plate replaced. The problem is it's about $1,100 labor to have the plate replaced. There is a TSB for it, it's called neutral out.That's the TSB they need to follow to repair your neutral out issues. I had the TSB done for the transmission, the cam phasers replaced, and then I had them replaced my thermostat as well because that never worked correctly either and Ford redid it. A good dealer won't charge you labor for doing the thermostat replacement, just parts because they have the whole engine torn apart anyway. Mine cost about $6,100 for all of the work listed above. It was worth it though because now I have a brand new car.

 

[LazSlate]

Please, can you share with me (in a PM or however you choose) what those 6 issues were?

I wish I could remember it was 10+ years ago and it was a 2000 540 so not sure if newer ones are fixed. Off the top of my head : Driver/Pass seat twisting, spedo dot matrix dots going out, coolant tank cracking. Wish I could remember more.

 

[pheasantdog]

My 2018 (84k miles) just had its transmission replaced - but I couldn't wait on Ford. None of the dealers within 15 miles of me could even look at it let alone replace it within a reasonable time. All of them said they were at least a month out just to get me in to diagnose it. So I went to Certified Transmission. They drove it and dropped the pan and found metal pieces stuck to the magnet. Fortunately, I bought an extended warranty that covered all but a few hundred of the cost. Would have been nearly $8k otherwise.