4-spd Auto servicing??

Futura01 · 17-03-2007, 03:03 PM

hi guys,
Think my auto might need a good service, as last night on the way home from work i gave it a little boot and the thing kicked back a gear and held 2nd for way too long before chirping into 3rd????
Any idea's too what kind of service it might need and where is a good place in sydney for servicing???
and also what is a good price for a service?? :SaiyanSmi

JC · 17-03-2007, 03:27 PM

Standard service consists of changing the pan filter, and trans fluid (usually only the fluid in the transmission, not the converter). Should cost less than $150.

If the car is not quite changing gears properly, then it could be a solenoid or two, or dirty connectors on the outside of the box (this was certainly the issue with mine). Get under the car and unplug the connectors, spray liberally with WD40/RP7 and then reconnect and see how that goes.

If it's not the easy service/WD40 issues, then the solenoid replacement runs from $200 approx, up to $500, depending on which one is gone, and whether it is internal or external. Your best bet for finding a good auto trans place, is to ring the cab companies and find out who looks after their transmissions.

Futura01 · 17-03-2007, 04:55 PM

Thanks JC,
I will try the cleaning of the conectors first and see how it goes!! it has only done it twice, but thats enough to keep the eye on things for me ...
Also may sound stupid but i looked for a dip stick for trans and couldnt find one ??? how the hell do you top the fluid up ???????? lol
Also when they do servicing do they adjust bands or so on ????

peterban · 17-03-2007, 05:01 PM

EF 2 onwards did not bother with a dipstick.
To top up you have to climb underneath and pump the fluid in through the inspection plug hole until it starts to dribble out.
No band adjustment on the boxes.

Futura01 · 17-03-2007, 06:18 PM

thanks peterban,
Well i might just do the trans service myself , if they want 150 just to change filter and do oil change

au2sw · 17-03-2007, 11:11 PM

with the little amount of room under there, make sure you have 4 jack stands (so the car sits level and you wont end up over/under filling box. filter is held in by long clip that is hard to remove and repalce at the best of times. also make sure when you remove the filter, remove the seal from inside the tube that the filter sits in, if you dont the new filter wil not sit in there properly, and you wont be able to replace the clip! and finally, when re-fitting the pan, dont over tighten the bolts, youll end up with leaks, tighten till firm, then another 1/4 - 1/2 turn and thats enough.

Au2falcons · 18-03-2007, 08:40 AM

I paid around 180 for a service but that included using about 20L of fluid to do a flush of all the old trans fluid, as just dropping the pan doesn't replace all the fluid. Boy did it make did it make a difference, much smoother gear changes.

If you are interested i can tell you of a top quality workshop depending on where you are in sydney.

EvilChief · 18-03-2007, 03:02 PM

we normally fluch the entire transmission system at work including the converter, which takes between 20 to 25l. also ensure u use 95le auto fluid and not the regular dextron III, which is sold everywhere

Futura01 · 18-03-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Au2falcons

I paid around 180 for a service but that included using about 20L of fluid to do a flush of all the old trans fluid, as just dropping the pan doesn't replace all the fluid. Boy did it make did it make a difference, much smoother gear changes.

If you are interested i can tell you of a top quality workshop depending on where you are in sydney.

That would be great mate , i am in the bankstown area !!! if you know of any good places???

peterban · 18-03-2007, 03:42 PM

I thought I read on the forum that Ford have stopped flushing the transmission oil as it doesn't clean the filter properly or it flushes contaminants out of the filter back into the system.
Maybe a flush and pan drop with filter change would be o.k.

Au2falcons · 18-03-2007, 04:40 PM

The flush was done with pan drop and filter change.

I got it done in St. Marys not nearby for you but I can highly recommend them. They are called Scott Doney Autos, modern workshop with about eight hoists, the workshop is so spotless you could eat of the floor. They take real good care of your car, i've never found any greasy fingerprints on the car afterwards & top quality repair work too. Ph: (02) 9623 3221

jonbays · 18-03-2007, 05:35 PM

Thanks to johnydep this is a very useful guide for auto trans service for most BTR or ION 4 speed auto transmissions. I had the usual driveway patch minor leak issues with mine which with the help of the article I was able to fix for $20 as it was a classic rear servo cover leak.

have a look here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...c+transmission

GK · 19-03-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbays

Thanks to johnydep this is a very useful guide for auto trans service for most BTR or ION 4 speed auto transmissions. I had the usual driveway patch minor leak issues with mine which with the help of the article I was able to fix for $20 as it was a classic rear servo cover leak.

have a look here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...c+transmission

Jonbays, that was a ripper of a find. Thanks heaps for posting up the link. I understand heaps more about the auto now.

GK

Xray · 04-04-2010, 08:51 PM

Hey, anyone know what the plate on the passenger side of the auto trans has behind it, its shaped like a star and has 6 star headed bolts. i have a leak from the gasket and dont wanna pull it off if there is a spring or something behind it?

5.0 ED · 05-04-2010, 02:10 AM

The flush is done thru the cooler lines anyway, so if a filter change was done beforehand, and the wrong cooler line (easily done) was flushed then all the crap would end up sitting on top of filter waiting to go straight into auto at first drive.

If your going to do it yourself, then you should do the flush then drop the pan and change the filter in my opinion.

As for faulty solonoids, my brother owns a workshop, all my family own fords with these trans and lots of mates, and yet i have and neither has he ever seen one have a faulty solonoid as yet, i've seen worn shift shafts, stuffed seals, broken drums and blocked valve bodies. But no stuffed solonoids.

ronwest · 05-04-2010, 10:37 AM

I'm doing a filter change and full flush today. I'll take a few pics as an adjunct to johnydeps excellent howto.

ronwest · 05-04-2010, 05:12 PM

Didn't happen.

Gave neighbour a hand to do commy water pump.... one hour job.

Rig up an adapted air fitting, fibreglassed to a pos plastic water outlet which crumbled when undoing the hose clamp... 4 hours.

Having neighbour in my debt... priceless

(I'll see how I'm going after dinner, otherwise probably Wed evening.)