Need advice about a tranny

My wife has a 2008 Mercury Mariner, 4cylinder, 2wd, 150,000 miles. We purchased the car new and have had zero issues with it, up until the past few days. The trans hangs on the 1 to 2 shift and the 3 to 4 shift. My assumption at this point is the trans will need to be rebuilt/replaced.

I do not have the time to mess with it myself. My options at this point:

1. Trusted local mechanic can replace with rebuilt unit. He does not rebuild them so I assume he would source a Jasper unit or similar. Given my internet search, a used unit may not be a smart choice.
2. There are two local independent trans shops that have been in business for many years and I haven’t heard anything bad about them but I have no experience with them.
3. Local chain or franchise trans shops. Haven’t heard anything good about these.
4. Push it off a cliff and collect the insurance.

I do not know the difference in costs for these options yet. I am going to call around on Monday and see. I have a feeling they will only say, "We would have take it out first". But by then, I'm stuck with whoever has the car. Just looking for a little advice/experience with these transmissions. Thanks

Has the fluid ever been changed? That fixes a lot.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Has the fluid ever been changed? That fixes a lot.

yes.

I checked the fluid level today and it is good. The fluid is bright red and looks/smells good.

Could be bad solenoids or something to that effect, if it isn't slipping and full of clean fluid there is hope.

Was the filter changed along with the fluid ?

Where are you located?

Sorry, I thought I could help. The title is misleading.

iceracer wrote: Was the filter changed along with the fluid ?

It is my understanding that these trans do not have a serviceable filter without removal and teardown. Last service was a power flush.

bentwrench wrote: Where are you located?

Richmond, VA area

Wally wrote: Sorry, I thought I could help. The title is misleading.

I thought the same thing. Not the best title.

Feedyurhed wrote:

Wally wrote: Sorry, I thought I could help. The title is misleading.

I thought the same thing. Not the best title.

I work in Atlantic City... I thought something similar too

Also, a good indy trans shop should be able to fully diagnose it in car, or at least to a point where they know for certain it will need to come out.

My advice about tranny's? If you're drunk in a dodgy hood in Hong Kong and get propositioned by a tall tranny hooker, don't insult their "femininity " when you decline or you'll end up w/ stilleto punctures in your chest. My friend has the scars as a reminder..

Decline? Why else would I be in an alley in Hong Kong.

mad_machine wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Wally wrote: Sorry, I thought I could help. The title is misleading.

I thought the same thing. Not the best title.

I work in Atlantic City... I thought something similar too

FYI...Do NOT google British tranny.

Yeah, probably not the best title but good for some entertaining responses.

Update: Two different trans shops says the trans needs to come out for rebuild/replacement as I originally suspected. One shop recommended a re-manufactured unit over rebuilding it themselves. $3500 out the door with a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty.

The other trans shop said they felt good rebuilding the trans themselves (3 year 50,000 mile warranty) for $2800 + another hundred or two depending on what they may find once it is opened up. They quoted $3300 to $3400 for a re-manufactured unit installed.

My trusted mechanic politely declined to quote replacing the trans with a re-manufactured unit in this instance saying I was better off at a trans shop.

Other than the trans problem and despite the 150,000 miles, the car is in good shape, worth more than the cost of repairs, and the wife wants to keep it. We have kept up all the maintenance and it is a known entity vs another used car. I do not want a car payment at this time.

I am having a hard time with the idea of paying that much for a car repair on an appliance vehicle that holds no emotional attraction or delivered driving thrills.

Have you priced a good junkyard tranny for it? In my experience, replacing a FWD transmission varies in difficulty between "that was a nice afternoon in the garage" and "please kill me now". IDK how bad this one is, but this might be the most cost-effective way to go.

EDIT: Never mind, I see you've already been down that route and it looks like a non-starter.

Whatever you do don't let them turn around.

Perhaps it may just need a rebuilt valve body? Might want to research if that is a common issue with those.

Also, Toyotas don't have a "serviceable" filter and the dealer will not want to sell you one, as it's more of a metal mesh strainer. A year or two ago my LS400 had an issue where one day it would not go faster than 30, after misdiagnosing as an ignition coil issue, I dropped the pan (despite the fluid being bright red and at the correct level) and removed the "filter" to see it was almost completely clogged. Cleaned it out and the car has been fine ever since.

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: Perhaps it may just need a rebuilt valve body? Might want to research if that is a common issue with those. Also, Toyotas don't have a "serviceable" filter and the dealer will not want to sell you one, as it's more of a metal mesh strainer. A year or two ago my LS400 had an issue where one day it would not go faster than 30, after misdiagnosing as an ignition coil issue, I dropped the pan (despite the fluid being bright red and at the correct level) and removed the "filter" to see it was almost completely clogged. Cleaned it out and the car has been fine ever since.

Unfortunately, this trans (Ford CD4E) has no pan, just a drain plug. It too has an internal screen or "filter". It is only serviceable with the trans out of the car and disassembled. Any possible solenoid issues also require the trans to come out. At that point given the 150,000 miles, wife wants to keep the car, and the cost to have it removed and installed, perhaps I am better off to have it rebuilt completely when out.

Given the symptoms and the feedback from the trans shop that drove it with their scanner hooked-up, it appears it is not a quick fix. Some of my frustration is that I have never turned a wrench on or looked closely at one of these, or any front wheel drive trans for that matter, until a couple days ago. There is an element of ignorance and not much more I can do without going through the expense or work of taking it out.

I appreciate the ideas and responses.

dlmater wrote:

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: Perhaps it may just need a rebuilt valve body? Might want to research if that is a common issue with those. Also, Toyotas don't have a "serviceable" filter and the dealer will not want to sell you one, as it's more of a metal mesh strainer. A year or two ago my LS400 had an issue where one day it would not go faster than 30, after misdiagnosing as an ignition coil issue, I dropped the pan (despite the fluid being bright red and at the correct level) and removed the "filter" to see it was almost completely clogged. Cleaned it out and the car has been fine ever since.

Unfortunately, this trans (Ford CD4E) has no pan, just a drain plug. It too has an internal screen or "filter". It is only serviceable with the trans out of the car and disassembled. Any possible solenoid issues also require the trans to come out. At that point given the 150,000 miles, wife wants to keep the car, and the cost to have it removed and installed, perhaps I am better off to have it rebuilt completely when out. Given the symptoms and the feedback from the trans shop that drove it with their scanner hooked-up, it appears it is not a quick fix. Some of my frustration is that I have never turned a wrench on or looked closely at one of these, or any front wheel drive trans for that matter, until a couple days ago. There is an element of ignorance and not much more I can do without going through the expense or work of taking it out. I appreciate the ideas and responses.

That's a bummer. I did my first FWD valve body on my Saturn SL2 recently, as in your case, there's no pan, just a spin on filter but there is an access panel at the top of the transmission that allowed access to the valve body.

I realize not all cars are as easy to work on and have the online resources as the Saturn but I was hoping that your wife's car maybe had a documented workaround to avoid dropping the tranny.

Best of luck!