4r70w problems, please help
12-02-2014, 01:25 AM
#1
4r70w problems, please help
On May 20, 2014 I paid Fox Transmission of Waterloo, IL $1,342.25 to rebuild the transmission of my 1995 Ford F-150. I was given a 12,000 mile 12 month warranty. Shortly after the rebuild, I had to relocate to Greeley, CO for work.
After only 6 months and 3,500 miles, the transmission began to slip on the 1-2 shift at WOT and a bit in 3rd during normal driving.
I called Fox Transmission and they were very rude and unhelpful. I then decided I was going to drive the truck back to Illinois to have them diagnose it (and possibly warranty it). However, about an hour after I left Greeley, I completely lost overdrive (OD light flashing), making it impossible to drive the truck the 13 hours back to IL. I called Fox Transmission again to see if they would be willing to help. I asked if I could have the truck towed to a nearby transmission shop to have it looked at, and then we could explore our options. The owner told me that I was "screwed" and and that he would not warranty the transmission.
Anyway, I pulled the codes and got a 628 continuous KOEO code: Excessive Convertor Clutch Slippage. What do you guys think Im looking at here? I talked to a shop here and the owner seems super legit, but told me I probably wont be so lucky as to have it only be a converter. He said unfortunately from his experience and what I've described I'm likely looking at another rebuild.
However, he does offer a 3 year/unlimited mile warranty, which tells me a couple of things. One, he won't take short cuts, and two, he stands behind his work.
Thoughts?
After only 6 months and 3,500 miles, the transmission began to slip on the 1-2 shift at WOT and a bit in 3rd during normal driving.
I called Fox Transmission and they were very rude and unhelpful. I then decided I was going to drive the truck back to Illinois to have them diagnose it (and possibly warranty it). However, about an hour after I left Greeley, I completely lost overdrive (OD light flashing), making it impossible to drive the truck the 13 hours back to IL. I called Fox Transmission again to see if they would be willing to help. I asked if I could have the truck towed to a nearby transmission shop to have it looked at, and then we could explore our options. The owner told me that I was "screwed" and and that he would not warranty the transmission.
Anyway, I pulled the codes and got a 628 continuous KOEO code: Excessive Convertor Clutch Slippage. What do you guys think Im looking at here? I talked to a shop here and the owner seems super legit, but told me I probably wont be so lucky as to have it only be a converter. He said unfortunately from his experience and what I've described I'm likely looking at another rebuild.
However, he does offer a 3 year/unlimited mile warranty, which tells me a couple of things. One, he won't take short cuts, and two, he stands behind his work.
Thoughts?
12-02-2014, 09:07 AM
#2
1300.00 sounds a little on the cheap side to fully rebuild a 4r70w, from my experience. Had it lasted it would have been a pretty good deal.
You'd have almost been further ahead with a junkyard trans with a 90 day warranty.
Lots of shysters in the automatic rebuild game, but if you're dealing with someone honest you usually get what you pay for.
If you trust the guy you're talking to now and he can really offer a 3 yr UM warranty that he will stand behind that would be good, but I would expect to pay a little more this time. A complete quality rebuild is a little more expensive than a set of clutches.
Check what a factory rebuild (or new) unit costs, plus install and compare to the new quote.
A factory unit isn't local for a warranty issue though so a local rebuilder you trust is usually a better option - as long as the guy looks like he'll stay in business long enough to honor the warranty.
You'd have almost been further ahead with a junkyard trans with a 90 day warranty.
Lots of shysters in the automatic rebuild game, but if you're dealing with someone honest you usually get what you pay for.
If you trust the guy you're talking to now and he can really offer a 3 yr UM warranty that he will stand behind that would be good, but I would expect to pay a little more this time. A complete quality rebuild is a little more expensive than a set of clutches.
Check what a factory rebuild (or new) unit costs, plus install and compare to the new quote.
A factory unit isn't local for a warranty issue though so a local rebuilder you trust is usually a better option - as long as the guy looks like he'll stay in business long enough to honor the warranty.
12-02-2014, 09:40 AM
#3
This guy quoted me $1800-2500 depending. The guy Im thinking of taking it to has been in business 20+ years. Havent been able to find many reviews online but of the few I found not one of them were bad
12-02-2014, 09:51 AM
#4
Worth mentioning though - how'd you figure out that it was starting to slip a bit on WOT 1-2 shifts ?
I can't remember the last time I held my foot to the floor and let the transmission bang into 2nd at max rpm's.
A stock driveline is not built to take that. If that's your driving style, things ARE going to break. And they will cost money.
Maybe you should ask about the cost of a full out race transmission (or ease up on the right foot).
No offense - just saying.
I can't remember the last time I held my foot to the floor and let the transmission bang into 2nd at max rpm's.
A stock driveline is not built to take that. If that's your driving style, things ARE going to break. And they will cost money.
