HI, This past weekend my truck, just 6 weeks after the warranty ran out, decided it was time to turn the automatic transmission into mush. We we coming out of a Lowes' parking lot and BANG! It felt almost like somebody had rear-ended us. IThe truck still ran, but had something of a grinding noise coming from the trans. area and we were missing at least two forward gears and the reverse. We did get down to the dealership without having to have it towed, but this morning I was informed that most likely the reverser gear came off of its spline and basically turned all the rest of the insides to junk.

They are checking now to see if it's more economical to rebuild it or just put a whole new unit in. Either way we're looking at somewhere between $1500 and $2000. Now this thing only has 23,000 miles on it and the service manager said that it was highly unusual for something like this to happen, so he is going to try to get all of it or at least some of it covered under the expired warranty. I'm not lucky enough to get it all covered, but even if the price could be cut in half, it's still going to be somewhat expensive.

Oh well, guess it's just my turn to be 'over the barrel, ' so to speak. The next vehicle I buy is most definitely going to have a standard shift in it!!!

Take care, Sgirty

Holy Moly! I can't imagine a tranny dying at 23K regardless of the years. The dealership should be bending over backwards for you to get this covered as should the field rep of the company. I've had trannies on my various Honda cars last up to nearly 200,000 miles with no work.

Sorry to hear about this Sgirty. I know you're on a fixed income and all. What amazes me is a warranty that is only good for 23K. That's one reason why I buy junkers. Between $1500 and $2000 is more than I've spent on my last three cars combined. Yeah they're ugly and slow, but they get me where I want to go.


I know from my years working in a dealership that the service manager will do everything they can to get you covered. They don't want you being upset and telling all your friends about the experience. Of course they probably don't know all the friends you have here on Armorama.

Rodger just hit me with the idea of your friends here and the influence this could have. Check and see if there's a dedicated discussion group for the type of truck you have. Look through there to see if there have been ongoing problems with the tranies. One of the guys who posts at S2KI, an S2000 group, had a problem with a dealer and there was an e-mail campaign to give him support and it resulted in a positive resolution. Good luck with it.

I agree with AJLaFleche. There might be a silent recall hiding out there. A little trick from the auto manucturers.

Paul

Hi, Thanks for the support folks. The service manager called and said not to worry about it and that it was a 'done deal.' And he would call when it was all fixed up. And sorry for the problems it caused.

Halfyank, When I bought the truck I just had the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty on it and the time period was what had run out 6 or 7 weeks ago.

Guess the car Gods or gear Gods were watching out for me, this time. Ha!

By the way, on another car-related matter: My sister-in-law just took delivery of her new 2005 Ford Mustang GT last Thrus. A mdeium blue with a beige-colored leather interior, all for under $27,000, not counting tax, of course.

And I'm here to tell you that it's everything it's cracked up to be. The only thing lacking that I can see, from an old ex-muscle car fanatic of the '60s and early '70s, is that neck-snapping responsiveness when you get on it, like the old Mustangs, Cameros, 'Cudas and such. Of course a lot of that is in the rear end gearing.

But with gas at the price it is that 300hp V-8 is just not a logical choice to be making, that is if you want anything else in your life. Oh well. Plastic is more fun to fool with. But all in all, I don't know if I can say that in the long run it's all that much cheaper anymore.

Thanks and take care, Sgirty

Could have a lot to do with the onboard computor... Most likely it has the ablity to retard the ignition timing if the computor senses a tire breaking loose.. Isnt traction control a wonderful thing..

Dave

Funny thing is that the 05 Mustang GT is faster in the quater mile then a 66 Shebly GT-350 andthe 05 GT has a radio, Emissions and AC in it! :-D