Preemptive transmission repair?

My wife has a 2003 F-150 Lariat with about 230,000 miles, mostly highway with a fair amount of dirt roads and city. Frequently pulls a trailer but only 2000 lbs or so. Truck is in good shape and well maintained (she bought new), really not much reason to upgrade. However, she is worried that the transmission is getting close to end of life. No major signs of problems, just getting uneasy and a breakdown in some of the remote places we go would be very bad.

How much warning to you get when a transmission is about to die? Is it cheaper to have it rebuilt ahead of time?

http://activetransmission.com

Best in town, period. Fair & honest. Call & ask him yourself.

I had zero warning when the transmission went out on my Suburban. Rolled up to a stoplight in Kremmling, stopped, when the light turned green the engine just revved, no movement.

The "good" news was that I only lost gears 3 and 4. 1st and 2nd still worked so I was able to "limp" home in 2nd. Which was good because I was pulling a trailer and had the wife, the dog, the trailer and 2 kayaks, plus all our camping gear, to get home.

My 2004 f 150 threw a transmission fault light in early August. I was able to drive it until October. It would kill the motor at idle at the end. They puiled the pan and there was metal flakes. I had 206,000 on it.
I had my mechanic pull the transmission and he delivered it to Zacs Transmissions in longmont.
2300 to rebuild it with a oversize tranny pan. Another 600 to take out and reinstall

I'm a mechanic, but not your mechanic. Those 4r70/75w are good transmissions. You said it has been well maintained, so unless there is some reason to doubt it... I would be more worried about the intake manifold/pipe under there. ACE transmission in Loveland is who I recommend. I had my 4r70w rebuilt with new tq converter at expert 4x4 in loveland for 1300 total two years ago. Has done fine since. $2900 is insane.

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Originally Posted by COcz

I'm a mechanic, but not your mechanic. Those 4r70/75w are good transmissions. You said it has been well maintained, so unless there is some reason to doubt it... I would be more worried about the intake manifold/pipe under there. ACE transmission in Loveland is who I recommend. I had my 4r70w rebuilt with new tq converter at expert 4x4 in loveland for 1300 total two years ago. Has done fine since. $2900 is insane.

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Much appreciated! Please explain "intake manifold/pipe ". We want a reliable vehicle for the long term. My wife is very unimpressed with fancy technology, so new trucks have little appeal.

From what I've found on web searches, this model year/version has a good track record. After entering the specs on this truck in Kelly Blue Book, they came back with an offer of under $1,800. WTF?!!!

So to make this a 400,000 mile truck, new transmission and.....?

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Originally Posted by Mtneer

Much appreciated! Please explain "intake manifold/pipe ". We want a reliable vehicle for the long term. My wife is very unimpressed with fancy technology, so new trucks have little appeal.

From what I've found on web searches, this model year/version has a good track record. After entering the specs on this truck in Kelly Blue Book, they came back with an offer of under $1,800. WTF?!!!

So to make this a 400,000 mile truck, new transmission and.....?

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Was that "Trade-In"?

However, that is a 16yo truck, with 230,000 miles...

I'm in the same boat as COcz, I would be more worried about other things unless your wife actually has a real reason to worry about the trans.

Yes, they can just up and fail with no warning, but that's not normal.

Timing components and spark plug holes are main issues motor wise spend money on that

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Originally Posted by DFBrews

Timing components and spark plug holes are main issues motor wise spend money on that

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03 didnt have the timing problems. 04-08 is a shit show for timing guides/tensioners/phasers. Been there, done that. Mine now has phaser lockouts.

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Originally Posted by 00tec

03 didnt have the timing problems. 04-08 is a shit show for timing guides/tensioners/phasers. Been there, done that. Mine now has phaser lockouts.

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But they did have problems with plugs blowing out. Even untouched factory installed plugs blew out of 2V heads. And exhaust manifold studs breaking. Otherwise a good engine.

How much warning to you get when a transmission is about to die? Is it cheaper to have it rebuilt ahead of time?

I have 230K on a 4R100 behind a 7.3 O.E. severe duty prior to my possession ….it has a slushy 2-3 at times under load, but I'm not freaked out about it. It's gonna fail someday.
If you want to be proactive about not having a rural failure, and you don't want to R+R yourself....get with a local shop and have them order a Jasper replacement and do it for you.

We've had good results with Jasper re-mans in severe duty service.

I will add, you really need to stay up on fluid and filter changes especially if you do some towing.

We do it every 25K.....don't go more than 50K without a fluid/filter change imo.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

I had zero warning when the transmission went out on my Suburban. Rolled up to a stoplight in Kremmling, stopped, when the light turned green the engine just revved, no movement.

The "good" news was that I only lost gears 3 and 4. 1st and 2nd still worked so I was able to "limp" home in 2nd. Which was good because I was pulling a trailer and had the wife, the dog, the trailer and 2 kayaks, plus all our camping gear, to get home.

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This one sounds similar to mine although I had some engagement in the higher gears. My 545RFE had 262,000 when it let go. There were no early issues or warning signs; I came to a stop and that was it. I made it from Dotsero to Battlement Mesa in 2nd.

The intake manifold gaskets wear out and either leak coolant, or allow outside air to enter the engine causing issues. There is a pipe under there that runs from the water pump to the heater core that occasionally rusts out and is impossible to get to without pulling the manifold. New clamps and hoses would be a good idea too. I would do both if you want to keep it. Other than that and the plugs blowing out and eating coils they are great trucks.

Oh yeah, on a 2003 the manifold will be plastic and we replace the whole manifold not just the gaskets.