Thank You Ford

[wireman]

The OP needs to be upfront with a lot more info before we can judge this situation.

But if I knew I was going to be driving 40K+ miles a year I would have chosen a different vehicle that had a better MPG rating and better reviews. That's just me.

All the manufacturers are trying to show these extended intervals as a marketing ploy.

Lifetime trans fluid, change oil at 12+k miles, lifetime coolant. It's all B.S. A lot of people ignore maintenance completely. Get in and drive until there are strange sounds.

Homey don't play that.

Just like a lot of things in this world, cars are becoming disposable items. You have to be knowledgeable and research vehicles before you plunk down $40K.

No guarantees it will get you a trouble-free vehicle, but it may lessen your chances of a lemon.

I'm also a senior on a fixed income and I hope he can get this figured out and make it as painless as possible.

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[RSH]

What is there to judge, the Op vented his disappointment about his Sports transmission apparent failure on this forum just like many others have done about various issues they have had with their Sports.

 

[Whpony96]

@Whpony96
Your issue seems to be that he's blaming Ford. Blaming him and suggesting the problem would have never happened if he would have serviced the trans according to the special conditions maintenance schedule without sufficient knowledge of his driving habits and without knowing what the actual problem is with the transmission is just as perplexing.

What I have a problem with is he's blaming Ford for his own neglect. It's simple as that. I was raised that if you "Screwed Up" you own it, you don't blame or burden others for your actions or lack there of. Signing up to a to a public forum page just to point a finger and look for handouts is zero class in my book. You want to know why he's not replying to any questions asked from the community? Because we called his bluff that's why.....

 

[wireman]

His honest response to questions everyone has, would clear up a lot of if's.

Till we have more facts, it's just speculation.

 

[rocks]

Will he return here or just do a pissed off drive-by?

 

[Frenchy906]

Will he return here or just do a pissed off drive-by?

It was a drive by fruiting

 

[incavulator]

@Whpony96 I was raised the same way and agree with that rule of life. The problem I have is there is no evidence he screwed up. That is pure speculation, as is the reason he has only posted twice.

 

[sajohnson]

Don't mind me!! I'm just lurking.

What a gut-punch to owe on a vehicle that is mechanically parked, whatever the situation or mileage.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda gets us all at one time or another. Bottom line, all the hindsight 20/20 musings won't change the current scenario. My sympathies to OP and luck for the best (and least expensive) solution.

No more than 8 years for a wife. Hmmmmm.

Excellent post, well said!

Ya gotta love all of the assumptions being made here. For example claiming that because the OP has not replied to questions about maintenance he must have done nothing. Maybe. Or maybe he saw that no matter what he said, people were gonna blame him. He can claim whatever he wants but there are forum members who will claim he's lying, or that whatever maint he had done is not enough:

"So you had the ATF replaced every 40,000 miles -- why not every 30K?"

It's a no-win situation for him. He's already in a tough spot, the last thing he needs is a bunch of people who are not only not sympathetic, but critical.

No one except the OP knows the truth, but many are happy to make proclamations. I'm not defending the guy -- for all I know most of those 130,000 miles were spent towing a large overweight trailer through the mountains in 105*F heat. Or, maybe it's exactly as he said.

BTW, the total number of miles is of course a factor, but not the number of miles per year. In fact, 130K miles in 3 years supports his claim that they are mostly highway miles. It's the type of driving that's important, not the rate at which they're racked up.

 

[sajohnson]

@Whpony96 You may be correct that he came here looking for an audience (or just help). I actually have no issue with that. I thought that's what this forum is for. IF he was trying to be the squeaky wheel and Ford actually helped him, would that be such a terrible thing? I also agree it seems likely he didn't get the extended warranty, but we don't really know that either because he didn't mention it. None of this is in dispute.

The picture from the service manual is not out of context. Below are the "special operating conditions" which define when the trans fluid should be changed every 30K. As you can see below, the simple act of driving 40,000+ miles a year is not enough, by itself, to suggest the trans should have been serviced prior to 150K.

COULD he have been towing a trailer or using a car top carrier for most ("primarily") of those 130,000 miles? Maybe, but we don't know that. IF he was towing or using a car top carrier "primarily", did he change the trans fluid every 30K? Probably not, but we don't know that either because he didn't answer that question. Even if he was towing or using a car top carrier "primarily" and if he didn't change the fluid every 30K (which, IF true, I would definitely agree with you that it is shady to blame Ford!!!!), we still don't know that changing the fluid would have prevented the problem because we don't know what the problem is. It could have simply been a bad trans with an outside-the-bell-curve component that slipped through quality control built on a Monday. He could have changed the fluid once a month and STILL had the issue. We don't know and will likely never know.

Your issue seems to be that he's blaming Ford. Blaming him and suggesting the problem would have never happened if he would have serviced the trans according to the special conditions maintenance schedule without sufficient knowledge of his driving habits and without knowing what the actual problem is with the transmission is just as perplexing.

Damn, this post just nails it. Great job!

 

[Garth]

Thats quite the difference in recommended service miles for a trailer or car top carrier.
Heck you could throw in over sized tires and a lift kit or anything else that you notice causes you to burn more fuel to speed up how often transmission service is required. Good to know.

 

[Ernest T]

The OP needs to be upfront with a lot more info before we can judge this situation.

But if I knew I was going to be driving 40K+ miles a year I would have chosen a different vehicle that had a better MPG rating and better reviews. That's just me.

All the manufacturers are trying to show these extended intervals as a marketing ploy.

Lifetime trans fluid, change oil at 12+k miles, lifetime coolant. It's all B.S. A lot of people ignore maintenance completely. Get in and drive until there are strange sounds.

Homey don't play that.

Just like a lot of things in this world, cars are becoming disposable items. You have to be knowledgeable and research vehicles before you plunk down $40K.

No guarantees it will get you a trouble-free vehicle, but it may lessen your chances of a lemon.

I'm also a senior on a fixed income and I hope he can get this figured out and make it as painless as possible.

We don't need to "judge" anything. The OP stated his problem and laid out a few unpalatable options he has for dealing with them. How he got into that situation isn't really relevant when he considers his options. I too am perplexed by the antipathy directed at him.

 

[sajohnson]

We don't need to "judge" anything. The OP stated his problem and laid out a few unpalatable options he has for dealing with them. How he got into that situation isn't really relevant when he considers his options. I too am perplexed by the antipathy directed at him.

As I said in post #34:

"It's interesting how some posters jump to the conclusion that the OP didn't have any maint work done and proceed to bash him. It's almost as if they do not like any story that is in any way critical of their precious."

People tend to be very sensitive about any perceived criticism of something they own -- especially vehicles. For example:

I have a 2002 WRX purchased new in the spring of 2001. I quickly discovered that the "AWD" system was, shall we say, lame.

I started a thread about it on NASIOC titled, "AWD = All Wheels Disconnected?" Without getting into the details, I did some testing here at home and then to confirm I took it to the dealer I purchased it from (also the dealer we bought our Badlands from). They ran my tests and the Ford techs laughed at how pathetic it was. Then they brought a brand new WRX in off the lot -- same result. Very embarrassing for Subaru.

The other NASIOC members were NOT happy. They refused to believe what I posted. I got called all kinds of names, was told I didn't know how to drive, etc. They got so riled up that the mod eventually closed the thread.

Personally, I think it's strange to get so attached to an object/product, but people do. They become irrational, as if someone is criticizing their kids or their dog.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

His honest response to questions everyone has, would clear up a lot of if's.

Till we have more facts, it's just speculation.

X2 on Your first sentence!! The OP hasn't been back and answered any questions that have been asked.

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