jack

Noticed a oil buildup in the right front wheel well. Traced it to the
front diff vent. Was told that the diff cover needs to be replaced due
to a poor design in the original(baffling was added to return the oil to
the diff while allowing the vent to function.. Ford dealer quoted 650$
for the repair. Does this sound out of line? It's on a 96 explorer.
Thanks,
--
JackC
Giving up the right to arms is a mistake a free people get to make only
once. I will not make that mistake.

ross via CarKB.com

jack wrote:
>Noticed a oil buildup in the right front wheel well. Traced it to the
>front diff vent. Was told that the diff cover needs to be replaced due
>to a poor design in the original(baffling was added to return the oil to
>the diff while allowing the vent to function.. Ford dealer quoted 650$
>for the repair. Does this sound out of line? It's on a 96 explorer.
>Thanks,


The tsb for that is 05-6-20. Apparently the diff cover cannot be removed
with the diff in the vehicle. I have no experience with this - just reciting
the Ford procedure.

But the tsb specifies 1.5 hours for the procedure. If parts are 100.00, (
that is pretty generous) then that leaves 550.00 for labor, which calculates
to 366.67 per hour.

Your Ford dealer is not your friend.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...lorer/200511/1

jack

I had the same feeling, sounded REAL high, even though you have to drop
the diff to fix it.
JackC
Giving up the right to arms is a mistake a free people get to make only
once. I will not make that mistake.

ross via CarKB.com wrote:
> jack wrote:
>> Noticed a oil buildup in the right front wheel well. Traced it to the
>> front diff vent. Was told that the diff cover needs to be replaced due
>> to a poor design in the original(baffling was added to return the oil to
>> the diff while allowing the vent to function.. Ford dealer quoted 650$
>> for the repair. Does this sound out of line? It's on a 96 explorer.
>> Thanks,
>
>
> The tsb for that is 05-6-20. Apparently the diff cover cannot be removed
> with the diff in the vehicle. I have no experience with this - just reciting
> the Ford procedure.
>
> But the tsb specifies 1.5 hours for the procedure. If parts are 100.00, (
> that is pretty generous) then that leaves 550.00 for labor, which calculates
> to 366.67 per hour.
>
> Your Ford dealer is not your friend.
>

ross via CarKB.com

Well, just a thought - but this seems to happen on vehicles that are several
years old, not so much when they are new. Which may mean it has something to
do with the diff fluid getting tired and the additives wearing out.

Might be worth replacing the vent tube (old one is now full of crud).
Reroute it upwards and terminate it at the top of the radiator support, where
you can check it easily when you open the hood. Keep the tube running
upwards at all times so it drains back to the diff easily.

Then use a good quality 75-140w gearlube. I doubt the fluid will climb that
high. You might be able to spend more money on Christmas presents that way.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...lorer/200511/1

jack

Good idea, will try it.
Thanks
JackC
Giving up the right to arms is a mistake a free people get to make only
once. I will not make that mistake.

ross via CarKB.com wrote:
> Well, just a thought - but this seems to happen on vehicles that are several
> years old, not so much when they are new. Which may mean it has something to
> do with the diff fluid getting tired and the additives wearing out.
>
> Might be worth replacing the vent tube (old one is now full of crud).
> Reroute it upwards and terminate it at the top of the radiator support, where
> you can check it easily when you open the hood. Keep the tube running
> upwards at all times so it drains back to the diff easily.
>
> Then use a good quality 75-140w gearlube. I doubt the fluid will climb that
> high. You might be able to spend more money on Christmas presents that way.
>

351CJ

"ross via CarKB.com" <u10413@uwe> wrote in message news:57eccaf4d8bfa@uwe...
> Well, just a thought - but this seems to happen on vehicles that are
> several
> years old, not so much when they are new. Which may mean it has something
> to
> do with the diff fluid getting tired and the additives wearing out.

You may want to make sure it remains a vent-tube and not a water/crud filler
tube...
That is why they do not open upward in the first place...

BTW:
If your gear oil is going out the vent, you have a problem, that should be
fixed, not hidden by creative vent tube placement.

>
> Then use a good quality 75-140w gearlube. I doubt the fluid will climb
> that
> high. You might be able to spend more money on Christmas presents that
> way.
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.com
> http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...lorer/200511/1

Jim Warman

Something to consider.... the TSB quotes a "warranty" time... this is the
time that Ford pays to perform an operation in a warranty situation.

Just to add some insight to the situation (I'm not familiar with R&R of this
front diff), I'll mention an operation that is near and dear to my heart.
6.0 diesel head gaskets pay 14.4 hours under warranty. Having done a few of
these, I am proud to announce that I have honed my skills to the point where
I can perform this operation in a little under 24 hours. That leaves me
being unpaid for nearly 10 hours of my efforts.

Ford warranty times serve Fords purpose and may have little to do with
reality. As a tech, I know what I need from jobs I am familiar with... under
warranty, I have no choice.... in a retail situation I will set a price that
allows me to ensure that I wont be rushed into leaving other concerns
behind. If anyone feels that the Ford time is fair, I can only suggest that
they perform the task....

I can only suggest that the original poster resort to other avenues for
labour estimates. I live a comfortable lifestyle.. apparently, I can only
keep some happy if I were to live in abject poverty...