I just thouht I would share a little Expedition service story with you.

My Expy started vibrating when shifting into overdrive. So I took it to a local transmission shop, they told me the torque converter and some clutches were going out and it needed rebuilt to the tune of 1200-1500 dollars. I just was having a hard time putting a new tranny in a vehicle that only had 43K miles.

I got to thinking I needed a 2nd opinion before I drop that kinda change. Well I decided Bob Utter Ford is a sponsor of Solo Bass and if I needed something done I would rather them give my money, so I called Chris and took it up there.

I took it up Wednesday and got a call yesterday afternoon saying my truck was done. They said the transmission looked great and only needed serviced, I had them add a tranny cooler (I haven't had it but 3 months) and needed a key. I told them the whole story that I had been told and they were very upfront and honest about the whole thing and said from the get go that they thought it just needed service. I got that and didn't spend anywhere near what the other tranny shop was going to do.

So if you all need taken care of go up to Bob Utter Ford, they earned my business.

Thanks.

PS - Don't ask who the first shop is please, I don't want to bash someone and he probably really believed what he was telling me.

I surf crownvic.net and the advice there is only use Mercon V fluid. I tried it and cured my transmission "shudder". This is a well known problem to Ford owners and dealers.

COP!

I like trick shift, gives me whiplash go from 1st to 2nd

Great post, now I know they arent all crooks.

Who was your local transmission shop?

It is very important to cange tranny fluid as scheduled. It will do as you stated shutter and feal like it is going out. They put an anit slip additive (or so I was told) in the mercon V which makes it shift better and not shudder. It also wears out which is why you need to cange it as scheduled.

I know I had problem with the transmission shifting on the very first car I owned, and took it into the local Pontiac dealership as well a nationwide transmission chain for evaluation and both told me that I needed a new transmission. Took it to a friend who had a small hole in the wall auto repair shop and it turned out to be the vacuum modulator valve, and was repaired for $8.

heres what small shops do== I have been around them all. I now work for a local dealership because of all the rip-offs the small places perform.
~~ The mechanics work off commision from labor and PARTS! That means if you just need brake pads, then they are gonna try and sell you a whole caliper for extra money. ANd so on- new tranny....
~~ Dealerships have techs in there that love side jobs- no uncle sam fees....lol! If you can manage to find one of those guys- they all love side jobs(shouldnt be that hard)- then I would take it to them. they dont make money off the parts, so just replace whats needed.
~~~ And to add to the tranny story- I had a trans slip code coming on in my truck. Pulled the dipstick and saw the fluid was black.(ooops!) I flushed the trans with the machine, then changed the filter. Runs like a champ now. The trans fluid mainly transfers heat, and minorly lubicates internal components. SO if your fluid is broke down(old, worn out fluid) then no fluid transfer, tranny overheats, and no lubication. Pullin a boat I like to change my trans filter and fluid every 30,000. But of course I dont- more like every 50,000.

The main difference in Mercon V is it is a blend of synthetic and dino oil whereas regular Mercon is 100% dino. Mercon V is NOT reccommended or all transmissions.

My brother is one of the best true mechanics (not a parts changer) I have ever known (and I'm not prejudice )

But, he tried working at one of those big transmission repair houses years ago when he needed a job.

He only lasted a few weeks, because he said he could not stomach being forced to rip people off the way he was being told to do.

Judd, I'm glad you posted what you did, because I had a really bad experience with Bob Utter's service department some 10-12 years back. Even wrote the Ford District Manager complaining about it, with no response. I had quit buying vehicles from them and gone to Texoma Ford because of it. I might re-think my position now.