kathykim
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Posts posted by kathykim
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We did do another trip of about 500 miles and everything seemed OK. Still think there may have been a small amount of fluid on the back, but the level tested the same when we returned. I'm hoping they are quietly working on a fix at Ford and the newer transmissions are better. Probably just wishful thinking. Please let us know how your trip works out. We will only be taking trips of less than 250 miles each way until next summer, so we're just keeping our fingers crossed at this point.
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Even thought the owner's manual and Remco state that the Honda Fit is towable, you are smart to try to get some actual info before buying. The 2009 Ford Escape's owner's manual states it is towable and you will see from the other threads, that many transmissions have been burnt up while towing (including two of ours). I wish I had known this BEFORE I bought mine.
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Purchased a 2009 ford escape in april, towed it for the first time on Aug. 8th, drove 296 miles, stopped once to run for 5min.when iI arrived in brunswick Ga.discvered tranny was burned up. We spent 12 days getting a new one & also a new up to date dip stick, fluid was adjusted to just above low mark, a new towing procedure was followed, this time running thru all the gears as i used to do our 03 honda crv. We left for lumberton NC. & stopped along the way to run thru gears & run for 6 min. it nwas 306 miles to lumberton, when I went to run car it would not shift, fluid all over the back. I rented a tow dolly & returned to sebring Fl. to our dealer on aug 21st, car will be done tue the 8th of sept.with another tranny. Ford is now saying fluid must be below the LOW mark, they have scratched a new mark on the dip stick. I don't have much faith in this new method .Do you know if they replaced the cooler as well? They did not replace ours the first time, but they did replace ours the second time. I'm hoping this along with the lower fluid level will make a difference, but I'm probably fooling myself. However, I am just wondering if they did replace your cooler as well as the transmission?
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We Just joined Fmca for the second time. We had sold our first coach a couple of years ago. I was just wondering until this problem is fixed, I mean a permanet fix. Couldn't the motor run as it is being towed. I don't know how much gas it would burn at idle but at least it wont ruin a transmision. I realise that this is not a permanet fix but at least you could use it as a tow vehicle until a fix is made.That question should be asked a service manager if this would be possible I can't see that it would hurt the transmission in netural and idle being towed. We currently tow a HHR chevy we put it in netural put the key in acc. and pull a breaker. This works greatMy husband believes that could lead to more problems. What if a fuel line or something broke? He just doesn't think it would be safe.
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Our stop in Missouri entailed a delay of approximately 11 days due to the tranny being burned up, and having to be replaced, so we are currently on number 3. I drove the car and husband drove MH to Branson, but will probably tow it when we go back to Carthage in a couple weeks. We had both the service manager and their transmission mechanic tell us that the way the transmission is currently made, no way can it be flat towed and not burn up the tranny. I don't know how many times Ford will replace the tranny. We also expressed a concern with it getting hot, of the possibility of catching on fire. The fix Ford has come up with so far doesn't work. They told me we could dolly it as far as we wanted, but that was not the reason we bought the car. I talked to the Remco place when the first replacement was being made to see if they had a transmission pump developed yet and he said no that Ford said it was flat towable, so they didn't have anything going. I suggested they start on something. Not good news.AT THIS TIME I DON'T RECOMMEND PURCHASING A 2009 FORD ESCAPE FOR FLAT TOWING BEHING A MOTORHOME. IT'S BEEN A BIG HEADACHE.
Did they replace your the tranny cooler as well? The first time that ours was replaced, they did not replace the cooler, but they replaced the cooler as well the second time. I'm still not sure that has solved our problem, but was curious to know if they had replaced your cooler. Our service guy seemed to think that was part of the problem. However, he also doesn't believe that this is a problem for anyone other than us.
