Transmission Problem: Heads Up!

[protraxduner]

Awesome, I bet you pass 50 before mine rolls again.

Just interviewed the dealer in town recommended by a Ford rep.... it’s a HARD pass!!! Arrogant, unaccommodating, and disinterested in taking proper care of my car.

Hoping the dealer just outside of town pans out. Otherwise, I am taking a road trip back to Arkansas.

WOW, that sucks, I hope i never have to take mine in.

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[Tomster]

Awesome, I bet you pass 50 before mine rolls again.

Just interviewed the dealer in town recommended by a Ford rep.... it’s a HARD pass!!! Arrogant, unaccommodating, and disinterested in taking proper care of my car.

Hoping the dealer just outside of town pans out. Otherwise, I am taking a road trip back to Arkansas.

It is a shame the way the dealership service department techs get paid. Ford pays X amount for job X. Thats it. if it is paid at 3 hours and it takes the tech 6 hours, he is loosing money. This is the underlying problem with the service business model. The have to be fast and get the job done and out the door.

They see people like us roll in and expect the white glove treatment and probably cringe. I have a good relationship with my dealer in that I can go back in the shop and watch the work being done. They don't care, because at the end of the day, I give the guy extra money to cover his time. He takes his time, does it right, and doesn't get hurt by lost income. Case in point.... The brake recall bracket replacement is paid out at 1/2 hour. There is no way you are going to be able to do that job and get it done right (like you and I would do it) in 1/2 hour.

Another thought about this instance is that you didn't buy the car from them. That isn't supposed to matter, but I believe you told me that they have cars with high ADMs. They might have to do the work as per Ford, but they might have a little bit of resentment. This is a problem in big markets like the NE and SoCal. I remember reading a post where the dealership flat out refused to service the vehicle unless it was bought by them. They flat out can't do that...... But, they don't have to go above and beyond.

You shouldn't have to pay extra. Ford should be paying the techs enough to get the work done right and not have it be a loosing proposition. If you get a good vibe from the tech at the next dealership, you may want to tell him you will throw some $$ his way to have it perfect and by the book. Swapping a trans isn't a bid deal. You have the workshop manual, but IMHO, it needs to be done 100% correct so that something stupid doesn't happen like this again.

 

[Epiphany]

Never had a problem with medium/blue threadlocker but this may be a consideration here...

https://www.permatex.ca/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1fyN1I_s7AIVDMmzCh05DgmpEAEYASAAEgK3PPD_BwE

 

[Big John]

It is a shame the way the dealership service department techs get paid. Ford pays X amount for job X. Thats it. if it is paid at 3 hours and it takes the tech 6 hours, he is loosing money. This is the underlying problem with the service business model. The have to be fast and get the job done and out the door.

They see people like us roll in and expect the white glove treatment and probably cringe. I have a good relationship with my dealer in that I can go back in the shop and watch the work being done. They don't care, because at the end of the day, I give the guy extra money to cover his time. He takes his time, does it right, and doesn't get hurt by lost income. Case in point.... The brake recall bracket replacement is paid out at 1/2 hour. There is no way you are going to be able to do that job and get it done right (like you and I would do it) in 1/2 hour.

Another thought about this instance is that you didn't buy the car from them. That isn't supposed to matter, but I believe you told me that they have cars with high ADMs. They might have to do the work as per Ford, but they might have a little bit of resentment. This is a problem in big markets like the NE and SoCal. I remember reading a post where the dealership flat out refused to service the vehicle unless it was bought by them. They flat out can't do that...... But, they don't have to go above and beyond.

You shouldn't have to pay extra. Ford should be paying the techs enough to get the work done right and not have it be a loosing proposition. If you get a good vibe from the tech at the next dealership, you may want to tell him you will throw some $$ his way to have it perfect and by the book. Swapping a trans isn't a bid deal. You have the workshop manual, but IMHO, it needs to be done 100% correct so that something stupid doesn't happen like this again.

I’m definitely not opposed to throwing the technician extra money. That’s what I did during my crazy PDI. But if that’s the way you’re getting treated at the front door, there’s no way it’s going to be any better at the back door. I definitely don’t expect something for nothing. But I would like a dealership to work with me.

 

[kilobravo]

Tob: FWIW, we are very much alike when it comes to loose and lose as well as a handful of other teeth gritters. I think we must have had tougher grammar teachers. <grin>

Many thanks for the Permatex info...ordered some and will do the two bolts the next time I have her on the lift. I just wanted to make sure they were snug today and wait and see what John and/or others find out. Neither one turned at 89in-lb.

But VERY glad to learn from Don (@The Chairman) that we can remove a bolt, clean things up, add threadlocker, and re-install without any loss of fluid. That's a beaut, Clark.

 

[Big John]

My favorite thing from the “high volume dealer” in town.

Service Adviser: So, where’s the bolt? Do you have it?

Me: {Blank stare and blinking} Ahh, no. It blew while driving down a busy road. No, I didn’t walk the street to try and find the bolt 2 days later after we found the problem.

Complete jackassery.

 

[Tomster]

My favorite thing from the “high volume dealer” in town.

Service Adviser: So, where’s the bolt? Do you have it?

Me: {Blank stare and blinking} Ahh, no. It blew while driving down a busy road. No, I didn’t walk the street to try and find the bolt 2 days later after we found the problem.

Complete jackassery.

Holy crap. Sounds like they were setting you up.

It looks like a 4 hour drive is in the cards.

Sorry John.

 

[01Romanss]

From looking at the picture of the stripped threads and the blue loctite on the mating surface, I'd guess the guy assembling this overtightened and stripped the threads. So he probably put loctite on the surface and snugged the bolt, hoping the loctite would hold it.

 

[Genxer]

Looks like the bolt was cross threaded. Well, if it doesn't fit, just turn it harder......

Whenever I put a screw or bolt in, I turn it the opposite way until I hear the threads line up, then I go in forward. You will never cross thread a fastener if you do that.

I do that when something is hard to get aligned, A couple of guys at work were watching me do that one day and said, "You are turning it the wrong way". I had to explain it to them.

 

[Big John]

Holy crap. Sounds like they were setting you up.

It looks like a 4 hour drive is in the cards.

Sorry John.

Agreed. I could not get out of that stealership quick enough.

 

[kilobravo]

So, where’s the bolt? Do you have it?

Lord have mercy, John, say it ain't so! I am SO glad I have a good relationship with a store that has a very good Shelby certified mech.

This latest craziness John, reminds me of my PREVIOUS store's Service Department...Autonation. Never again.

However, I was surprised to read that someone else got a gearbox from Ford fairly quickly. Hopefully the cooler and the lines won't be an issue either.

KB

 

[Genxer]

A/C lines often have the same type of design and stay perfectly sealed for years. Orings hold the pressure, the bolt only has to be modestly tight, so there is no misalignment of the oring. Just an assembly line screwup.

 

[Epiphany]

Service Adviser: So, where’s the bolt? Do you have it?

That is both insulting and terrifying at the same time.

 

[kilobravo]

Good point, Tob...it is certainly both.

 

[Metal Mike]

John - this is certainly concerning and disappointing, not to mention a total headache to deal with. Would you mind posting up your engine builder and build / production dates? I think mine (#L2100) might have been built around the same time in June. Thanks, Mike

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