advice wanted. too buy a newer used car or fix my transmission

[flooded one]

hey all just wondering on everyones opinion. i've just got my AU serviced and got the transmission serviced and have been told the automatics not really healthy at the moment. they think that the internal seals might be starting too go hard. unfortunatly it had too happen at a rather annoying time as we are moving soon and have a rego for it coming up soon. plus my job isnt really all that secure at the moment. thou i've been told i'm safe. i'm still abit iffy about it. what my options are : 1 get transmission rebuilt. 2. try and get an exchange unit or 3. try and get a newer car. though i would like too trade it in i dont think i'll get much for it as it needs a respray (bonnet and roof). everything else with the car is fine. i've had it six years and have had nothing major happened too it till now. I've been i eyeing of a 2009 FG XT for sale for a while for, $16,500 thou it has 112,000kms on it. I'd like too get something around this price area and around 3-4 years old if i was too upgrade. so what do you think?? upgrade or get transmission fixed or exchange transmission. have been told $2300 for exchange transmission through a shop. cheers

[mike_nofx]

What is the transmission doing? (ie. can you notice any problems?)
How many km?

[Polyal]

Yeah get the trans looked at by a specialist, mine was being a ****** until I found the level was low even though it was not due for a service.

I say fix it, because worst case your looking at what, $1500 for a rebuild? Im pretty sure a rebuild would be less than an exchange, and that exchange price seems crazy.

If you are that worried about security then having a new car wont really help much, id rather drive around an AU until you work out what you are doing and then when your in a better position then buy something.

If you have to get something else then I would look at a new focus at around that price, not a used FG unless you need the space/capability.

[flooded one]

just under 210,000km, it drives ok normally but its making a bizzare noise when put into netural and takes longer then it normally does too go into drive or reverse. you also hear the noise when you put it into reverse or drive but goes away once the transmission has engaged gear. going from drive too park it will make that noise but strangly enough it wont do it going from reverse too park??? the car itself has been a lovley car in the 6 years i have owned it everything else is great in it up till now. the inhibitor switch will need replacing as well i think?? drives normally in drive and in third. select second or first it'll go into fourth untill you give it abit of acceleration then drops back too the selected gear for a bit then goes back into fourth.

[poppa smurf]

+1 for trans rebuild or used replacement!

[mik]

just for comparison, a ford dealer in melbourne (Bayfords in Coburg)will supply a change over for an au for 1500 and fit it for 1800, they do them in house ,a bargain i reckon, but anyway if job security has a question mark on it i would fix the au.
A, you own it
b, au`s are very cheap to maintain and repair, 2k is not much money in the scheme of things.

[xisled]

1 for a trans rebuild.

I would not do change over as you will get a small warrenty around 30 days or so.

With a rebuild you will get around a 2 year warrenty.

I had my BA GT tranny rebuilt. I priced up both, a rebuild and a change over.

The rebuild came out $200 more expensive, but I got 2 years warranty and well worth the extra $200.

[Polyal]

Id also treat the car to a general freshen up, its amazing how some new bushes, shocks etc can make the car feel. Dont go crazy as the car is not worth bulk investment past say spending $3k on it.

[The Monty]

Just sounds like low fluid to me. Like has been said, a rebuild is around $1500-1800. And try and get it topped up. My fluid was low after I got mine serviced once (I had a trans cooler they didnt account for when doing a flush) topped it up, all sweet. You never know, it could last another 50-100 000km. Just keep it serviced till it dies and replace it.

[66GT]

Hey my AU with 180000km has been playing up for a little while, no strange noises like yours but leaks fluid & slips/fails to engauge properly when fluid low. The local mechanic charges me $20 every 6 Months for a fluid top up, & all good again for 5-6 months. This car is now the own 2nd car so not really concerned about reliability etc. as the kids are using it more than me, I feel the expense of repairing would be lost if/when the kids smash it. Touch wood all good so far, still does regular runs up & down the coast.

[BHDOGS]

i took some rather large chunks of metal out of my transmission sump latley and im still thrashing and its been fine the au trans are a dime a dozen to replace and lets be honest the trans has lasted what 10 years in the car already thats a good life.

[trippytaka]

I had an AU -cost me $3k in servicing within 3 months - and was costing $70 a week in petrol.

I bought a new car on novated lease and spend $140 (out of my take home salary) per week - that includes servicing, fuel, tyres, and car payments.

That's what I was spending on the AU when you add topgether servicing, fuel, tyres , rego and insurance!

My advice, go a new car and novate it.

[mik]

Originally Posted by xisled

1 for a trans rebuild.

I would not do change over as you will get a small warrenty around 30 days or so.

