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Ford Freestyle Maintenance and Repair

1415 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2012 at 11:27 AM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, SUV

Messages Page 134 of 142

#1328 of 1415 Re: CVT [sinder] by stevedebi

Jan 12, 2010 (6:11 pm)

Replying to: sinder (Jan 08, 2010 7:54 am)
"If there " simply aren't enough ZF CVT units out there to make it profitable" (your quote) , where are the parts coming from, Stevedebi ???? There are people on this forum that have waited 5-6 weeks for a parts. "
 
I probably wasn't clear on the statement. The parts are coming from Europe. But there are not enough Ford ZF transmissions (i.e., 2005-2007 Freestyle and Ford 500) on the road to make it profitable for an independent transmission shop to get set up to fix them.
 
I agree that Ford should have allowed for more spares. It would be interesting for people to indicate their manufacture date; perhaps there is a correlation in dates and failures.
 
I didn't like the "cornering the market" phrase because it implies that Ford is intentionally restricting the market. That is illegal and is not the case. The people with problems got a bad transmission, and (again) there just weren't that many of them produced in those three years; they are uncommon.
 
This is different from the Saturn problem, in which case the transmission design was defective. I think it is in production that the Ford CVT problems occurred, rather than design.
 
I am sorry for your troubles, and it would bother me too if it had happened, although my FS was a lease and I had the extended warranty added so that it would finish the lease while under warranty. But I tend to do that with all my leases; it wasn't because of any particular FS part or concern.

#1329 of 1415 Re: CVT [stevedebi] by bobw3

Jan 15, 2010 (8:08 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Jan 12, 2010 6:11 pm)
It makes sense to me that the cost of repairing a FS CVT transmission will cost more because there are less of them out there and you'll probably be restricted to a dealer.
 
That being said, the cost of replacing ANY transmission on a vehicle of this size will probably be a few thousand dollars, so if I need to replace my CVT, I'll end up paying an extra $1000 in comparison to a non-CVT.
 
However, if I'd have driven a 7 passenger vehicle (eg minivan or SUV) with a normal transmission, I'd probably average about 18-19mpg. With my Freestyle after over nearly 80,000 miles my average has been 22-23mpg. It rarely goes under 20mpg and on long road trips I'll get 25-27mpg. So if I would have owned another SUV or minivan, after 80,000 miles at 18mpg at $2.5/gal, I'd have spent $11,111 in gas, and with my FS at 22mpg at $2.5/gal I spent $9,091. That's a savings of $2020 for me.
 
So at least in my case, if my transmission ever does need replacing (so far no problems other than a Transmission Control Module replaced under the emissions warranty) and costs me $1000 more than a normal transmission, at least I'll know I've already saved twice that amount in gas.
 
No I won't be happy about replacing the transmission (or making any other repair) but I have to look at the total cost of ownership and not just a single repair.
 
For those of you that have had multiple transmission repairs/replacements I agree, that does really stink, as does it stink for anyone with any car that has multiple problems. I've read many other car forums here on Edmunds (Freestar transmission, Odyssey, transmission, Suburban transmission, Ram transmission, Lexus RX 300 transmission) and every car out there as similar stories with a few folks who have a lot of problems and then a bunch of other folks saying they’re not having any problems...the Freestyle is no different, and the owners of those other vehicles are just as irate as those here.

#1330 of 1415 Re: CVT [bobw3] by danallan

Jan 15, 2010 (8:24 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Jan 15, 2010 8:08 am)
Bob, you are my kind of guy. That's exactly how I would look at things too. Plus, the difference in price paid for my Freestyle versus the higher price I would have paid for a comparable model of a competing brand.

#1331 of 1415 Re: CALLING ALL CVT ISSUES...05 FORD FREESTYLES [yoyo123] by explorerx4

Jan 16, 2010 (5:35 pm)

Replying to: yoyo123 (Dec 05, 2009 1:58 pm)
did you ever look into replacing the hitch bar with a 2 inch version?
i am assuming the current one can be unbolted and a larger one can replace it.
try etrailer dot com.

#1332 of 1415 Removal of Rear Seat by sandra24

Jan 26, 2010 (3:05 pm)

How do you remove the rear bench (fold up) seat permantly in a Ford Freestyle 2005?

#1333 of 1415 Re: CVT [bobw3] by asa203

Feb 07, 2010 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: bobw3 (Jan 15, 2010 8:08 am)
Your fuel estimates are flawed. I drive a Freestyle AWD and My wife drives Honda Oddysey EXL. The best gas mileage I have ever gotten on the Freesystyle is 23.5. We have gotten 27.5 on the Oddysey more than once. Both of these vehicles have complaints about transmission failures, but so far we have been ok. I would not be happy to pay 5K for a tranny repair on any kind of vehicle.

#1334 of 1415 Re: CVT [asa203] by sinder

Feb 08, 2010 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: asa203 (Feb 07, 2010 2:47 pm)
My mileage runs like yours, asa203. The best I have EVER fot was 23.5 as well.
 
Now here's the "kicker" on the transmission. $5500 to have a "remanned" one installed.
HOWEVER ::::::: FORD provides a 3 year 100K mile warranty on the REMANNED one ! Does anyone else find this just a bit odd ?
 
Any particular reason they wouldn't offer that on a brand new one????

#1335 of 1415 Re: CVT [sinder] by stevedebi

Feb 08, 2010 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: sinder (Feb 08, 2010 3:21 pm)
"My mileage runs like yours, asa203. The best I have EVER fot was 23.5 as well.
  
Now here's the "kicker" on the transmission. $5500 to have a "remanned" one installed.
HOWEVER ::::::: FORD provides a 3 year 100K mile warranty on the REMANNED one ! Does anyone else find this just a bit odd ?
  
Any particular reason they wouldn't offer that on a brand new one???? "
 
The maximum I ever got was 27 on my 2006 SEL, at 70 MPH.
 
I think they don't have new ones because the transmission is no longer manufactured. They have to remanufacture them.

#1336 of 1415 Freestyle '07 SEL tire decision by import32

Feb 15, 2010 (10:34 am)

We bought our '07 FreestyleSEL used and it's now time to replace the tires (the Conti's made it to 56K miles). We now live in Chicago, so have to deal with snow & ice and I sometimes tow a very light sailboat/trailer (400 lbs approx) I've been reading the discussions and see that the general rec. is to go to 225/65/17's from the OEM 215. Hate to admit it, but being a 'chick' I'm not used to evaluating these kind of products, so I wanted to know if your recomendations from earlier last year still stand or if getting the Michelin Hydroedge at Costco is a good decision. I appreciate your input & now I'll get back to territory I'm more familiar with - helping my freshman twin girls find dresses for an upcoming dance! (-:

#1337 of 1415 Re: Freestyle '07 SEL tire decision [import32] by curtisc63

Feb 15, 2010 (6:19 pm)

Replying to: import32 (Feb 15, 2010 10:34 am)
I replaced mine after 50K with the orignal size 215s. I ended up buying Yokohama AVID TRZs. Good price and good ratings. They did great here in Maryland over the last week and two blizzards. Very confidence inspiring. here is some mroe info:
 
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Ford&au- toYear=2005&autoModel=Freestyle&autoModClar=&width=215/&ratio=65&diameter=17&sor- tCode=49581&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=S&minLoadRating=S&tab=All
 
As for the dresses for the dance - I recommend royal blue dresses

Messages Page 134 of 142

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