Subject: 
2004 Ford Explorer


Sun, 27 Mar 2005 12:02:54 -0600
Date:    





I recently purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer with the 4.0 V-6 engine.  It also has the
tow package with the 3.73 gears.   At first oil change (2800 miles) I noticed a clunk into revearse
when I was backing it out of the garage to put it on the ramps to do the oil change.
On the ramps, I noticed drops of transmission oil on the bottom of the bellhousing....
ahhh.... I thought, hard clunk into revearse and leaking transmission oil.... must be
related.   Went to check the transmission fluid and...... NO DIPSTICK.  I looked at
the manuel and it says that the transmission is sealed and you only need to have the
fluid level checked when the transmission malfunctions or slips.... hmmmmmm
I wish I could check the level.  I had no idea if I had lost 3 drops of trans. fluid or=20
3 quarts and no way to check fluid or add any. 

So I call the dealer and of course they can't get me in right away.   When I do
get it in and tell of my transmission problems, they say that they have been
having problems with that transmission and it was usually a solonoid and she
thinks that will have to be replaced..... an hour later they say they couldn't get
the vehicle to do the problem and the leaking fluid was just "overflow".  They
put an additive in the transmission fluid that should stop the problem.  The
mechanic also said that he doesn't know why they don't put a dipstick in the
transmission anymore and that he doesn't like that either.

At 3600 miles the transmission is now sometimes making a clunk (hard shift)
in to revearse and forward AND there is still more transmission fluid on the bottom
of the bellhousing.    So back in I go to the dealer.  They look at it again and still
can't get it to do the problem.  I ask them about the transmission fluid leak and
they haven't even looked at that.   They decide to keep the truck and give me a loaner.

Two days later they call me and tell me that the problem won't happen for them....
so i ask them about the transmission leak and he doesn't know anything about it.
He says not to worry though because there is lots of warranty left on the truck.
I said yes... but everytime the transmission clunks into gear, that's bad for it and
takes life off of the transmission and it will probably still make it past warranty.
Then he was telling me how they had put in the transmission additive and that
there're sure that the transmission will get better.  I said that I know the transmission
additive was added the first time the truck was in and 8 hundred miles later, the
transmission is worse and still leaking............ so, the service advisor at the dealer
said he would keep the truck longer and see if they could get it to do the hard shift
for them. (Even though they know about this problem with these transmissions) They
said that they can't put in the new solonoid until they can actually get the vehicle
to do the problem that i have brought it in twice for.....even though he says that
he believes that I am telling the truth about what the transmission is doing.

I would have never bought a vehicle that didn't have a transmission dipstick or
a way to add fluid if I had know it !!