Just got the call from the Ford dealer,$1300.00 to replace rear seal and oil pan seal. Been leaking oil for about 3 months,02 Ranger with 55,000 miles. XLT w/6 cylinder 2 wheel dr.Bought it new in Dec. '01. Two questions,the price seems pretty steep,but I realize it's labor intensive,and 50,000 miles seems a little soon,although it is 10 years old. How would you experts rate this situation,common or rarely ever and I'm just unlucky! Never driven it off road or abused it: And no, I'm not a mechanic and I won't be doing the work myself.

 

Key words "labor intensive".

Translation: expensive as sh*t

 

Go some place else, non-delaership.

 

Agreed w above dealership is always most expensive

 

Take into consideration all the things that need to be removed to get to that $7 seal...

 

Thanx for the reply, is this model or year prone to these problems or just the luck of the draw? Jim

 

My 02 had same leak. If its small you can let it go. My truck made it to 185k and had the leak for like 50 k of them.

 

Rear main seal isn't the easiest job as it requires a lot of work

 

All vehicles are different, but I think a leaking rear seal at 55k is far too soon, not that you probably can do anything about it except have it fixed. I've never had one leak anywhere near that early on any vehicle I've owned.

 

Dealerships should offer a gaurs tee and warranty on their work and part installed. And Motorcraft parts last as long as the original parts. (except brakes motorcraft are OEM parts, even now ford is changing the brakes to all OEM into the MC boxes)
Local shops only have to do the work, after that there doesn't have to be a guarantee, on product or work. If you go local shop, ask for Made in USA parts, and ask for a guarantee on it. (made in USA parts have better warrantees usually over the flimsie import stuff)

 

i was quoted bout 500 bucks for mine, from a shop and some guys that i know. only bad part is that its all labor.

 

Try a private shop

 

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Private shop will be a lot cheaper. I've done dozens and they are labor intensive.

 

I agree, buy the parts from the dealership... then go to a different shop to have it done.

 

Thanx again for all the responses. On looking at all the info on the internet about this somwhere I saw that around my model year ,'02, Ford was using seals that wern't that great in durability. They supposedly are using better ones now. Anybody got any info on that? Jim

 

**** way to much!! i had my main rear seal replaced with a new clutch and a new slave and had the oil pan cleaned out and a new oil pan gasket all for $800.00. Got to have a mechanic thats non ford dealership related lol

and remember to have someone who knows what there doing also. They have to be pressed in all at once. Can't tap it in a circle way. Has to be pressed in perfectly strait. If not it will leak. Trust me, it took my mechanic 3 times to get the thing right. oil all over your 2 new clutch's sucks lol

 

Well I went ahead and had the dealership do it. The final price was a little below the quote and included tire rotation,air filter,brake fluid replacement,full detailing and wash,shuttle service back and forth even though I live 8 miles out of town and a 12 month or 12,000 mile quarantee.The whole vehicle feels like its been tweaked,the stering feels tighter,tranny feels smoother,etc. In that this has been the only problem I've had with it in the 10 years I've owned it I'm OK with the investment. I'll just live on Top Ramen for the next few months!! Jim

 

P.S they also replaced the oil pan seal along withe the rear main seal. Jim

 

Sorry to revive an old thread but currently Im sitting in the same situation... BUT... My Ranger is an 04 Automatic with the v6 and has 65,900 miles on it. It started this about a month ago, its a little leak but enough to notice on the garage floor. I got out and looked under the truck and its coming right behind the oil pan and where the transmission meet. Its clear that its motoroil. Im wishing and hoping its just the oil pan bolts getting loose due to time and vibration. I highly doubt Ford uses locktite on those bolts. Like the OP stated its crazy that its doing this at less than 100K. The truck has never been in dirt in its live, it has gone down the drag strip a total of 3-5 times, never done a burnout, I have my rev limiter set at 5500 rpms to keep things safe. Im hoping its just the bolts that need to be checked. This Thanksgiving Im going to see if they are loose if not looks like Ill be heading to the dealer.

 

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Mines been leaking for 2 years. No drips just all wet. I replaced the front seal but I don't care about the rear.

 

Until your oil consumption becomes aggressive its not worth pulling the transmission to change the seal. Its just gonna leave spots.

 

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Yea when I see drips I'll change it.

 

well I know there will be some consumption because it is dripping, not consistently. I just want to keep it reliable. Plus I got a quote from a Ford Dealer at $650 to do everything.... might jump on it and go ahead and get the trans flushed again since its that time... again.