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Ok -update on towing our Escape. We just got back from our "test" tow. We went about 400 miles. The first 200 we stopped and started it every 50 miles, just to make sure we would have a vehicle when we got where we were going. No problems. Towed it back the full 212 miles, with no stops, and no hot smell, no lights, all looks good. However, it did look like there was a little fluid on the rear of the vehicle. My husband checked the fluid and it was higher than when he and the service manager had checked it. It was within the hash marks and not between the minimum line and the bottom of the hash marks (per SSM 20836) How did that happen? Turns out that when we took the vehicle in for another issue (less than a week after the transmission and dipstick were changed out and the fluid level was checked by our service manager and my husband together), the tech topped off the fluid! AAAGGGHHH. Anyway, at this point no damage seems to have been done. We have it in the shop for yet another issue. (Sigh) The only issue with this test was that we had a lot of mountain driving, and did not really get to tow at speeds up to 65 for many of these miles. We will be doing yet another test tow on Sept. 12th with all flat interstate driving, about 250 miles each way. If it makes it thru that, we will finally have confidence to go somewhere that we actually want to go and isn't just to test out the car.
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Ok -update on towing our Escape. We just got back from our "test" tow. We went about 400 miles. The first 200 we stopped and started it every 50 miles, just to make sure we would have a vehicle when we got where we were going. No problems. Towed it back the full 212 miles, with no stops, and no hot smell, no lights, all looks good. However, it did look like there was a little fluid on the rear of the vehicle. My husband checked the fluid and it was higher than when he and the service manager had checked it. It was within the hash marks and not between the minimum line and the bottom of the hash marks (per SSM 20836) How did that happen? Turns out that when we took the vehicle in for another issue (less than a week after the transmission and dipstick were changed out and the fluid level was checked by our service manager and my husband together), the tech topped off the fluid! AAAGGGHHH. Anyway, at this point no damage seems to have been done. We have it in the shop for yet another issue. (Sigh) The only issue with this test was that we had a lot of mountain driving, and did not really get to tow at speeds up to 65 for many of these miles. We will be doing yet another test tow on Sept. 12th with all flat interstate driving, about 250 miles each way. If it makes it thru that, we will finally have confidence to go somewhere that we actually want to go and isn't just to test out the car.
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We have a 2009 Ford Escape, purchased May 5, 2009. First towed for approximately 300 miles, started once on the trip. Was hot, the wrench was lit on the dash, which indicates a drivetrain problem. Transmission fluid all over back of car. Would not start until jumped. Took to Performance Ford in Omaha, they did the adjusting on the fluid level and dipstick. Towed to Rapid City, second day of travel even after stopping and starting the car, was hot again on the third stop. Again took to Ford when we got back to Omaha, they did a computer check and it indicated to replace the transmission. It was replaced on July 20, 2009. We just traveled a total of 1,400 miles, when we stopped at Effingham, Il and again tranny fluid all over car, wrench was again lit up, and wouldn't start. We are in Carthage, MO and going to take to the Ford dealer here tomorrow. We stopped every hour yesterday coming back to MO and started it.I really don't think the dipstick adjustment has done the trick. We love the car, but we are fulltimers and it is our only means of transportation, so we are very much disappointed. I really think Ford has a problem. When Performance Ford worked on our car, they even had the Escape Engineer involved, and they assured us it was going to work. We have not exceeded the 65 mph speed limit.
The SSM 20836 didn't take care of the problem on our Escape.
Rhino - I was wondering what the result of your stop in Missouri was. Please post and let us know. Thanks!
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We have now had two transmissions put in our 2009 Ford Escape. Neither made it over 200 miles. Will be testing transmission number 3 while towing within the week. Will post with results. Had to practically beg for the new dipstick even though dealer printed and outlined TSB from Ford regarding this issue. Hoping that's the problem, but not holding out much hope at this point. There are more posts on the Ford Forums regarding this issue.
Service Fix For Towing 2009 Escape
in Toads-Towed Behind Motorhome
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I think that alll the 6 cylinder whether FWD or 4WD seem to have this problem. Make sure you have the new dipstick and keep the fluid at the level in the Special Service Message. Do NOT let the dealer top off the fluid. I don't think it is a true "fix" for the problem, but does seem to help somewhat. It is VERY frustrating.