Transmission question

[lagravenor]

I'd like to start off by openly saying I know next to nothing about vehicles. So I'm going to explain the best I can but I'm sorry if I've missed typical, useful information that someone might include. I'm just really hoping anyone might have an idea of what I'm looking at.

My 2005 expedition, Eddie Bauer edition with the 5.4L, started by slipping out of gear while driving, at first seemingly anytime you were going above 35 mph roughly. You'd be driving fine, then randomly it would slip out of gear as of you were in neutral and just start revving up. Then after a second or two it would slip back into gear and be fine. This would happen maybe once per trip. Within days it started happening every few minutes and would last longer.

I did try to run experiments just for posterity. I noticed when I put the vehicle in 1st and 2nd gear manually, it wouldn't slip. I drove it around the back roads like this for probably a month. Then, it did eventually start slipping out of those gears as well. Now it's to the point I can barely get down the street I live on before it starts slipping. I haven't driven it for quite some time now. I did check the transmission fluid, had a mechanic friend also take a look, the fluid looked fine.

The suv was only owned by one other person before me, I got it with extremely low miles for its age. I'd love to get it fixed, but am not sure if I'm at the point its not worth digging into transmission problems because of its age. Like I said I don't know much about vehicles, but have always heard transmission problems can be a very costly endeavor.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[riphip]

Could just need filter /fluid change or worse. Take it to a well known transmission shop, not just a mechanic. Fluid color looks means little.

 

[lagravenor]

So I called a transmission shop. They said doing an actual fluid change could harm it more than help. They suggested doing a full transmission repair, estimated at $3600.

 

[Trainmaster]

Good shop.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

So I called a transmission shop. They said doing an actual fluid change could harm it more than help. They suggested doing a full transmission repair, estimated at $3600.

Take it down in person. I wouldn't flush it, but I wouldn't rule out a drain, replace filter and fill unless the trans shop thinks there's no chance it would help (after they have driven it).

 

[Frank Swygert]

A filter and fluid change won't hurt, just cost you $200 or so. That MIGHT solve the problem (or at least make it better), might not. You didn't mention mileage, but a 2005 will likely have well over 100,000 miles (280K would be average - 12K a year). I bought my 2005 a couple years ago and it only had 99K on it and had been well taken care of -- looked better than the 2010-13 models I was looking at with fewer miles. Needed spark plugs (the ones that break, $600!), but I knew that and got a great deal on it. Bought to tow a camper. First time out with camper trans broke! It just dropped down to 2nd gear and wouldn't shift into 3rd or 4th. Did it while driving around, not towing, so that had no effect. Trans shop said a cast iron snap ring broke, replaced with a better stainless steel snap ring. They also upgraded a lot of other parts known to cause problems. Cost was about $3500, and I have a 4x4.

My suspicion is that while nothing in yours is totally broken like mine, something inside is leaking. Could be a partially broken snap ring or a seal that's bad. If you intend to keep this vehicle long term and everything else is working satisfactorily, you might want to just put that ~$200 for the fluid change into the rebuild cost. It's also hard to sell something with a major component not working right, but depends on what you're asking.

 

[Uberexpy]

I’ve had my flushed twice by the dealership. My ‘05just rolled up 134k. You could probably try a fluid flush from the dealership to see if it improves anything.

 

[lagravenor]

It's got roughly 120k miles on it. Very low mileage, and my plan was to sell it because I have 4 vehicles (including another expedition).