[V8] Ford sans 4th gear (no Audi)

[Coleman, David]

I realize this is not a Ford list... but it's topical.

My '92 Aerostar 3.0 4x2 tow vehicle w/ 95k has been oddly reliable as
well... the best shocks and michelins Sears has to offer, along w/ a
serp belt, was the only fix/upgrades I've done since 60k.  Just
yesterday the trans started slipping badly (about the time the Taurus
trans post came up), but it ended up that a hose popped off the
aftermarket trans cooler I installed 3 years ago.  Tightened all clamps,
filled up w/ synth atf, and it's shifting better than ever.   Of course,
Dave's 100k Explorer trans has me nervous again.

The end point being that I am seriously considering trading it in on
another Furd van/suv thing.  Since I primarily direct my auto
maintenance attention to the Audi, I tend to neglect the workhorse
somewhat.  Odd folks, those Ford gods.

-dc


> -----Original Message-----
> From: dsaad at icehouse.net [mailto:dsaad at icehouse.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 10:51 AM
> To: Michael L. Riebs
> Cc: duane at zk3.dec.com; Buchholz, Steven; v8 at audifans.com;
> Quattro List;
> 200q20v at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [V8] Ford sans 4th gear
>
>
> Apparently, my '93 explorer did better than average when the
> transmission
> lasted all the way to 100k miles. $2k later it is as good as new.
> While overall this has been a very reliable car, and this has
> been the only
> real expense, it still irritates me that it could have been a
> great rig if ford
> would have only made minor and cheap changes. eg:
>
> - put on actual shocks that last more than one trip down the driveway
> - design and layout so that all normal maintenance items can
> be reached without
> removing the engine
> - use electrical connectors that do not break when you remove them
> - spend some time refining the engine control software
>
> none of these items would have changed the cost of building
> the car, but it
> would make ownership much more satisfying.
>
> Since I do almost all the repairs on my cars, I really
> appriceate how things
> are laid out on the V8. I can't say that about the explorer.
>
> Dave
>
>
> Quoting "Michael L. Riebs" <michael at 1stchoicegranite.com>:
>
> > Wait....
> > You are already Audi owners, right???
> > Well, you should have known better than to buy American
> cheapo's then.
> > Or
> > Japanese rice boilers. There's such a thing as "planned obsoletion",
> > which
> > is what keeps Americans replacing their stuff every 2 - 5
> years. If you
> > want
> > a quality, long-lasting product - buy German or Swedish (of course
> > that's
> > American too, now...)
> >
> > Michael Riebs
> > Grand Rapids, MI
> > '90 V8Q (#7)
> > '98 A6Q Avant (#6)
> > Only 6 & 7 remain.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Andrew Duane USG" <duane at hunch.zk3.dec.com>
> > To: "Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz at kla-tencor.com>
> > Cc: <v8 at audifans.com>; "Quattro List" <quattro at audifans.com>;
> > <200q20v at audifans.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 3:32 PM
> > Subject: Re: [V8] RE: Bose recall
> >
> >
> > > Hairy green toads from Mars made Buchholz, Steven say:
> > >
> > > > It seems like the government is already in the process
> of working
> > out a
> > > > recall with Audi.  I really wonder how many people here
> have shared
> > their
> > > > concerns with the NHTSA using the standard reporting method.  I
> > suspect
> > very
> > > > few folks here actually have ... and if that is the
> case, who else
> > cares
> > > > about fixing a problem on an old Audi?
> > >
> > > Well, don't hold your breath.
> > >
> > > Recently, we bought a car for our daughter, who is 16.5, and just
> > > getting her license. Actually, she made her first solo drive
> > > yesterday!
> > >
> > > Anyway, based on the fact that it got good safety ratings, and is
> > > about the most sold car in the world, we bought a recent
> Ford Taurus.
> > > They've sold 25 million of these, they have to be decent, right???
> > >
> > > Well, it turns out that since 1992, the automatic trannies Ford
> > > and Mercury has been putting into these cars and others like them
> > > have suffered a 20% mortality rate! There is a TSB about them
> > > losing 4th gear. Just disappears due to an internal fault that
> > > Ford has known about for 8 years!
> > >
> > > Recall? Hardly! Help with the repair? Must be dreaming!
> > >
> > > $2100 for a new tranny in a 5 year old car :-(
> > >
> > > So, we're pursuing the last remedy we have, a class
> action lawsuit.
> > >
> > > Sorry, it's in the shop today getting the new tranny, and I had to
> > vent.
> > > This is the first Ford we've ever bought. Count on it
> being the last.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7) duane at zk3.dec.com
> > > Compaq Computer Corporation (603)-884-1294
> > > 110 Spit Brook Road
> > > M/S ZKO3-3/U14
> > > Nashua, NH    03062-2698
> > >
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