TJKashin
Well-Known LVC Member
So, about 3 weeks ago I started getting a shudder in my transmission around 30-40 mph and again at idle at a stop. I read a bit through here and other venues and spoke to some people, all pointing me to a fluid/filter change. I read on here that someone went to Valvoline to get theirs done, so I decided since there was one down the street and it was $75 cheaper than the dealership, I'd give it a try. I called them up and spoke with the manager and told him what I was looking for. I simply asked him "Do you do full transmission service and how much does that run?" to which he replied "Yes, it runs about $130" I made sure to ask if that included a filter change and Mercon V fluid and he said yes. I made the appointment and went in after work. When I arrived, they were just finishing a coolant flush on a car ahead of me and said it would be about 20 minute wait. I said cool and told him I would go to eat next door while I waited. I also made sure that he knew I was looking for a full transmission service, filter, fluid blah blah blah and he said yes. I went and ate, came back in about 30 mins and they were just finishing up. I asked the tech how the fluid and filter looked and he gave me a dumb look. The manager, who I had been dealing with from the start, came over and asked if anything was wrong. I again posed the question to him about the fluid and filter condition and he told me "We don't do filter changes here, nothing good ever comes from dropping the trans pan." I instantly felt my blood pressure rise as he explained that they have a machine that does a transfusion and he reassured me (so he thought) that it gets all the old fluid out of the torque converter. Then he went on to explain that they don't have Mercon V, but the fluid they do use is compatible and they have an additive that converts it. I was pissed. I had to pay, but I wasnt' happy about it.
I called the number on the invoice, talked to their customer service rep who argued with me that the filter is just wire mesh and doesn't have to be changed. He told me that Ford approves their methods and it should be fine. I told him my issue was that the procedure was not disclosed up front and it was deceptive of their store manager to lead me to beleive I was getting the service that I asked for. I got a refund.
I now have an appointment with my local Ford dealership to do the full service that I want with a warranty. It will cost me $190 but I have learned my lesson here. Hopefully the shudder will go away as it has remained for 500 miles so far on the Valvoline change.
I called the number on the invoice, talked to their customer service rep who argued with me that the filter is just wire mesh and doesn't have to be changed. He told me that Ford approves their methods and it should be fine. I told him my issue was that the procedure was not disclosed up front and it was deceptive of their store manager to lead me to beleive I was getting the service that I asked for. I got a refund.
I now have an appointment with my local Ford dealership to do the full service that I want with a warranty. It will cost me $190 but I have learned my lesson here. Hopefully the shudder will go away as it has remained for 500 miles so far on the Valvoline change.
