Vx Sux

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

GET YOUR TRANNY SERVICED! Every 30,000 miles or so. Just bough a VX? Get your tranny serviced! The tranny in the VX was originally developed for the Chevy Luv pick-up and is one of the worst GM ever made, It is definetly the weak link in the make up of this car. Pay now or pay later!

That's actually good advice for any vehicle...in another thread I mentioned getting my old '96 truck back. Within 2 days of ownership I changed the motor oil & filter as well as replaced trannie filter & fluid. Cheap insurance.

With the VX, I had trannie back-flush & refill done at 15,000 and 30,000 miles. I didn't change the filter because the ISUZU dealer talked me out of it and I wasn't a member of this site. If I had it to do over, I would have changed the filter @ 30,000.

My Last VX trannie service at 60,000 miles included a trannie back-flush & refill with Mobil 1 synthetic transmission fluid at the dealer (they charged $65 for service 'cause I provided the fluid); and THEN I took the VX to my local mechanic to pull the crossmember & pan, replace filter & like 4-5 quarts lost.
He ran the VX on the lift through the gears to draw fluid back into the clutch-packs. Then topped off trannie. Its been 3,000+ miles later of very smooth shifting.

[TexVeX]

I loved my Bronco II that I had a few years back, but it needed constant repairs from the time I got it. By the time I sold it there were so many new parts on that I really should have kept it. But now that I have a VX I would prefer to never have to take a step down to having a Bronco again in order the get the same or similar feel with the ride.

Yes the Bronco II and the VX feel similar in handling and just feel to me. But I am fully aware of all the reasons why the VX is a better vehicle. And I certainly hope to learn enough on this forum to get all my preventive maintenance done on time

[HOT_WASABI_JUNKIE]

Cool....
Someone sort of agrees with me. I went from a Bronco II to the VX and found them to be quite similar .The thing I liked most about the Bronco II was the amount of visibility it had. The Ford was like a rolling fishtank. I know everyone wants to dis Ford, but like I said, it took 7 years of real hard abuse before it needed anything serious...and I bought it in '99 when it was already 9 years old and probably had more than 150 thousand miles on it. Also, I think that all time, all wheel drive is not a plus. Being able to go from 2 wheel to four wheel drive with a push button when you want, is better than not being given that option.I also never bumped my head on the ceiling of the Ford when I launched over a bump. I bump my head constantly when I am getting crazy in the VX.Now please no hate mail, I really like my VX, I had always wanted one...I am just saying ..as with all things, is that the dream of having one, and the reality of having one, are two very different things.

[Chopper]

Yeah...meeting Jerry Garcia wasn't the thrill I thought it was gonna be either.

[HOT_WASABI_JUNKIE]

My VX is back at the shop. The tranny started shifting really hard between gears and since the new rebuilt tranny is still under warranty since I only put two weeks and 400 miles on it's on a 3 year 75,000 mile contract.I am starting to feel like this car is not worth the trouble.My Tranny guy's are shaking their heads and trying to figure out the next step and they have had my car since last friday morning and it it Tuesday morning now. What good is a cool car if it is in my mechanics garage more than mine?

[Anita]

Just a thought but hard shifting up and/or down could be the mode switch needing to be replaced.

[Locomigo]

Just a thought but hard shifting up and/or down could be the mode switch needing to be replaced.

True...

Did they replace the shift solenoids? There are two 1-2 gear, 3-4 gear. If not, they need to. If so, did they use OEM replacements, or cheap knock offs? If the latter, replace with the former.

Did you install a tranny cooler? If not, you need to. Biggest enemy in these trannies (well any auto tranny is heat. While adding a cooler, add a tranny temp gauge, anything over 210 needs to be backed off and let cool.

Is the fluid full? If not, add some, realizing it isnt the easiest proposition in the world, but it is something that needs to be checked regularly.

These trannies are delicate and require some TLC. research 4L-30E and become educated.

Once you have the knowledge and exercise that information, you shouldn't have the concerns you do any longer. Then you can direct the shop in how to get it done right. You paid a hefty bill, I would expect nothing less than perfection from them.