Tranmission Flush

Blair

Blair

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So i am going in to the dealership to have that recall on the cruise control switch done. They do a Transmission flush/fill with Mercon V for 129.99. I did verify with them that they drain all 16 quarts, he said they have a machine that flushes it all out, and also saves having to replace the filter. My question is, don't i want them to replace the filter?
 
I would... but 129.99? What are they doing that is different than any other tranny shop???

The stealerships are a rip off man...
 
The price sounds alright to me, around here mercon V is like 6 a quart. To change the fluid myself would be 80-90. I would want to change the filter and clean the magnet if the fluid was going to be emptied.
 
Something that is as important as your transmission, given it's age and known frailties deserves more attention than a "Flush". You should be looking up "how to" replacement of the accumulators for 1st & 2nd gear and "J" mod if you are more adventuresome. That is unless it has been done prior. Changing the filter is just as important as changing the fluid in my book.
 
Well, i am a relative novice, and although with all the help on the internet in regards to the Mark VIII, i have done more than i usually would, No way i would attempt any tranny work. I would love to have the Jmod, etc done, But again, i am not brave enough to tackle that one yet, also, i have no clue if this car might have had it done.


Ok, so i guess i will ask the dealership how much extra to actually change filters. lol.
 
shouldn't be more than 50.00 extra to change the filter...

ALSO whatever you do, dont let a "know it all" at the dealership tell you that you dont need Mercron V.
I would ask to see the mercron V before it's installed...when you do.
open one of the bottles and SMELL IT
It should smell like the worst thing you've ever smelled "probably".
It should smell like Rotten Fish oil, or something really bad like that.

After the trans service, smell what is on your dipstick.. if it doesnt make you GAG.. go in there and get a refund because they "bait and switched" and put mercron III in your car.

dont take anything less than merc 5 and dont let anyone tell you different.

I got 360,000 miles out of my original trans in my 95.
I put over 5000 dragstrip passes on that trans, it's long life was due in part to Mercon 5 and me "not manually shifting it".

hope this helps
 
Blair said:
I would love to have the Jmod, etc done, But again, i am not brave enough to tackle that one yet, also, i have no clue if this car might have had it done.
Click to expand...

There are a couple of places you can get a "Jmodded" valve body pre-made.
BlueOvalChips.com {talk to lonnie}
Darrin at BC-automotive.com
Lonnie and Darrin work side by side, share office space and are well trusted and well known vendors for the mark 8.

For a novice, getting a prefab Jmod set up is far less stressful and guarantee's success on the first try.

Blair, on your car.. you NEED to upgrade the 1-2 shift accumulators
The dealership should be able to do that when they change the trans filter.

Dont let them "RAPE" you on this cost, it's a 5 minute job after the pan is removed.

YOU, a novice could change the 1-2 piston & spring and trans filter..it's really easy.
 
Ok, i will look into that while they have it.

Definitely appreciate the advice guys!
 
the filter should be about 25.00
the upgraded 1-2 piston and spring should be around 30.00 or less.

if you get ahold of "max" at www.fivestarford.com
he can get you the "better" 1-2 spring, that comes out of a town car {if I remember correctly) it gives a much firmer and quicker 1-2 shift
Go to the website fivestarford.com, call the number on the front page.
When the girl answers the phone tell her you need to speak with "MAX in PARTS".
TELL max your from LVC and you want the "good 1-2" accumulator parts.
Max will BEAT your local ford dealers pricing by usually a LARGE MARGIN.
 
yeah, he killed them on plug wires, by about $100

But will the dealership charge me more in the end if i supply parts?
 
Blair said:
yeah, he killed them on plug wires, by about $100

But will the dealership charge me more in the end if i supply parts?
Click to expand...

probably not, considering the parts you will be bringing will be "ford parts" with ford part numbers..
 
XLRVIII said:
Go to the website fivestarford.com, call the number on the front page.
When the girl answers the phone tell her you need to speak with "MAX in PARTS".
TELL max your from LVC and you want the "good 1-2" accumulator parts.
Max will BEAT your local ford dealers pricing by usually a LARGE MARGIN.
Click to expand...

