I bought my truck a few weeks ago.. please read and give your opinion, thanks!
Yesterday I noticed my transmission having difficulty with gears at 40-60 k/h. Today it wouldn't go into reverse at first and when I did get out onto the highway it would rev way up and then hit the gear it was changing to. As I was arriving at my destination the OD off light came on and I got a transmission malfunction warning.
Before I hit the road again I checked the fluid, the engine was still warm, I put it in N and checked it.. it was at the low end of the range on the dip stick.
Then again when I left my destination it would not reverse, I had to put it in R and rev it up to get it to go.. it grabbed and spun the wheels a bit.
When I got home I called my dealer since I have the extended coverage plan. I told them to come tow it since it was driving in 3rd gear at 4000rpm on the highway home.. seems like a bad thing to me
I hope it wasn't just low fluids, but I don't have the right type of fluid at my garage to check.. the tow truck just took her away.. gulp.

(details: 2006 F150 Lariat 5.4 4X4 with 50000Kms.)

 

I just went through something simular on my 06 a week ago. Lost third gear and fluid was low, tranny was fried. Make sure you have them check the transfer case oil level to see if the tranny fluid leaked into it or the transfer case might be the next thing you will replace. Ford just installed a new tranny in my truck. Thank god I had a Ford ESP warranty.

 

Good news is that you have an extended coverage plan; that will cover the cost. I doubt being "on the low end of the range" in fluid would cause all your symptoms; you'd have to be real low in fluid for the gears to slip as bad as you describe.

What concerns me is being low on transmission fluid. Transmissions do not "eat" fluid, nor does it evaporate....there would have to be a leak, or the fluid got hot/burned to loose that much fluid.

Another thing that bothers me is why did'nt the dealership top the fluids off before you took delivery? You say you got this truck "a few weeks ago", so if the fluids were topped off, you have a problem indeed with that tranny going low in fluid in a few short weeks. I had mine flushed over a year ago, and the fluid is still at the full mark (when checked hot in neutral).

 

yea, give it up. everyone who has actually gotten that "trans malfunction" message, actually had a malfunction.

malfunction = $2500... or for you lucky/smart SOBs... free.

 

The dealership thinks 3rd and 4th are gone so I gave them the go ahead to do 5 hours of work.
I was told the warranty may not cover this issue if it is found my mods effected it. My '06 has a 6" BDS suspension lift that was put in by this same dealership when the truck was brand new.

And I didn't actually buy it from the dealership, I bought it from someone privately because he wouldn't sell it back to them (the dealer) at the price they wanted to give him.

You guys bring up a good point about asking where the fluid has went. It hasn't been leaking on my lane way at all.. plus the truck only has 50000kms, it is a baby still.
It is upsetting that my new to me truck that I have been showing off is in the shop already.. I am sure the neighbor was wondering what the hell was going on when it got taken away on a flat bed yesterday.

Oh, and the Trans. Malf. code was only up for a couple minutes, just before I got to my destination.. the OD off came on as well.. then when I fired it up next it was gone.. and the OD light didn't blink as I have read it has for some others.

 

As for mods done to the truck, my truck came stock with 17" wheels with 235-75's and I had 17x9 305-65's tires and they almost denied the claim. The ford dealer service writer let me bring in my stock wheels so he can swap them before the ford adjuster came to look at it or he said the adjuster would have denied the claim for a new tranny. I threw him a $100 tip for looking after me.

 

if they say they are not going to cover it just keep on them until they do. In my experience they will try there hardest not to cover anything. they will fix it if you give them a hard enough time

 

Keep on who? The adjuster?
I am s****ing bricks right now. (To quote Christmas Vacation)

 

Ford will send out a adjuster on random to physically check out warranty claims, on large claims such as trannys, engines etc they will come to the dealer and look for any signs of abuse, modifications, lack of matainance etc. They can turn down your warranty claim then you will have to fight them. Under the Magnuson Act you can threaten them but most likely it won't scare them into paying. In order for them to cover it they have to prove that your mods caused the claim, but the downfall for this is it will cost you $$$$ in legal fees to get them into court to fight them. Good luck.

 

Good news folks! It sounds like it is going to be 100% covered. They are going to put a rebuilt tranny in her this week.

The guy I have been talking to at the dealer said they asked for pictures and no one came out to look at the parts. He said that was the first time he ever did it that way.

I am hoping to make it in on tuesday and check things out.. should be back to me by thursday.