Ford SUV Owner Gets Fluid Leak Inspected at Ralph’s Transmission

Phil drives a 2008 Ford Explorer with more than 200,000 miles on it. As you can expect with a vehicle of this age and mileage, there is always some natural wear and tear on the engine and transmission over time. Phil contacted Ralph’s Transmission because his SUV was leaking fluid. It has had some minor leaks for awhile, but became really noticeable recently. He decided it was finally time to get his Explorer checked out by a professional mechanic.

Phil was worried there might be a transmission problem, so he wanted to get the inspection performed by a local transmission specialist. Initial diagnostic tests revealed no powertrain fault codes, and a road test confirmed the transmission was operating normally. The fluid leaks were coming from the engine area, but were not transmission fluid.

However, a check of the transmission fluid showed that it was discolored. It was recommended we remove the transmission pan for further inspection to make sure there wasn’t a potential internal problem. Once all the inspection steps were completed, our technicians were able to determine that the transmission simply needed to be serviced. Phil’s SUV needed fresh transmission fluid, a new filter and a new pan gasket.

In addition, our technicians identified the cause of the fluid leak near the engine. The connector sleeve O-rings were worn out and needed to be replaced. This is pretty common with the wear and tear of an older vehicle. We went ahead and replaced those seals and fixed the leak while performing the transmission service.

“There’s a reason why this shop has been around since 1969,” Phil writes in his Google review. “Their service and workmanship is spectacular! Thank you Mario for getting my 2008 Ford Explorer squared away. I will definitely be back if/when I need more transmission work done.”

Thank you, Phil. We were glad to help get your Explorer back on the road!

For anyone in the Central Valley area in need of transmission maintenance or repairs—or simply a free initial inspection—call Ralph’s Transmission today at 209.526.1909 or schedule a service appointment online.

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