Originally posted by: Specop 007
So, I'm having some transmission problems with my Expedition. I figure I'll get the fluid changed, if it fixes it great and if not well then it'll get rebuilt.
So I call a Firestone by a mall so I can hang out while they do it. They qouted me $129. Cool. Well I didnt make it due to other things coming up, so I decide to take it to a different Firestone across the street from work this morning. They ring it up and its $250. WTF... Well, the parts came to $133. Maybe the 129 was parts only?
Sitting here at work I decide to call a third Firestone. Get a qoute for $161. I asked if that includes labor. He said yep, everything except tax.
WTF. How the hell can 3 different stores byt he same company have estimates that very by hundreds of dollars??
Theres no damn integrity anymore. Finally got fed up and called an actual mechanic shop. $80 for inspection, then they will tell me whats actually wrong. Screw it, I'm going with that option.
Fucking mechanics.
Keep profanity out of the titles
ATOT Moderator ElFenix
Specop,
Coincidently, i also have an Expedition (2000), the land Yacht.
There's more than 1 way to change the trans fluid.
The 2 most common ways is the Power Flush method, which uses a machine and then the
old fashioned drop the trans pan/loosen the drain plug method (A lot of vehicles do not have a transmission drain plug).
When the dealerships and other repair shops do the power flush, they normally do not change the filter, this is extra labor plus the price of the filter naturally.
On our Expeditions, if you drop the pan, you will not get all the fluid out, as there is still many quarts of fluid left in the Torque Converter.
Around here (New Jersey), a power flush can range from $80-200 and the drop the pan method is over $100.
When you call around for a transmission service, be sure to ask if they offer a power flush or the drop the pan method, they may even offer both.
That way you'll know what your paying for and can compare different shops prices