Transmission slip

[The Evil Twin]

Update on my transmission: Picked my truck up yesterday evening... I'm considering a one week turn around from implosion to new tranny installed and returned to be very good ... that said, I swear I had a lemon tranny from the factory, because that transmission never shifted as smoothly as the new one. The original always shifted harder, always lurched a little when shifting from park to drive, right from day one. But the new one... butter smooth. To the point that it felt like an entirely different truck driving it home last night. So far, very pleased... fingers crossed I also no longer have the annoying "no power stall" feeling when slowing quickly to make a sharp turn and then trying to reapply power that for a brief moment, isn't there... the old one did that all the time, but it's too soon to know if this one will do it as well.

And the warranty company came through... itemized cost on the invoice came to about $9,300... out-of-pocket: zero.

Best part: The old 1500 RAM loaner is out of my driveway. So, my property values have hopefully returned to normal.

That is pretty good turn around time.
$9300, eh? That is ironic because we just had the trans replaced in one of our little Transit Connect fleet vans for right around the same cost.

 

[Optimus🤖]

Now they are stating the spark plugs are totally covered in carbon. They were not specific on parts but stated “tune up, parts, and labor $369.00 and then new spark plug wires installed $697.00 plus tax.” I’m about to call.

If it was throwing no codes or misfires prior to the transmission overhaul, should this be covered by ESP?

Unfortunately, no. Ford Protect ESP (even PremiumCare) classifies spark plugs and plug wires as routine maintenance "wear and tear" items, so they are explicitly excluded from extended warranty coverage.

HOWEVER, do not let them off the hook here. This is almost certainly a case of the technician breaking your parts and the service advisor trying to make you pay for the collateral damage.

As I stated above, the 7.3L Godzilla engine is notorious for the spark plug wire boots getting baked by the exhaust manifolds, making them incredibly brittle. When the tech dropped your crossmember and tilted the engine back to reach the top transmission bellhousing bolts, they either bumped those brittle wires, leaned on them, or accidentally stretched them. That snaps the fragile core inside the wire, causing an instant misfire.

As for the plugs being "covered in carbon"—spark plugs don't magically foul themselves while a truck is turned off sitting on a lift. If they have carbon on them now, it's because the tech started the truck with the wire they broke, and that dead cylinder ran rich and fouled the plug right there in the bay.

Also, that quote is absolute highway robbery. $697 for just spark plug wires on a 7.3L is insane. OEM Motorcraft wire sets cost about $100 to $130 online, and because of how the Godzilla is designed, they are sitting right there on the valve covers. It takes maybe 15 minutes to swap them all out with basic hand tools.

When you call, be polite but firm. Tell them: "The truck had absolutely zero misfires when I dropped it off. It is a known fact that the 7.3L plug wires get brittle and are easily damaged when tilting the engine back for a transmission drop. Your tech broke a wire during the transmission removal, and I am not paying $1,000+ for damage caused by your shop during a warranty repair."

Ask to speak to the Service Manager, not just the advisor. If they still refuse to budge, tell them to leave the plugs and wires alone. As long as the check engine light isn't actively flashing (which means raw fuel is dumping into the cats), you can limp it home and put a $120 set of wires on it yourself in the driveway.

 

[Apples]

I may have missed it but I never read where the OP tells us what year Super Duty, which engine and how many miles on it's clock... always helpful info for the rest of us.

Thanks.