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Ford Freestar Transmission Problems

1889 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2013 at 10:10 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Transmission, Van


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Messages Page 134 of 190

#1322 of 1889 2004 freestar transmission failure by freestarmom

Sep 24, 2010 (12:35 pm)

I bought this vehicle new & do not drive it that much since I am a trucker by trade.
 
I was driving down the freeway & lost all power. The tach was going from 1-5 & I had to pull to the side. I had to be towed. The car has less than 90,000 miles & I have kept the car in top shape. I always made sure I did correct maintance on the car.
 
Im getting the run around by Ford in Roseburge Oregon they just want to tell me the maintaance that should of been done on the vehicle that wasnt done on it is the reason it failed me ..A vehicle that doesnt have excessive wear and is drove easily should not have done this.. Iam very disappointed in the Ford dealer amd in this car,I will not buy another Ford vehicle again .. freestarmom

#1323 of 1889 Re: Ford Freestar Transmission [doodleallday] by nadineb

Sep 25, 2010 (8:39 am)

Replying to: doodleallday (Sep 20, 2010 6:25 pm)
You can address you letter to Stephen McHenry, to Secretary Ray LaHood, and your Senators and Congresspersons.
 
Ask for a hearing too!

#1324 of 1889 Ford Freestar Transmission by doodleallday

Sep 25, 2010 (3:27 pm)

Thanks Nadineb!

#1325 of 1889 Re: Root cause of Torque converter failure, from my point of view [sjtdad] by vbouie

Sep 30, 2010 (7:16 pm)

Replying to: sjtdad (Sep 03, 2010 11:43 am)
My '05 Freestar died on sept. 25 while I was on my way to Kentucky to my sons graduation from Army Basic Training. I had it serviced last year in Sept. had a tune-up in February and had the oil changed every 3000 miles. I am leaving tomorrow to go 5 hours from where I live to pick it up from AAMCO at the grand total of $2400. I called Ford and they were absolutely no help. I am also looking for my money back.

#1326 of 1889 Re: Ford Freestar Transmission by dfg28

Oct 11, 2010 (10:25 pm)

my 05 freestar has been a great vehicle,until yesterday when the powertrain malfunction light came on. today i went to my mechanic and he put it on his computer. he drove it a few miles down the road and when he returned he says well all i have is bad news for ya. i was stunned when he told me all the things he knew about these tranny's,and that it would run somewhere in the $1800.00 range to fix it. he said that there's a flaw in the trans case that allows pressure to escape and it cause's the trans to not shift into overdrive. he said there are some trans shops that can fix the case but it requires a complete overhaul of the trans,but afterwards it would be fixed. this doesn't sound like anything i've ever heard about a trans.. so just for kicks i come to my computer and thank the good lord i found this site.does this sound like anything others have experienced? he tells me it will soon go completely out,and that if im not going to be driving over 45mph that i might as well run it till does fail,and that it wont end up costing anymore as it is going to have to be rebuilt anyway.please help i dont have that kind of money,and for sure dont want to be stranded on the side of the road in my wheelchair waiting for someone to rescue me !!!!!!!

#1327 of 1889 My transmisson issues Freestar 04 by gadreamer

Oct 12, 2010 (4:59 am)

We are experiencing some of the same issues. We actually had the transmission rebuit last year under warranty and after lots of fighting with the dealership and the warranty company. Right before the 100,000 experation of the warranty I noticed the transmisson slipping after the engine would get hot. RPMs would ramp up. Took it to the dealership 3 times and they never could find a problem or get it to do it. Even after driving it with my husband for 30 miles, but I think on the highway not around town. It comes and goes. THis morning I noticed that the transmission light was on. Found this forum and now I'm ticked. I did have them document that it was slipping again before the 100,000 mile mark. Now I hav 105,000 on it. Thank god they aren't making these anymore.

#1328 of 1889 Re: My transmisson issues Freestar 04 [gadreamer] by rsmithjr42089

Oct 18, 2010 (6:50 pm)

Replying to: gadreamer (Oct 12, 2010 4:59 am)
Hi,
I have been following these forums and I have had the same problem with my 05 freestar...water damage to the PCM. I completed the TSB for sealing the PCM, and the damage has caused me to replace sparks and plugs twince within the past 4 months...the first time I had no other issues until a downpour, which dried up and ran fine....until now.
We had a massive rain storm where we live a week or so ago, the van was horrible...had the plugs and wires replaced again (they were fried) BUT the problem persists...so now I am pretty sure I need to replace the PCM. My question is thus: Is it possible to replace with a used PCM, of course ensuring it is from the same model and engine? If I can get away without having to talk to another ford mechanic again and spend wasted money I will. I have found the PCM online, but I need to know that I will not need to have it programmed etc, as long as it comes from the right model.
Any help is appreciated

