Forgive me if this is not the right section to post this in. If it isn't please let me know so i don't repeat my mistake in the future. But anyway I had some questions to ask in regards to the transmission, maintenance and other features of my ProMaster.
I was doing some additional research into my 2500 and I keep seeing issues that people have with the transmission giving out fairly early on in the mileage cycle. I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this or to see if this was just hearsay. Additionally I've seen some complaints that people had about struggling to get parts for maintenance and repairs (whenever the need arises) so I wanted to ask if anyone had any similar experiences. Is it hard to get things fixed if something goes wrong? Will mobility be damaged or is there usually a quick turn around time for smaller, easier types of maintenance?
As of right now the ProMaster works great and it functions pretty well, all considered. I just have the tendency to plan ahead so I wanted to reach out to you more experienced members to see if there was anything I should know or look out for in regards to the things talked about above.
This has been an area that FCA has not yet gotten right. Often the service intervals for seemingly small parts has been weeks long. Even simple things like a starter may take a week or more to secure. When a transmission failure occurs the local dealer fixes it as it has been parts like a flex plate that generally needed for the repair. Times for this have varied widely. We even had a poster who had to wait for over a week because the dealer said there wasn’t a lift free until then! Some dealers have had good turn around times of a few days. It doesn’t appear there is a consistent service response. Parts availability seems to be getting better from the first couple of years. Once these vans get out of warrantee aftermarket rebuilders will have transmissions and independent repair shops will replace them, and that will be the same as any other vehicle.
Just last week there was a high roof extended wheelbase, gas Pm with a local dry cleaning companies logo on the side sitting in front of a local transmission shop that I drive by every day, so I called the transmission shop and asked for the specifics to why it was there they told me it was there for a new transmission, the cost was $3,000 and it had 108,700 miles on it. The van was there for about 4 days. I think that's good news for us PM owners considering it was a commercial vehicle driven by somebody who doesn't own it in stop and go traffic. That is a reasonable amount of miles to get out of the original transmission. I Know there's a lot of auto trains from many different manufacturers that go out between 100k and 150k.
Seems to me that 108,700 miles is setting the bar a little low. I've had numerous vehicles go over 150,000 miles and none have needed transmission work. Also to consider is that dry cleaning services probably don't load vehicles that much on average. Clothes can be heavy, but not that heavy.
I think the jury is still out about these transmissions when used in ProMasters. Until many many vans go well over 100,000 miles of normal driving, it won't be possible to analyze failure rates accurately. Results need to be statistically significant IMHO.
Chance seems to have captured the essence of knowing, wait until there is data. 110k is low. My F150 w/5.4 gas auto had 220K and the transmission was fine when I sold it. My current 4Runner has 230K and is fine too. The bigger factor may be, can a beefed up automatic from a Chrysler minivan stand up to the abuse a 3 ton+ truck dishes out? I'd guess it can for much more than 110K but probably not 220k+ Time and miles will tell.
I don't mean to opine, but if you go to a transmission shop you generally get sold a transmission. You can have as many as you like from LQK for around $600, with way under 50k on it. Any shop that works on...cars...can put one in, it's no different than any other FWD vehicle. The 62TE in the gas van has been in production since around 2003? The first years were a nightmare, but I was eyeballing my buddy's 2010 minivan and it sure looks like the exact same transmission to me.
How long will it last? That's a tough one. My PMs have 261k and 230k. We drive almost all highway but often heavily loaded. I service (fluid and filter) both every 100k. Do NOT "flush" a transmission ever ever ever. Zero trans trouble on either van. Zero.
Regardless, it's all moot. You aren't going to preventatively replace a transmission. You are going to drive it until it gives trouble and then you'll replace it. So I guess I'm saying, don't worry about it.
I could not agree more! I've serviced about a dozen transmissions over the years the exact same way, and never a lick of problems in over 30 years. Every two years I religiously drain out and replace what comes out of the drain hole on level ground. Hint: Buy ATF by the case, and find a good place to recycle the old stuff. Then, every 100k I pull the pan and replace fluid and filter.
I also helps to avoid drag racing at the stop light.
Please be aware that all newly registered members MUST make an introductory post in the Introductory Post Forum as per forum rules. Promasterforum.com Introduction Section
Forgive me if this is not the right section to post this in. If it isn't please let me know so i don't repeat my mistake in the future. But anyway I had some questions to ask in regards to the transmission, maintenance and other features of my ProMaster.
I was doing some additional research into my 2500 and I keep seeing issues that people have with the transmission giving out fairly early on in the mileage cycle. I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this or to see if this was just hearsay. Additionally I've seen some complaints that people had about struggling to get parts for maintenance and repairs (whenever the need arises) so I wanted to ask if anyone had any similar experiences. Is it hard to get things fixed if something goes wrong? Will mobility be damaged or is there usually a quick turn around time for smaller, easier types of maintenance?
As of right now the ProMaster works great and it functions pretty well, all considered. I just have the tendency to plan ahead so I wanted to reach out to you more experienced members to see if there was anything I should know or look out for in regards to the things talked about above.
HELLO MORRIS,My 2016 3500 pro master broke down while we were on a road trip. With 110,000 miles the transmission fluid started leaking. There were no obvious leaks but fluid was sprayed on the undercarriage The transmission started slipping. I added ATF4. Fluid and it worked better but within a hundred miles it happened again. Using the oil dipstick the level of transmission fluid was very low. I added 3 qts and it ran a few hundred miles and began slipping. we were in Whitehorse Yukon and there was a Dodge Ram dealership. They advised me not to drive the van.i left the van with them and we all flew home to NY. Speaking with them by phone they claim unavailable parts and a possible wait for repair for up 6months. What a horror story
@Shawaki has been banned for 2 weeks for continuing to post with out making an introductory post after several warnings.
Please be aware that all newly registered members MUST make an introductory post in the Introductory Post Forum as per forum rules. Promasterforum.com Introduction Section
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