jacekk

So my 2005 Mustang v6 Auto has finally done 90k miles and I need to do the required transmission service.

The workshop manual says

• Change automatic transmission/transaxle fluid on all vehicles equipped with TorqShift transmissions. Install a new remote filter element on vehicles equipped with the TorqShift transmission. Inspect automatic transmission fluid level on all other vehicles (if equipped with an underhood fluid level indicator). If equipped, change the in-line service-installed transmission fluid filter.

Is the 5r55s transmission a TorqShift transmission? What service do I need?
I have called a dozen dealers and transmission 'specialists', almost everyone telling me a different story with a different price.

Only one dealer said, "Just change the oil - if you do anything else you will have problems - we never change the filter."
All the others want to take the pan off and change filter, gasket and everything costing close to $600 - I live in Los Angeles.

And can anyone recommend a good dealer or transmission shop in LA?

rls82959

I had mine changed 8 years ago at 50k.
$180 at local Ford dealer.
Yes, they changed filter.
She's at 66k now.

rls82959

Besides recall and warranty work, the tranny fluid was the only service by dealership.

jacekk

Thank you for your help @rls82959
@05stangkc also replied quoting the correct page in the manual Automatic Transaxle/Transmission Specifications section 307-01-1

• Normal maintenance
  • Fluid change not necessary, filled for life.
• Severe duty maintenance
  • Change the fluid at 48,000 km (30,000 miles) intervals.

I suppose where I was looking in the manual, Maintenance Schedule - Gasoline Engines 100-03-6 section applies to all Ford cars. Very confusing.
But as I said to @05stangkc it goes to show you that out of the twelve people I called only one, a dealer, said just change the oil if you feel you ought to. The rest all wanted to make bucks.
Understandable, but it only furthers the proposition that most automotive repairers are dishonest.

I'm totally with you on doing everything myself - since the day I bought the car. But the transmission fluid change needs s special machine which is why I was calling around.

Thanks again. I appreciate your input.

Rocket Ray

I just changed the transmission fluid and filter on my 07 GT. Unless you have the special machine (or know what you are doing), you will not change out all the fluid. I have a pit in a garage, so it make it somewhat easier to do this, and my car only has 35K miles. It was a very messy job, I took the pan off and cleaned it and changed the filter. I don't recommend it unless you have someplace to catch all the spillage. I did it for peace of mind. The car is 16 years old now, and this should refresh some of the additives in the fluid, although the stuff that came out looked pretty good. Same reason I change the coolant periodically: I had a Taurus a long time ago that I let go too long without renewing the antifreeze and I had a lot of leaks in the metal pipe portions of the cooling system. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

jacekk

Thank you @Rocket Ray . After reading @05stangkc, the workshop manual, and countless blogs and videos, I decided to leave it.
After all the manual does say it is sealed for life:

• Normal maintenance
  • Fluid change not necessary, filled for life.
• Severe duty maintenance
  • Change the fluid at 48,000 km (30,000 miles) intervals.

And as you say, the fluid looked clean when you changed yours.

I'm like you and do all my own maintenance but reading the manual and seeing the special machine necessary started to look around at options.

As @05stangkc pointed out the Maintenance Schedule - Gasoline Engines 100-03-6 section in the manual says Torqueflight transmissions need the fluid change. Weird they would have the schedule for a truck transmission in the Mustang manual but I guess they have a generic schedule that applies to all Ford cars. Very confusing. Probably to save money ($5.00?) in making a unique manual or something.

But since I treat her gently I'll leave it until I have problems. And with $600.00 quoted for a service, I would probably rather buy a new transmission!

Derf00

No you wouldn't. the 5r55s is not a cheap transmission and rebuilds are usually rebuilt cutting corners/unreliable. Ask me how I know.

5r55s is not a torque flight transmission.

You can do it all yourself for about $100-$150 provided that you have the basics (jack, 4x jack-stands, and basic hand tools (torque wrench required!). If you just buy the filter, fluid and a basic pump, it will be loser to the $100. If you make your own pump like I did, closer to $150. I used the pump I made about 6 times. Saves a ton of time and less waste and mess.

It's not that hard of a job if you are prepared. The most difficult thing is getting the car up in the air on 4 level jack stands to work on it and for the refill procedure. The drain plug has a hex head inner bolt and the outer bolt. To drain, remove the outer bolt. Remove all of the bolts on pan, drop the pan. Remove the bolt(s) on the filter, remove the filter, install new filter. Install filter bolt(s)

The gasket on the trans pan is reusable although I would probably buy a new one just in case due to the age of it. Reinstall the trans pan. Reinstall the drain plug. You can either remove the center hex before or after installing the drain plug. You'll need an 1/8" MTP fitting to screw into the hole where the hex bolt was with a 3/8 or 5/16 nipple to attached a hose to. You'll need a pump that attaches to bottles of tranny fluid or make your own like I did to make things way easier. You'll need about 6 quarts of tranny fluid. Filling instructions and tool image below.

Post 9 is the pump I made:
https://mustangforums.com/forum/v6-s...ut-to-die.html

Video on 5r55s tranny filling and leveling. You can make your own fitting for tranny filling - My advice, fill it up with the car off until it starts to dribble out. Then start the car, while it's on the jack stands, and put into all the gears manually for 5 seconds each, then do the final top off with the engine still on and the car now in Park.

jacekk

Great information @Derf00 thank you! I'll file it for the future as there seems to be no point to go through the process right now.
The gearbox was designed to be sealed and fluid unchanged for life unless in heavy use, so it makes no sense to me to go through that procedure at this time.
But I've subscribed to your incredibly interesting Ford Tech YouTube channel which is. a big plus for me.

I really appreciate the time and effort you took to reply.

Derf00

This forum and many people on here are who helped me learn so much over the years. It's only fitting i keep that going.

That YouTube channel is full of great info. .Glad you found it useful. The guy's history is interesting too. He's a former Ford Master Tech that used to make videos while working. Dealership was fine with it, Ford was not. They didn't like the fact he was "calling them out" on their faults and showing people how to maintain their own vehicles on company time. If I recall correctly Ford put pressure on the dealership to push him in a different direction. So he left and started his own shop that specializes in Ford.

Don't buy into the hype of sealed-for-life transmissions. It's a marketing thing. "Less Maintenance". The life of a transmission properly maintained can be hundreds of thousands of miles. Life of the fluid, not so much. If you do more than 50% city driving or stop-and-go type driving, you fall under the severe duty maintenance schedule. That service interval for severe duty is 30-45k miles for transmission fluid drain and refill. You can leave the filter in. The only reason I recommend changing the filter the first time around is because it'll most likely the first time it's been done on your car. Either way, as long as you don't have any leaks, you're fine.

jacekk

Thank you!