Ford FreestarThe Ford Freestar is a solid, highly capable minivan that performs well and offers all the latest safety features. Much of the Freestar's structure and design came from the Windstar it replaced. Windstar offered class-leading safety and solid performance for its time. Freestar is the highest quality minivan it has ever built.
The ATF on our '04 Monty was changed a couple of years ago, at about the recommended 50K miles.
Owners seem to be all over the place regarding flushing the tranny. Some do it every 15K miles, and others, never.
The factory manual gives this for flushing:
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Remove the lower cooler line at the rad, and run a hose to a 15 qt bucket.
Idle the engine in Park until it stops pumping ATF - about 2 qt.
Add 10 qts (!) of ATF and idle in Park until it stops pumping.
Reconnect cooler line.
Refill - about 2 qt.
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The factory procedure does not change the filter, which seems bizarre to me.
I checked with a smart guy at HB Trannies today:
He says outfits that use a machine will backflush through the filter - which is even more bizarre.
He drops the pan, changes the filter, then flushes, draining at the cooler line.
That makes a lot more sense to me. He charges $140, about $40 which is ATF, I believe.
He says the late Windstar and Freestar trannies are good. That's sure different from what we read here and on the Edmunds Forum.
I haven't decided whether to let them do it, or DIM. If I do it, it will be per their procedure.
The numbers of identified problem trannies here are going to appear higher than what is reality. I came here origionally as I had a problem and didn't want to take it to a dealer. This forum offered simple and easy, do it yourself solutions which appreciate as I am sure others do.
My point is that you don't find many posts about things that haven't gone wrong; the tranny mechanic is probably right on. They get access to industry trends as they want to be well able to handle the worse trannies to make the most money.
While I admit the procedure is a bit odd, that is the procedure. If you have it done outside the dealership, make certain the new ATF is MERCON V certified.
__________________ Peace, it's our only chance
1998 E150 Club Wagon, 4.6L Modular, E4OD
2007 Milan. 3.0L Duratec, Aisin 6 speed AW-F21 others I look out for
2007 Escape 2wd (the mini Pumpkin), 3.0L Duratec, CD4E
2008 Mazda3 5 door, 2.3L, 5 speed manual
He says the late Windstar and Freestar trannies are good. That's sure different from what we read here and on the Edmunds Forum.
I haven't decided whether to let them do it, or DIM. If I do it, it will be per their procedure.
GB
I agree!!
You know, you get four, or five people with bad trannys, and they post at all the Freestar forums, it seems like a TON of people have a problem. But man, they made a LOT of these vans....and frankly there is not a huge group of us freestar guys [and gals] hanging out on these forums. I think we are doing pretty well realy. I had talked to a few guys in Ford dealers before I got my 06. I work parts in a VW/Mazda dealer, and have deal with a few ford dealers. Asked them up front about these vans. Wile they had done a few trannys, it was in no way a HUGE ammount, or eaven a large croossection of the vans they have gotten in. All I have heard is they are pretty much bullit proof. Mine seems to show this as true.. it has 90k on it, and has han NO warranty repairs!!!
So all I can say, is surff around to the other brands... ALL of them will seem to have auto tranny issues.
You know, you get four, or five people with bad trannys, and they post at all the Freestar forums, it seems like a TON of people have a problem. But man, they made a LOT of these vans...
Sorry guys, I'm a retired Ford Engineer, I have seen the data and the Ax4S/AX4N has the highest percentages of high mileage failures of any Ford transmission in the past 30-40 years.
If you want to minimize your chances of failure, change the fluid at the recommended interval (few people do) and add an auxiliary cooler. Both will put the odds in your favor.
__________________ Peace, it's our only chance
1998 E150 Club Wagon, 4.6L Modular, E4OD
2007 Milan. 3.0L Duratec, Aisin 6 speed AW-F21 others I look out for
2007 Escape 2wd (the mini Pumpkin), 3.0L Duratec, CD4E
2008 Mazda3 5 door, 2.3L, 5 speed manual
OK, Wiz, time to ask the expert: why is the tranny cooler inside the radiator? Do you add the aux cooler in series before the rad, or after? How is the tow package cooler laid out?
OK, Wiz, time to ask the expert: why is the tranny cooler inside the radiator?
Like most things on cars; it was cheap and easy.
Do you add the aux cooler in series before the rad, or after? How is the tow package cooler laid out?[/quote]
I don't know the real answer to the first question, but I will tell you that on cars with tow package and auxiliary cooler they do not route the fluid through the radiator at all !
__________________ Peace, it's our only chance
1998 E150 Club Wagon, 4.6L Modular, E4OD
2007 Milan. 3.0L Duratec, Aisin 6 speed AW-F21 others I look out for
2007 Escape 2wd (the mini Pumpkin), 3.0L Duratec, CD4E
2008 Mazda3 5 door, 2.3L, 5 speed manual
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