(Yet ANOTHER...) Solenoid Problem?

[BlackLS06]

The dealer will do a flush, filter, and solenoid replacement all for agroindustrial $1000.

I would do that first before spending thousands on a new transmission. Most shifting issues if you search are cause by the solenoid.

 

[BigJohnson]

Well, found a shop that will do a rebuild for 1700... idk how good they are but my step father went to school with the guy and has had different work done at the shop before. Everyone on LvC says replace solenoid replace solenoid replace solenoid but every mechanic says otherwise. What are the chances I do a flush, filter, and solenoid and that takes care of the harsh -R- but doesnt fix the "compression valve" for the hard shift from 3rd into 4th? I just dont want to be out a grand and have to do more work. If I go with this shop and pay the addition 700 I get the entire package.

Even if its not throwing any codes for transmission problems (as trans shop(s) say) if I take it to a Lincoln Dealership they will for sure be able to tell me the exact problem after I pay the 150 dollar charge to find out right? Every encounter I have had with my local Lincoln Dealership has been a bad one thats why I am so reluctant to go to dealership..

 

[LS4me]

So the official verdict is in now, trans guy again says that he would recc the whole trans be rebuilt. Says there is no metal shavings but that the trans fluid was black and his conclusion is that everything is just burning up. Says the official cause of the 3rd into 4th gear slamming is a compression valve of some sort. He said its probably the solenoid is also bad and the cost for just those two is a little shy of having the whole thing redone. $2495 plus tax?!? Man Ive got some decisions to make... dont want to see the LS go but still need to replace wheel bearings in rear and when I had it up to look at things I seen all the boots are busted and will prob need new suspension parts soon too. Ughhhhhhhh

Repairs are cheaper than a car payment. Just say'n...........

 

[04_Sport_LS]

So the official verdict is in now, trans guy again says that he would recc the whole trans be rebuilt. Says there is no metal shavings but that the trans fluid was black and his conclusion is that everything is just burning up. Says the official cause of the 3rd into 4th gear slamming is a compression valve of some sort. He said its probably the solenoid is also bad and the cost for just those two is a little shy of having the whole thing redone. $2495 plus tax?!? Man Ive got some decisions to make... dont want to see the LS go but still need to replace wheel bearings in rear and when I had it up to look at things I seen all the boots are busted and will prob need new suspension parts soon too. Ughhhhhhhh

I believe you can get a Motorcraft reman, direct from the dealer for about $1700. It comes with a 3 year/100,000 mile warranty. Same as the engines. I'm pretty sure that includes replacement labor if needed. My buddy at the dealer said there are a few returns on these, but not alot.

You could do the install yourself, with a knowledgable friend, and save $$$ on labor. But then you loose the free replacement labor if needed.

Once people tear these trannys apart, and replace the major internals, they never seem to be right afterwards. I test drove an '05, that made some weird noises when they first started it up at the dealer for me. Like something came loose, bounced around for a few seconds, and then ground up. Upon test driving, "check transmission" came up in the gear indicator screen. It started slipping, and shifting funny afterwards. when we got back to the dealer, they checked their paperwork, and it had been in 2 years/25,000 miles earlier for trans problems. Don't remember exactly what was replaced, but it seemed to be having the same issues as before.

If you want to try to do the solenoid and fluid change yourself, parts and fluid will be about $450, but it also sounds like you need that 4-5 spring. That means pulling the valve body, and tearing it apart. A knowledgable friend would be helpful here too.

Good Luck,

---Mike---

 

[BigJohnson]

Update:

Latest mechanic (who seems to be the most honest and trustworthy) says that it has nothing to do with my transmission and that the computer needs reprogrammed and "flashed". He seems to think that this will solve my problem.

...luckily, this is something that only the dealership can take care of.

 

[BlackLS06]

At 120K miles, you really should replace the solenoid and stop looking for someone to tell you different.

If its never been replaced before, then youre lucky to have made it this far with the original. We arent talking out of our asses...the guys here are talking from experience. The solenoid is the most common issue with this transmission, not just on this car but others that use it.

Change the solenoid now to prevent further damage. Servo bores might be gone too.

 

[Elemino]

Update:

Latest mechanic (who seems to be the most honest and trustworthy) says that it has nothing to do with my transmission and that the computer needs reprogrammed and "flashed". He seems to think that this will solve my problem.

...luckily, this is something that only the dealership can take care of.

:slam

Definitely don't go to that guy...

 

[BigJohnson]

So here we are again... I took everyones advice and replaced the solenoid, servo bores and all the good stuff praying for the best. After doing this and flashing the ecm... $650 dollars later, the car still has the same problem. Reading up on the trouble I found that the factor ECMs in the LS can sometimes be faulty. Has anyone ever heard of this? Again, no error codes are coming up and it has a hard shift from 3rd into 4th and a hard reverse. Just slams into gear, doesnt slip and besides the slamming part it drives fine. No check engine light, no nothing. What to do... what to do....

 

[pektel]

When I replaced the solenoid block, I also replaced the valve body. Pretty much because he was already in there, and I got the valve body for under $100.

 

[BigJohnson]

The transmission guy says that his money is on something with the computer system, claiming that if it was anything with the transmission it would be throwing a code #1, and #2 that the hard shifting has nothing to do with the trans itself, rather the computer telling it how hard to shift. Does this sound accurate?

Did you have a hard shifting problem and replaced the solenoid and valve body and this solved your problem?

 

[G-RELL]

sounds like a tranny guy that doesn't know what it is, and blaming it on something he doesn't have to mess with

 

[pektel]

I had a hard 3-4 shift for a day or 2. Then, lost the 3-4 all together. Drove to the mechanic's in 3rd gear.

 

[jrand]

The transmission guy says that his money is on something with the computer system, claiming that if it was anything with the transmission it would be throwing a code #1, and #2 that the hard shifting has nothing to do with the trans itself, rather the computer telling it how hard to shift. Does this sound accurate?

yeah it does. everyone here is going to disagree with me, but you may not have even needed to replace a solenoid to begin with bc crappy specs will make crappy shifts which have the same symptoms as a crappy solenoid. disconnect the battery and follow the break in procedure for the battery in the owners manual and run a drive cycle on it and your problem may be fixed. you may have to run more than one drive cycle as it will be very sensitive to the way you are driving.