Maybe you should ask about the cost of a full out race transmission (or ease up on the right foot).
No offense - just saying.
12-02-2014, 09:56 AM
#5
The top end is built, and the transmission was supposed to be too. The last guy came highly recommended through several muscle car enthisiasts whose cars make much more power than my truck.
Its not my driving style but every once in awhile I like to feel the power I paid thousands of dollars for. Is it not plausible to expect to be able to romp on it a couple of times a month? I beat the **** out of my 92 GTs stock t5 way more than I ever beat on the truck and never had a problem
Its not my driving style but every once in awhile I like to feel the power I paid thousands of dollars for. Is it not plausible to expect to be able to romp on it a couple of times a month? I beat the **** out of my 92 GTs stock t5 way more than I ever beat on the truck and never had a problem
12-02-2014, 10:05 AM
#6
I'd have to disagree Chris. A stock drive line should be able to take it with no issues. Heck even most owners manuals say to depress the accelerator fully for passing gear or getting on the freeway. Now if the motor is really built up with a stock tranny then I agree you'll run into issues and things will break.
I'd call the local news station. They usually have a team that loves stories like yours (my local one is Take it to Aken for example). They'll give that rebuilder a ton of negative publicity and watch how quick he helps you then lol.
I'd call the local news station. They usually have a team that loves stories like yours (my local one is Take it to Aken for example). They'll give that rebuilder a ton of negative publicity and watch how quick he helps you then lol.
12-02-2014, 10:25 AM
#7
No, it is not plausible to use a wound up slightly built motor to throw a 4000 lb truck at your shift bands, clutches and convertor and expect them not to take a beating.
The stock parts just aren't built for that.
If you really plan to run your truck through the gears with your foot to the floor more often than ... never, you might want to consider having the transmission built to handle that. Otherwise, it will probably break.
If the rebuilder knows that you plan to do that to it, he can make some recommendations to help the transmission handle it better. But he probably won't want to warranty a trans that you're going to do that to. Which should probably tell you something.
Not trying to get all in your face about driving your truck hard .. it's your truck, drive it however you want.
I don't drive my truck like that and my transmission's not broken at 135,000 miles.
You do and yours is broken at 3,500 miles.
You see what I'm getting at. We could blame the rebuilder I suppose but you did say that he has a real good reputation.
Just a little food for thought is all.
The stock parts just aren't built for that.
If you really plan to run your truck through the gears with your foot to the floor more often than ... never, you might want to consider having the transmission built to handle that. Otherwise, it will probably break.
If the rebuilder knows that you plan to do that to it, he can make some recommendations to help the transmission handle it better. But he probably won't want to warranty a trans that you're going to do that to. Which should probably tell you something.
Not trying to get all in your face about driving your truck hard .. it's your truck, drive it however you want.
I don't drive my truck like that and my transmission's not broken at 135,000 miles.
You do and yours is broken at 3,500 miles.
You see what I'm getting at. We could blame the rebuilder I suppose but you did say that he has a real good reputation.
Just a little food for thought is all.
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12-02-2014, 10:28 AM
#8
I'd have to disagree Chris. A stock drive line should be able to take it with no issues. Heck even most owners manuals say to depress the accelerator fully for passing gear or getting on the freeway. Now if the motor is really built up with a stock tranny then I agree you'll run into issues and things will break.
I'd call the local news station. They usually have a team that loves stories like yours (my local one is Take it to Aken for example). They'll give that rebuilder a ton of negative publicity and watch how quick he helps you then lol.
I'd call the local news station. They usually have a team that loves stories like yours (my local one is Take it to Aken for example). They'll give that rebuilder a ton of negative publicity and watch how quick he helps you then lol.
Oh, and since that their facebook page has been taken down lolol.
I will look in to the news paper for that area as well!
12-02-2014, 10:33 AM
#9
Here is the thing, Chris. I was up front with the builder about it being a performance build. I also told him the stock transmission let go on the dyno. He also ran it ***** to the wall after the build to make sure everything was good and well. Tell me at which part during any of our encounters should he have said, "you know what, maybe Ill just build it to stock specifications," lol. Im not disagreeing with you that a stock transmission should not be ridden hard and put away wet at all.
However, him telling me to pound sand after 6 months when I have a documented warranty was a terrible move on his part, because I will destroy his reputation online. You dont steal almost $1400 from someone and expect that all will be good in your little world.
However, him telling me to pound sand after 6 months when I have a documented warranty was a terrible move on his part, because I will destroy his reputation online. You dont steal almost $1400 from someone and expect that all will be good in your little world.
12-02-2014, 10:37 AM
#10
I also said his reputation was good via word of mouth. After this whole fiasco I did a little digging and low and behold, a complaint in 2013 was filed with the BBB for, yep you guessed it, not honoring a warranty.