Bob's LS Story

So,Joe, there are no torque converters with drain plugs in the LSes? Too bad. don-ohio :)^)
 
Ok, so here we are. I re bled my cooling system today and topped of the R134 in my A/C. Cooling system seems fine. A/C still no cold air and the climate control module shows no valid codes. Found some green oil under my car ( about a teaspoon) and low and behold it was my compressor leaking at the seams (no noises). Tiny bubbles coming out of the mating surface of the compressor which was engaged and pumping normally. Moving forward I reinstalled the fender liner and put the driver side front wheel back on the car so I could drive it. I warmed it up turned it around in my driveway and jacked up the front end into level. I dropped the transmission pan and oil and changed out the filter. I have now discovered there is no plug in the bottom of the bell housing to drain the torque converter. So now I have cleaned the pan, reinstalled it and a new filter then I called it quits for the night. My dilemma is I need to drain the rest of my transmission system or I have pretty much wasted my time. The best idea I can come up with on my own is to disconnect the transmission cooler lines and remove the drain plug from the transmission Pan and start the engine. I am hoping the majority of what makes it back to the pan will drain out and the rest will pump out of the cooler lines. I would only run it at idle for 10 to 15 seconds and I would put it in forward gear. I don't think I could hurt anything in such a brief time period, However I am concerned since the vehicle is no longer warm with residual lubrication from the last time it ran. I don't think I could hurt anything in such a brief time period. However I am concerned since the vehicle is no longer warm with residual lubrication from the last time it Ran. Does anybody have experience with this procedure and what do they recommend I have searched vigorously. Came up snake eyes.
 
Bob,I wouldn't starve the pump like that....you COULD do some damage. What Joe's talking about above always keeps fluid in there,I think.
I have a way of doing it on other cars that is better than a line flush,I believe. But the LS is different in the way it sumps the fluid from the pan and I haven't tried it yet.
don-ohio :)^)
 
I can only think of two other viable scenarios. 1). Figure out which one of the cooler Lines is pressure and which one is return and then put my vacuum pump on the return line and suck out as much as I can get from the cooler and whatever dribbles out of the torque converter. The other is just to fill it up with the 6 quarts run it for a week and dump the pan again run it for another week and Then drain the pan again and dilute the dirty oil with clean as much as possible. I guess after I do number one above I could start it for three seconds and repeat step one above Trying to recover the oil I sling out of the torque converter or do you think even that is too much Don ?
 
I guess I could fill up the pan as full as possible and run with the cooler lines off until clean oil comes out. Ideally if I can identify the return line and only remove that one I could flush the cooler a little too. Does anyone know which line is which?
 
bobsquatch said:
I guess I could fill up the pan as full as possible and run with the cooler lines off until clean oil comes out. Ideally if I can identify the return line and only remove that one I could flush the cooler a little too. Does anyone know which line is which?
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The upper line (at the transmission) is the return line. Be warned that it pumps pretty fast. You won't be able to pour new fluid in at the same rate that it is coming out. You'll have to do several start stops, and there is danger that you may run it dry and do damage.
 
Thanks Joe. I figure if I put 6qts in and run it around 5-10 seconds at a time adding fluid in between I should be ok. I do not think it should hurt anything even if I did briefly starve the pump after it has been primed at idle under no load in park. Do you? Does anyone else have a better idea to get most of the dirty fluid out?
 
bobsquatch said:
... Does anyone else have a better idea to get most of the dirty fluid out?
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Define better. To me, better is to use the exchange machine. I assume that cost is your only reason not to. So, what is the most you are willing to spend to do this? That will determine your options.
 
cost is always a factor but the main criteria is I like to do my own work that way I know it was done correctly. also I am getting to know my vehicle for the future repairs and maintenance. What I mean by the best way to do this is the best way to do it now that I am committed to get the best possible results. If I had this vehicle since it was new I would never flush the transmission. Instead I typically change the fluid in the pan every other oil change on the engine so I constantly have fresh additives and reasonably clean fluid between the 30,000 mile filter changes.
 
Okay,Bob,here's my method to flush the tranny without special tools. You need one of those big flat pans like Auto-Zone sells(they're handy for a lot of things you drain). You'll need a big cardboard to lay under this floor pan sticking out a couple feet from the edges. You'll need to adapt a hose that will fit against the filter intake. A lot of times I have to hold this up againt the tranny filter. It has to be proper length to ALMOST hit the bottom of the 3 to 5 gallon container you will be using.
Here's how I do it:
THIS is for Aerostar....but you can modify the deal to fit most trannies.
Okay......unfortunately the Aerostar doesn't have a torque converter drain as you well know so THIS is how I got around it and did a good flush.WARNING! It's messy! Wear old no-good clothes or an old raincoat.LOL!
(1) Put the van SECURELY up on stands or better yet,blocks high enough that you can slide a 3 gallon or bigger bucket that has a lid under there and have 4" of clearance above it to the trans pan.Set it aside for later.
(2) You'll need one of those large flat drain pans from Auto-Zone about two feet by 3 feet to center under the tranny pan also_On it put a squarish drain pan straight underneath the tranny to catch the major amount of fluid.Put a wide piece of cardboard under the large flat pan to catch extra splash.
(3) Okay, now you drain the fluid the regular old way àn get the pan out of the way.
(4) You now have a filter you're looking up at which has a suction hole there àn THAT is what you'll either clamp a hose to or you'll have to hold it in place later(I have a perfect hose that's flexible,about 1"diameter that I cut off of a washing machine drain hose).
(5)This hose will need to be proper length to reach ALMOST to the bottom of the bucket from the filter attachment.
(6)NOW you're going to fill that bucket up with nice clean fluid and slide it into position under that filter hole.
(7) Okay,if you're in a garage,open the doors for fumes.
(8) Either clamp your hose or hold it up TIGHTLY to the intake hole of the filter,the bottom of that hose extending into the fluid ALMOST touching the bucket's bottom
(9) Have someone start the van and prepare to get fluid on you. Tell them in advance to have their window down so they can hear you yell to shut it off just before the fluid goes empty in the bucket.
(10) This will suck the fluid up,propel it thru the torque converter and do a great,quick flush of the system.
WARNING!!!! If the bucket doesn't immediately start to empty, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. You'll have to flush thru the lines instead.
(11) Now you only have to install your new filter,install your pan,and add about 4 qts. or so thru the dipstick hole,and CLEAN UP! LOL!
This is worth the trouble!You'll necessarily waste several qts. of fluid,but that's what it takes to do it completely,and get that nice clean red fluid back again. don-ohio :)^)
 
