Merry Christmas Broken Transmission ((Vent))

[tinkmom2]

Thanks for the advice everyone! This is what the invoice says: codes P0732/PO734 shift fault. Found internal band has broken. Requires band and piston kit. Cost is $2095.00 for repair. Recommend overhaul to ensure total reliability. Cost is $3594 for overhaul.
Then the DH got home and they charged us $150.00 for diagnostics

Like I said before. We won't have this kind of money til tax time. I looked into a rental car. That is just as much as fixing the car. I will be riding the bus. I get it for free with my college bus pass. My hubby works pretty far away so I am not sure what he's gonna do. My DD's next heart ablation is in April so hopefully we will have the car fixed by then

I will try to take it a few places for estimates. I want to drive it as little as possible in the meantime. DH works every other week so I don't know if we can scrape by driving the car just to and from work?

 

[kymom99]

I wouldn't keep driving it if I were you. You could cause more damage or find yourself stranded.

Usually the diagnostic charge would be credited towards the repair if you have them do the work.

Is it possible for you to trade it for something else while it still runs?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I have no idea about the whole belt thing, but it would not surprise me if the transmission on a Mariner runs $3000. When the transmission went in my 2003 Mazda Tribute (same car as Mariner and Escape) it was nearly $4000 to replace it with a rebuilt one. I had two different estimates done and they were both very close to each other. Everyone who is saying that $3000 is way too much obviously do not live in an area with a high cost of living. Labor rates around here are outrageous!

I had it wrong thinking this was the Mercury version of the Explorer which would be a cheaper repair. Still, that is way high. The dealer is probably higher than an outside shop.

 

[tinkmom2]

I wouldn't keep driving it if I were you. You could cause more damage or find yourself stranded.

Usually the diagnostic charge would be credited towards the repair if you have them do the work.

Is it possible for you to trade it for something else while it still runs?

We have only had the vehicle for a year and have 4 more years to go on our car loan. I doubt they will take it on a trade in.

 

[ssawka]

My limited knowledge of cars tells me there is no belt in a transmission, as others have said. But I also second what the above poster said. I had a 2003 Mazda Tribute (stay away from them) and the tranny went out. I was quoted 2choices, $2000 or $2600. The higher price I was told was the best way to go with it. I opted to trade it for a Nissan as is/was. If the transmission is out, it is out. There is no easy fix.

I agree! It was a good car until the transmission went. I spent the money to fix it and then sold it to CarMax. That might seem a bit crazy, but since it was paid off, I wanted to get $ out of it while I still could. After selling it, I bought a KIA Soul. Doing that actually dropped my insurance, not to mention the $ I saved on gas.

Would anyone mind to share the mileage their Tributes/Mariners/Escapes had to have their transmission fixed?

My Tribute only had 85K miles on it when it went! That is why I replaced the car with a KIA. I wanted the 100K mile power train warranty.

I had it wrong thinking this was the Mercury version of the Explorer which would be a cheaper repair. Still, that is way high. The dealer is probably higher than an outside shop.

Again, it all depends on where you are. Here in Northern Virginia, all repair shops charge you an arm and a leg because their labor rates are so high. I do agree that the dealer will charge you more than a local repair shop, but not much more. With mine it may have been about $100-$200 different. If it is that close, I would probably trust the dealer.

 

[lauradis]

I feel like crying. Our O/D light came on on our 2007 Mercury Mariner we just got about a year ago. We took it in to the dealership today. It went from being nothing (a microtrip) to being a belt loose in the trasmission. It could cost up to $3000.00. My daughter has been I'll with a heart condition and we've been putting all of our money towards those bills. Now we have to come up with this money. We will only have this kind of money when our taxes come back at the end of January. I have no idea what to do?
We basically have been through the ringer with all of these medical bills. Our credit has suffered because of it. I have no idea what to do.

You said dealership I said oh NO, I love the dealership when Im not paying their over inflated prices. Im in the go some place else camp.

"How My Tribute only had 85K miles on it when it went! That is why I replaced the car with a KIA. I wanted the 100K mile power train warranty."

love my cheaper 13 yr old 160k miles threw away kia. cannt wait for the elio to come out want one really bad

much is the 6 yr old car worth? High Millage?

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

That broken band and piston also allowed slipping to occur and that most likely scattered fine debris all over the internal parts.

Even though there is an internal filter, some additional wear may have occurred in other areas. I agree with the recommendation to overhaul the whole thing but would recommend an outright replacement as the warranty would be for 3 years or 100k miles. That is the length of the Motorcraft (Ford) warranty and the Jasper warranty. Generally an in dealer overhaul only has a 12/12 warranty.

 

[01spirit750]

I believe this is the ford to mercury conversion:

Ford Mercury
Escape >> Mariner
Explorer >> Aviator
Expedition >> Navigator

We have not had much luck with our ford purchases.
1994 Ford Taurus >> Transmission 85k miles $3k
2003 Ford Explorer >> Rear differential 28k miles $3k (under warranty)

I saw a commerical pushing the durability of the new Ford eco boost v6, and I laughed and was thinking yeah right. What about the transmission?

 

[tvguy]

I believe this is the ford to mercury conversion:

Ford Mercury
Escape >> Mariner
Explorer >> Aviator MOUNTAINEER
Expedition >> Navigator

We have not had much luck with our ford purchases.
1994 Ford Taurus >> Transmission 85k miles $3k
2003 Ford Explorer >> Rear differential 28k miles $3k (under warranty)

I saw a commerical pushing the durability of the new Ford eco boost v6, and I laughed and was thinking yeah right. What about the transmission?

My company and my wife's companies run fleets of E-350 vans, Explorers and Escapes. Other than the E350's, which we run 500,000 miles, the Explorers are pretty bullet proof until 300,000 miles. The Escapes are too new to have much more than a 100,000 miles on them.
Our biggest vehicle issue has been the 2 Escapes and 1 E350 that were totaled when they were reared this year.

 

[tinkmom2]

Update on my situation. It was a broken band in my transmission. One of the parents at my kids' school works in the autobody training shop of our local technical school. He offered to take it up on a project. They just replaced the band this last week. They had to take out the transmission, drill a hole to get the band out and put a new one in. I only had to pay for parts which were $165.00. That's a ton better than the $3000 the dealership quoted me.
We were able to drive it around since Christmas because there were no free parts floating in the fluid. It would slip going into different gears but it was bearable. We just couldn't go above 50. (this was with the broken band for clarification)
It is fine now without any hesitation and I can go any speed.

The bad news is my daughters heart situation couldn't be fixed. She might need a pacemaker when she's a bit older. But she is managing well with new meds. Thanks for the well wishes!

 

[policycobb]

Glad to read a happy ending for your vehicle. I hope your daughter is doing well.

 

[holycow]

wonderful news~ So happy for you!!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I'm glad the students were able to replace the band and restore the transmission to its normal behavior.

I know that you must feel relieved to have a reliable vehicle and a very small repair bill

 

[dpswift]

Glad your car is fixed. Sorry about your daughter fope she is feeling well.

 

[chewysmom]

I'm glad you got your car fixed!

Sorry it wasn't such great news about your daughter, but I'm glad she's doing well w/ the meds. My first son was a heart baby. It's a scary thing!