Another PTU bites the dust

P

pmezo33

New member
So today is apparently my lucky day.  Did an oil change the other day and noticed transmission fluid on the PTU.  Figured it was just the half shaft seal and it would be a few hundred dollars to do the seal fix.  No big deal, right?

Brought it into Lincoln for them to check it out and do the work, but they told me it's actually leaking between the PTU and transmission - tsb 11-4-20.  The TSB calls for my PTU to be completely replaced because of this stupid seal. 

http://revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/DownloadPdf?id=176591

So now I'm onto locating the right part because Lincoln wants to do the whole job for about $1900 and charge me $1100 for the PTU.  I've got a good transmission shop that will put it in for $600 if I bring one in, so I'm probably going that route.

On my receipt, the ptu part number is DA8Z-7251-B

The TSB has part number as AT4Z-7251-A

And when I look up my car on sites like tasca, the part number is AT4Z-7251-D

Anyone have any idea which one to get?  It's a 2010 MKS ecoboost.
 
Generically speaking, AT4Z-7251-D is the part number I see like you do.  Did you search by VIN?  That should lock into the correct PTU for you.

The DA8Z-7251-B is listed for the MKT.  Not sure what the difference is tho.

Are you sure these Lincoln guys are good in their diagnostics?  You did have your trans rebuilt, so it could very well be the seal issue you suspect.  In which case it should be warranty work.

There is always a possibility that transmission fluid has migrated into the PTU and is puking out the vent, but it would look like a mix of PTU/trans fluid in that case.  If you have not noticed any degradation in performance, might only need to replace the seal and flush the PTU.
 
I was just under the car and taking a closer look, it's definitely coming from between the ptu and transmission.  You can see it's staining both sides with trans fluid, so it's got to be coming from between the two and seeping down. 

The ptu vent is bone dry as it always is.  Definitely not coming from there.

The DA8Z-7251-B looks like it's an updated part, hence the 2016 MKT tag on it.  Tasca has AT4Z-7251-D listed as discontinued, but it's available on plenty of other websites and for about $100 less than the updated part.  Looks like the updated part (DA8Z-7251-B) has a fill and drain plug.  The older part (AT4Z-7251-D) only has a fill plug like the ptu that's currently on my car.

Most of websites have my part as AT4Z-7251-D when searching by the vin, but i've got a feeling the DA8Z-7251-B will probably fit as well.  It's what Lincoln was going to use if they did the work.
 
Yeah I dunno what the difference is BUT the DA part is listed as valid for the MKT from 2010 up.  Question is, is it a cooled/monitored PTU?
 
SHOdded said:
Yeah I dunno what the difference is BUT the DA part is listed as valid for the MKT from 2010 up.  Question is, is it a cooled/monitored PTU?
Click to expand...

Good question.  I might just go with the AT4Z-7251-D PTU to play it safe.  I know that part works with my car.  $100 cheaper too.

What a pain this car has been.  I like it, but it's been problem after problem with it.
 
pmezo33 said:
SHOdded said:
Yeah I dunno what the difference is BUT the DA part is listed as valid for the MKT from 2010 up.  Question is, is it a cooled/monitored PTU?
Click to expand...

Good question.  I might just go with the AT4Z-7251-D PTU to play it safe.  I know that part works with my car.  $100 cheaper too.

What a pain this car has been.  I like it, but it's been problem after problem with it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it is disheartening.  But at least the engine/rest of the car has done well?
 
SHOdded said:
pmezo33 said:
SHOdded said:
Yeah I dunno what the difference is BUT the DA part is listed as valid for the MKT from 2010 up.  Question is, is it a cooled/monitored PTU?
Click to expand...

Good question.  I might just go with the AT4Z-7251-D PTU to play it safe.  I know that part works with my car.  $100 cheaper too.

What a pain this car has been.  I like it, but it's been problem after problem with it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it is disheartening.  But at least the engine/rest of the car has done well?
Click to expand...

Some minor stuff, but so far the engine has been fine.  Follow up with me in a few months though.
 
So get this... there might be a little twist to this story and I may have caught lincoln trying to F me over.

Lincoln told me the problem is the compression seal and the PTU needs to be replaced  according to TSB 11-4-20.  That's pretty much exactly what it says on my receipt and what they told me in person.

The procedure in that TSB is as follows:

"With the PTU removed from the vehicle look at the white sticker on the PTU, which has imprinted on it an identifying serial number that will be visible directly under the bar code. (figure 1)

If the first five digits following the letter F in this number are between 09233 and 09238, then the entire PTU should be replaced.

If the first five digits are not within this range, then repair with a new compression seal and link shaft seal per the WSM"

http://revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/DownloadPdf?id=176591

So I dug around the engine, loosened a couple hoses, and finally got to that serial number.  The number is F09167.

Unreal.  Looks like about $40 in parts and 4.4 hours of work per the TSB might just fix this after all.  I'll be going to Lincoln first thing in the morning.
 
Why am I not surprised !

My PP had 118k on it.  95% of that with stage 3 tune. I drive my SHO pretty hard. I did have to replace some timing chain guides and tensioner but so far that's it other than oil changes with Mobil 1 and 1 set of front brake pads. My tensioner job  amusing timing chain rattle at start up and eventually cam timing issues cost $3,200 at 110k miles. Car runs strong still now minus some stupid engine tick it has had since about 70k miles. Still on original PTU fluid. Maybe the PP cooler has helped ?!?!
 
I'm really pissed off right now.  Forget all the labor, they tried selling me a $1100 PTU when it looks like all i need is like $20 or $40 worth of cheap seals. 

It took me about 20 minutes to finally get a good view of that serial number.  Something any mechanic should easily have been able to do with even a little effort.  Instead they tell me i need to replace the whole PTU when i most likely don't have to.

It's not going to be easy keeping my cool tomorrow when i go there.  This is exactly why people hate and don't trust these dealerships.  And they know most people would just take their word for it and just let them do whatever they wanted without even questioning it.
 
Good catch, Lincoln dealers are usually well regarded for service.
But their typical customers won't go searching around to find part numbers.
I would play it cool, then if they try and insist on replacement talk to the service manager and drop that part number bomb on them.
 
Is this a joint Ford/Lincoln dealership?  Usually standalones are better.  Do they have mechanics with a lot of experience?
 
It's a Ford/Lincoln joint dealership.

Just got back from there.  My service rep and the "technician" that worked on my car are both off today, so they said there isn't much they can do.  I think it's just the Saturday oil change crew in today. 

They basically said come back Monday and they'll order the seals for me.  Then also said that it's not their fault if it doesn't fix the problem and the PTU needs to be replaced.  I told them this is exactly how Ford tells you guys to fix the problem and that was pretty much it. 
 
Yeah not what i expect to hear from a good lincoln dealership.  Instead they should advise of possibly needing to replace the ptu once they actually take it off.  And be honest about it.  Just a bunch of gears after all.
 
SHOdded said:
Yeah not what i expect to hear from a good lincoln dealership.  Instead they should advise of possibly needing to replace the ptu once they actually take it off.  And be honest about it.  Just a bunch of gears after all.
Click to expand...

They shouldn't even have to take the PTU off.  I found that serial number in 20 minutes of looking without having to drop it.  It's their jobs to work on these cars, they should have known this.  And all they have to do is follow the directions Ford gives them.  Locate the serial number and go from there. Pretty simple stuff.

They're either dishonest or stupid.  I'm not sure which option is better of the two.
 
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