What is the root cause?
What is the root cause of the 1-2 shift grind? If some cars do it and others don't, there is something different between them!
We need to figure out what it is if we're going to fix it.
I too had the oil changed to Mercon at around 5K on my 02 GT; no change. Then they replaced the trans; no change but two new problems. Now a sticky notch in the middle of the neutral throw, and a slight 2 - 3 clunk. Thought they were going to put in a "new" part, turns out it's "reman"; in my brand new car! B.S.!
I'd like to know exactly what is different between the different revisions; was a dimensional change made to a syncro or related part? Can the old models be rebuilt with the new components? Not if the changes are not backward compatable; the whole assy must be changed to the new rev (probably the case). I'd like to see a comparison bill of materials for the 2 assemblies.
We need the technical details, this is what Ford won't to tell us ($$$$). The ford service rep, service manager and field service guy all played dumb, like they never heard of the problem, now I see these discussion threads of dozens (hundreds?) with the same problem.
I asked the Ford Field service rep if there was an updated P/N for the trans, he told me "no updated P/N". NOT TRUE! So I asked the parts guy for the P/N, he says there are 3 different ones, depending on production date.
My car was built 01/02, the Ford Special Service Message 15669 on the grind issue states that cars built before 03/15/02 "may exhibit the grind". This implies cars built after this date don't have the problem.
The latest trans P/N is 2R3Z7003AB ($3440) for production dates after 05/06/02. This P/N is also for 03 models. The other P/N is 2R3Z7003AE ($2531) for prod dates after 09/05/01. There was another P/N for dates after 02/22/01.
Why is the latest part $1000 more? Better syncros??
The trany they put in my car was the same P/N as the one they took out (2R3Z7003AE), (likely taken out of some other complainer's car). I want them to replace it again, this time with the later P/N, I'm meeting with Ford tomorrow for the Nth time, we'll see?!
I'd like to hear more about production dates to see if there is truly a cut-off for good/ bad parts. I know this thread is for the "haves" (the grind), I'd like to hear from some of the "have nots" to see who's trans works right, and when it was built. If they replaced your trans, what P/N is on the receipt?
Tom