#1329 of 1889 Re: My transmisson issues Freestar 04 [rsmithjr42089] by nadineb

Oct 19, 2010 (11:01 am)

Replying to: rsmithjr42089 (Oct 18, 2010 6:50 pm)
Message 941 from vebbie may hold an answer for you. I have pasted below. Good luck....you're gonna need it with the Freestar!
 
greetings and hopefully some good news for fellow victims of soggy PCMs and power loss and transmissions that won't go into reverse and $1000 fixes that don't work.
I too experienced all of the above, had the PCM removed and the Ford service fix for the problem installed only to get 350 miles and be stranded by the same problem.
Mechanics were at a loss to figure out the source of the water infiltration and the next step was to be a new wiring harness. turns out the new repairs were more than the "trade-in" value and I was reluctant to dump it on an unsuspecting private buyer.
So I figured if I was going to junk it I would just try to find the water source myself.
I followed the instructions for getting to the PCM by removing the wiper arms, special puller required, about $15 at most auto stores,don't try to pry, you'll wreck the pivot arm, removing the outer cowling, couple of screws and pops off the windshield side, removed the inner cowling, 10 screws. you'll have to remove the wiper fluid lines and connector to the wiper motor to get good working room and lift off the whole assy. just take your time and don't make things worse. or give this fix to your mechanic.
sounds difficult but actually only takes about 30 minutes if you have all the metric sockets.
now the PCM is locate under the dash on the passenger side. there is a 40 pin connector that has a mounting bolt that you can see from the engine compartment. carefully remove that bolt and the connector will back out so you can remove it. mine had water dripping out. Its not a good thing but don't panic yet.
there are 2 nuts that hold the boot cover over the PCM. you'll need a deep well socket or nut driver to remove them. 7/16 works but its 10mm metric.
pull off the cover and the PCM will pull out of its bracket. my replacement had water in it too. shook it out and gently heated witha blow dryer on low.
now carefully, reach inside the hole where the PCM bracket fits and feel if there is any moisture on the interior above where the PCM was installed. if it's wet I know your problem. The tubular cross member that supports the firewall is full of water.
Ford uses foam like Great Stuff to fill that tube, probably for sound deadening.
on my vehicle, both ends were foamed and the middle was not.
I removed the clips that hold down the outer cowling and there was an inch or so of water in the tube. the clips are not water tight and the gasket on the cowling make a nice dam to hold water on the clips and over many years the tube gradually fills until its gets to the cover plate over the PCM and you get stranded..
I pulled back the insulation in the middle of the cross member. drilled a 3/8 hole at the bottom using a cordless drill to keep from being electrocuted. and watched the Ford fountain spew out. I drilled holes on both sides as well and used them as blowout holes with my compressor. water blew out everywhere. I put a small heater on the areas and after 2 days and several blowouts the chamber is dry.
you'll need to dry out the PCM and connector. not too hot just drying it out low blowdryer. check the gasket around the pins on the PCM and make sure it is around all the pins. this is the seal to prevent moisture from getting into the connector.
to test you can just slip the PCM in the bracket, install the boot and carefully install the connector and start the car. My trouble lights all cleared and the car ran fine.
if all is good reassemble in reverse order.
I purchased new clips from Ford and siliconed all them in. I thought about filling the member with foam but opted to just leave the middle hole for drainage.
My thought is that the crossmember was supposed to be entirely filled with foam.
There would never had been the internal leak if it was filled.
I think some were and some were not would explain why we had the problem and others think the Free Star was the best car ever.
Best to a

#1330 of 1889 Re: My transmisson issues Freestar 04 [gadreamer] by rsmithjr42089

Oct 19, 2010 (8:30 pm)

I am a newb at cars, but does anyone have any pics or description of what vebbie posted? What is the firewall?

#1331 of 1889 Re: My transmisson issues Freestar 04 [rsmithjr42089] by nadineb

Oct 21, 2010 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: rsmithjr42089 (Oct 19, 2010 8:30 pm)
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has the TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) posted. Web page below. It may help to make some kind of sense out of the mess Ford created with this vehicle. You should look at the page quickly before Ford attempts to get the page removed.
 
http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/Pursuits/20- 10/PE/INOT-PE10033-41489.pdf
 
Best wishes.

Messages Page 134 of 190

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