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True enough 1LoudLS. I was caught off guard when I discovered no torque converter drain plug. I am stuck in limbo when it comes to this car. I bought it as a replacement economy car and I am trying not to sink too much money into it before I know it's a keeper. My goal is <$3500.00 total investment in the car before I commit to it. That would be impossible if I paid other people to do it. At that point I will either buy nice Michelin tires and drive the wheels off it or buy economy tires and sell it. Like I said I am getting to know the car. I am capable of most any repair or maintenance but I am unfamiliar with this car. Although slow going it seems like a good purchase so far. And I will know better next time.
 
So today's progress report. Thank you don-ohio for that write up. I could not get away with th mess in my neighborhood. I ended up installing the pan and filter and about 5 qts fluid and taking off the return line at the cooler. I had my kid start the car and I watched about 2 qts of fluid drain before it changed color and sputtered. I immediately shut off the car and put in another 3qts before I reattached the cooler line and restarted the car. I ran it through the gears and managed to get another qt in it. I am guessing I spilled about a qt from the suction gun and the fill pipe. (1/8th in. NPT pipe fits perfectly) so I exchanged about 8 qts. (2/3) of my fluid. At the final level check the trans temp was 108' F. Test drove car with no leaks or problems. Thank you all for your help and tomorrow is another day.
 
I understand,believe me about the mess. Where I live there's no problem,but where I am looking to buy a house,it would be hard to do. The trick is to get a big enough flat pan right underneath the tranny because the fluid will come out of there really fast. Then the splash gets mostly caught by the wide flat pan under it.
It does a GREAT job of flushing though. I used that method on all my old cars and one of my trucks. don-ohio :)^)
 
bobsquatch said:
....I bought it as a replacement economy car......
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You bought the WRONG car!! The LS is an entry-level luxury car. Definitely NOT an economy car!! The LS is dirt cheap from when they were new. My old '06 stickered close to $50K!!
 
Thanks Don. Yeah I was going to fabricate a curtain around the pan or take it to my dads property but I decided I can flush it right later. The fluid and filter I did manage to change should keep it from eating itself alive until then.
 
LS4me said:
You bought the WRONG car!! The LS is an entry-level luxury car. Definitely NOT an economy car!! The LS is dirt cheap from when they were new. My old '06 stickered close to $50K!!
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That is why I bought one LS4ME. I could have bought another Escort or the like but these are awesome cars. Since they are a little temperamental there is no market for them. Since I am a descent mechanic and a little adventurous I was able to score a total luxury sleeper hot rod that can still get 20+ mpg and handles like a dream. The 03 and later fully loaded LS's were considered mid level luxury cars. For all these reasons I think I bought exactly the right car. Time will tell.
 
Same here,Bob...............also one of the best-looking cars NOWADAYS on the road. Course a 1963 Ford Galaxie XL convertible, RED or BLACK, blows almost anything away as far as sleek looks. don-ohio :)^)
 
don-ohio said:
...............also one of the best-looking cars NOWADAYS on the road.....
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My daughter just bought a 2012 G37 to replace her LS. She said she still prefers the look of her 2000 LS!
 
Your daughter has good taste! Like I say all the time to my wife when we're in a parking lot...............`STILL the best looking car on the lot!' don-ohio :)^)
 
don-ohio said:
Your daughter has good taste! Like I say all the time to my wife when we're in a parking lot...............`STILL the best looking car on the lot!' don-ohio :)^)
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Yes she does!! Ever play the game Apples to Apples?? She says we can't play together because we're "the same person!" Seriously, we know what card the other puts down over 80% of the time! It's kind of scary!!!!

There's only a couple of 4-door cars out there that have the same timeless looks: My F10 BMW and newer Lexus IS (250 & 350) are a couple. Due to the longer hood I actually like the F10 better than the LS. The G37 ain't a bad looking 4-door either!
 
Agreed except on the Lexus...............I ain't seen one yet that can rival a Ford/Lincoln.Mercedes has some nice ones,but PRICE! Whoa! For any money,in a modern car,it's hard to beat an LS.
The new design of the squared off fenders and headlights just seem low class to me and that includes the Ford fusion,focus,taurus.......I just don't like that so-called style. don-ohio :)^)
 
Well I just ordered My 8 Motorcraft DG529 coils and SP468 plugs from Rockauto. I put my vacuum gauge on the intake and the needle is steady and has held 21" HG for over an hour with the engine off so that's nice. I lightly pressure washed the engine yesterday then blew it off with compressed air and drove it till it was warmed up and the a couple full throttle runs to make some heat and dry it out. Ran fine for the vacuum test today so I am getting excited. I should have a new car by next week.
 
Ok, so here is my LS 2005 Lincoln LS 061.jpg

2005 Lincoln LS 061.jpg
 
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