Or, if you're one of the special (short bus) people like me, you call him up on his direct line.

:D
 
Frogman said:
Or, if you're one of the special (short bus) people like me, you call him up on his direct line.

:D
Click to expand...

yea I just dont give out the number to Max's BatPhone.
I make people go to the website and FIND the number.

cant stick the babyfood spoon in TOO FAR.. they'll gag..
ya know?
 
Need an assist got this from Max:

"The j-mod is 1-2 2-3 as well as the OD however i do have the 1-2 parts you may want.......
do you want the top spring, bottom spg, piston or cover for the 1-2"

And well, i don't know. :)
 
Blair said:
Need an assist got this from Max:

"The j-mod is 1-2 2-3 as well as the OD however i do have the 1-2 parts you may want.......
do you want the top spring, bottom spg, piston or cover for the 1-2"

And well, i don't know. :)
Click to expand...

both 1-2 springs and the piston..

at this stage of the game that is all your gonna need.

Later down the road if you decide to DO the Jmod, which requires removal of the valve body, THEN you can replace/upgrade the 2-3 piston and springs.

The rest of the J mod is simply drilling/enlarging holes in the seperator plate that goes between the valve body and the transmission.

If you feel like it, get an extra seperator plate from Max, then you can modify it, without having to take your car apart.
 
I hate those flush machines... they skip the important part of removing the nasty old filter and cleaning the pan...

Also.. .JMOD FTW :)
 
Yeah. I just changed my fluid/filter about a month ago. I cleaned the pan and magnet. Changed the filter. Drained the converter. And put a drain plug in the bottom of the pan to make the next change easier. And I filled the whole thing up with brand new Mercon V. I have been changing my tranny fluid and filter about every 10K-15K miles for the past couple of years. Yeah, I put a lotta miles on my car. I have an 80-mile round trip to work every day. But changing the fluid and filter is a pie job even for a novice. The biggest thing is getting the converter drain plug lined up with the hole in the bell housing. It's always a good idea to drain the case and converter and refill with all new fluid. At least, that's what I do. And with my new drain plug, taking the pan off won't be anywhere near as messy as it used to be!
 
Your lucky you guys don't have the dreaded conti trans, I got to change mine every 30k. Full trans servie from fords is 245, thats flush and filter. Only good thing is ford warranty's the work. Had to take it back once because something got stuck in the valve body, reflushed for free. So every 30k I get new pilot sports ($480) and a flush ($245) LMAO
 
Blair said:
But will the dealership charge me more in the end if i supply parts?
Click to expand...

If I may interject... is there a good independent tranny shop around you?

If so, use it.

When I got my first Mark VIII and was too nervous to wrench on it, I had one of my local shops do the 1-2 shift accumulator. I first spoke to the mechanic, a small Indian fellow, and was prepared to spell out exactly what the TSB was, Mercon V, etc. I got about two words into it when he cut me off, explained the old vs new springs and what made them different, and asked if I preferred Motorcraft or Valvoline for Mercon V. The bill for the whole job (the shift accumulator update and fluid/filter change with MV) came to $181 - that's including the parts.

Since then, I'm confident doing this stuff myself, but I send him work that I can't do and he's never failed to do quality work for a ridiculously low price.
 
I am very wary of transmission shops sadly, been screwed in the past (not saying the dealership is any better) couple of shops i have called around to have come in quite a bit more expensive than even the dealership. I would love to find someone who is VERY familiar with our cars.
 
XLRVIII said:
I would ask to see the mercron V before it's installed...when you do.
open one of the bottles and SMELL IT
It should smell like the worst thing you've ever smelled "probably".
It should smell like Rotten Fish oil, or something really bad like that.

After the trans service, smell what is on your dipstick.. if it doesnt make you GAG.. go in there and get a refund because they "bait and switched" and put mercron III in your car.
Click to expand...

Ok, maybe I'm weird, but I kinda like the smell of MercV, gear oil I hate though
 
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