Not All Engine Noises Are Good...

[kartman]

The average dealsersip mechanic earns 19.00 per hour and is 22 years old. You don't always get what you pay for, I have hired, and fired, more ex dealership mechanics than I care to think about. Sad but true but warranty threats often hold people to dealerships when the most experienced mechanics leave dealerships as they are bored and not satisfied with the crap pay. The expertise is often limited to one foreman or manager with multiple juniors doing the bulk of work on the vehicles.

Joel

[YOZ-F6]

that's really sad for the automotive community, since all the good mechanics are headed out for better prospects (mines, rigs etc) where they are able to earn 10x more for much more interesting work! I think that's part of the reason Grenville left, because he had enough of Ford's sh*t, so he started his own business, and I'm glad to say, he's done a great job so far! its really hard to find a good mechanic who knows what they're talking about, and not only that, he's a really nice down-to-earth guy who lays it all on the table, and NO bullsh*t!

The dealer I took it to was Titan Ford on Leach Highway in Melville, WA. Grenville used to work there as a Service Advisor before he left, that's why he told me to take it there, as it was close to his place as well, just in case I had any issues with them. And good thing too, he actually went down there, and had a chat with the managers to try and explain what had happened, and try and make them see it it wasn't a bottom end issue. He actually said to them "prove it was my modifications that did this, and he'll happily walk away!" But all they could come back to was the fact that it was flashed, and "it clearly states in the manual if you flash your ECU, your mechanical warranty is void!"

They didn't offer to have a look at it, matter of fact, I actually did ask the service advisor if he could diagnose it furthur, cause all he said was "you've done a bottom end and Ford don't repair motors, they replace them...etc..." and he said "Mate, you're not gonna pay me to pull this (the engine) apart," I assumed cause it would cost a lot of money!

Joel, you rekon I should get a new flex plate? I've already settled with Grenville, and the 'box is already back together. He said he had a good look at it and it was still good, that's why he also used the original bolts cause there was nothing wrong with them! I did ask him if I needed to change it, and he said if it was a manual, yes it would pay to do it, but the ZF doesn't need it to be done. so do you still think I should go for the atomic plate?

[YOZ-F6]

Hey guys,

after driving the car around for the last couple of days, I noticed it slipping quite a bit in 1st to second, and a little from 2nd to 3rd..

Because the 'box has been pulled out, about 2L of transmission oil leaked out. they topped it up, but it would only take 1L. Grenville said to watch out for slippage, so I took it back yesterday morning, and still could not fit any more oil into the gearbox? Should the car be running in gear when this is happening maybe, so the oil has a chance to get around everywhere? or am I looking at a transmission fluid flush?

is there any other reason the 'box is slipping? perhaps there was damage to the flex plate when the bolts came loose?

Cheers!

[Adam]

What fluid was put into the box?

[YOZ-F6]

Ford Transmission oil, I saw the bottle myself, its the standard stuff that came straight from Ford for the FG ZF 'boxes, Grenville picked it up himself. To be honest, I wouldn't mind at all doing a transmission fluid flush, cause lets face it, I nearly spent 8 grand redoing the bottom end, so $600 for a fluid flush isn't near as much as that, so I'm happy to pay that!

[BALLBREAKER]

Did my 1 as well not to long ago. intune flex plat new bolts.Didn't lose any fluid at all unbolt heat exchange off the side of the engine block & leave the tailshaft in the gearbox.I sh*t myself as well thinking I just destroyed my engine.I was relieved that when in gear & a little load was added the noise would stop,A damaged engine dos'nt do that.

[ebxmple]

Best to check the trans oil level dead cold on a 4 post hoist. Ford state that the trans fluid temp should be at approx 40deg and oil should just trickle out the fill hole. ZF have told us to just fill from cold,run through the gears and check again. If its hot,oil will just piss out the fill hole and you will have an incorrect level. 1 ltr of oil is enough for these boxes to slip bad.

[YOZ-F6]

Yeah I know hey! it was slipping really badly! got it filled up using the proper procedure from Ford, and now its doing well! only drove it home yesterday and left it in the garage in the light of the approaching storm, and I didn't want any hail damage like year before last year! so tomorrow I'm going to give it a bit of a hiding on the freeway and see how it goes..slippage wise!!