With a rebuild you will get around a 2 year warrenty.

I had my BA GT tranny rebuilt. I priced up both, a rebuild and a change over.

The rebuild came out $200 more expensive, but I got 2 years warranty and well worth the extra $200.

the 30 day warranty, i`m guessing that was`nt through a ford dealer?

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by wildrider

hey all just wondering on everyones opinion. i've just got my AU serviced and got the transmission serviced and have been told the automatics not really healthy at the moment. they think that the internal seals might be starting too go hard. unfortunatly it had too happen at a rather annoying time as we are moving soon and have a rego for it coming up soon. plus my job isnt really all that secure at the moment. thou i've been told i'm safe. i'm still abit iffy about it. what my options are : 1 get transmission rebuilt. 2. try and get an exchange unit or 3. try and get a newer car. though i would like too trade it in i dont think i'll get much for it as it needs a respray (bonnet and roof). everything else with the car is fine. i've had it six years and have had nothing major happened too it till now. I've been i eyeing of a 2009 FG XT for sale for a while for, $16,500 thou it has 112,000kms on it. I'd like too get something around this price area and around 3-4 years old if i was too upgrade. so what do you think?? upgrade or get transmission fixed or exchange transmission. have been told $2300 for exchange transmission through a shop. cheers

If your unsure of your job situation spend some money on the AU.

My two AU's that i've owned have been fantastic. We sold one to buy the FG. The other, my Ute i've still got and it's going strong.

For $2k you can buy a rebuilt and toughened 4spd auto.

For just a few hundred you can buy a used 4spd auto. But you take your chances on that unless you buy one from wreckers with some sort of warranty.

Alternatively, buy a BA for $4-5k.

[flooded one]

thanks for the advice guys. i think i'll look at getting a rebuilt auto for it. as i said beside the transmission everything else works fine in it. it has been a pretty good car. i think the rest of the car has alot of life left in it.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

My advice, go a new car and novate it.

He's saying his job isn't very secure at the moment. Last thing he should do is to commit to a 3 year novated lease.

[TMC]

Could be low oil pump pressure.

[Crazy Dazz]

Stick with the AU, take it to a tranny specialist and see if they can figure it out. It might just be a service and a new O ring, or something similar. If it definitely needs a full rebuild, then keep going til it really becomes a problem. You might get another year or two out of it.

[wrongwaynorris]

Another vote for an exchange or rebuilt transmission . The beloved EF's tranny finally needed replacing or rebuilding at 340,000 kilometres not that it had died but just had some annoying little foibles like holding onto second unless you backed off the throttle and zero engine braking when you manually changed down . I was sorely tempted to keep driving it to see just how many kilometres I could get out of it but sadly need the car for work as it is my daily driver and could see it letting go in Narrabri or Cobar ( Murphys Law ) . After much research got it done for $1,250.00 ( supply and install ) with a 12 month 20,000 km warranty by A Class Automatics in Penrith ( NSW ) . I did the ring around and had quotes as high as $ 2,800.00 . I can not recomend them highly enough , if your'e in Sydney give Michael a ring on 02 47323100 . They had about a dozen BTR's sitting ready for exchange , I asked for and got an early BTR with a dipstick so it is now extremely easy to check and top up the tranny fluid .

[302 XC]

Unsure about job security, fix the AU
Spend the grand or so on a recoed box if the rest is upto the task
Theres no way any smart person would borrow 15K or beyond with an insecure job, whatever the boss tells you
Spend the minimum for now, ride the insecure job out , then reassess in a year or two

[csv8]

Price a ZF rebuild !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! see a bank manager for a loan !!!!!

[xisled]

Originally Posted by mik

the 30 day warranty, i`m guessing that was`nt through a ford dealer?

Nope that was through a wrecker for a second hand one. If I was to goto Ford they would porobally want 10 times that amount.

[trippytaka]

Originally Posted by cs123

He's saying his job isn't very secure at the moment. Last thing he should do is to commit to a 3 year novated lease.

Ahh missed that.

Fix the tranny on the cheap then is my advice.

[Mr Hardware]

I've never understood the theory of 'oh fixing my car is more than it's worth! i should junk it and buy a new one!'

The cost of replacing the car is going to be several times more expensive than just replacing a part on your current car.

drives normally in drive and in third. select second or first it'll go into fourth untill you give it abit of acceleration then drops back too the selected gear for a bit then goes back into fourth.

Don't worry about this. My AU has been doing this for the last 6 years (125,000klms) without any other issue.

[mik]

Originally Posted by xisled

Nope that was through a wrecker for a second hand one. If I was to goto Ford they would porobally want 10 times that amount.

actually ford was quite a good price i thought for a reconditioned auto.