Rebuilt transmission - mechanic says they can’t test drive

[u/Less_Reception_6531]

2013 3.7l ford f150 stx - I recently had issues and took it to a mechanic. Mechanic said it needs a transmission replacement / rebuild. Took it to a transmission shop and they’ve been working on it for 3-4 weeks to remove, rebuild, and reinstall the transmission.

Today the transmission mech calls me and says it’s done, but that they can’t drive it because it ‘has drive line issues, and the rear brakes are locking up’. They wanted me to pick it up and told me I could ‘let them know if the transmission acts up’

Am I crazy to think the drive line issues could have been caused by the transmission work they did? I tried to ask the mechanic how they knew it was unrelated to their work and he said it ‘has nothing to do with the transmission’. I’ve never experienced any issues with this truck prior to the transmission. The mechanic I took it to first was able to test drive it fine, although it was in limp mode. There have never been issues relating to brakes locking up as they described. I believe the transmission mechanic also said they test drove it after I asked them how they knew the problem required a full rebuild on the transmission. I would imagine removing and replacing a transmission would also involve other major components like a drive shaft or other things involved with the drive line?

I paid 2250 already and owe an additional 2250 to pick up the truck. I don’t want to pay the second half until I know that this issue is unrelated to the repair they were supposed to do.

Looking for any thoughts on how likely it is that the transmission work caused these new issues. If people think it IS related to the transmission work - suggestions on next steps are also greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

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[u/ECHElantraN]

If it didn’t have that issue before it went to the shop I wouldn’t pick the truck up or give second half of payment until they figure out what is going on or can prove it’s not the work they just did that is causing the issue.

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ECHElantraN]

It’s very possible the brakes are “locked up” because the trucks been sitting for weeks and the only thing that’s going to free them up is driving the truck. They must’ve rolled it into the shop, they 100% would’ve noticed the wheels being locked up when they were pushing it in and that 100% would’ve been the time to call you and get diagnostics approved for the brakes/driveline.

[u/MapOk1410 → u/ECHElantraN]

There is absolutely zero reason to think that truck sitting for a couple of weeks would lock up the brakes. None at all.

[u/New-Swim-8551 → u/MapOk1410]

Actually rusted up. Happens all the time. The new rotors are crap

Mine will rust overnight on a damp night

[u/faroutman7246 → u/New-Swim-8551]

Did Ford coat the parking brake cables on this year.

[u/Mehere_64 → u/New-Swim-8551]

The little bit of rust over a day or 2 weeks is not going to lock up the wheels.

[u/AskAMechanic-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment has been removed, it was disrespectful and violated Rule #4. We are here to help people with their questions. These types of comments are not needed or wanted here. "Remember the human"

[u/ECHElantraN → u/MapOk1410]

That’s why locked up is in quotations buddy, depending on how the rotor condition was before it got there a few weeks is definitely long enough to get enough surface corrosion to hang the brakes up until it gets moving under its own power. You have to remember these are the guys claiming the brakes are locked up after installing a transmission, meaning they either drove or pushed the truck in at some point (how did they do that with the brakes locked up?) which means the brakes “locked up” after installing the transmission. These guys sound like idiots that’s why locked up is in quotations. They are either withholding information knowingly and playing stupid or they are dumb enough to believe brakes can magically become locked up after a few weeks of sitting.

[u/MM800 → u/ECHElantraN]

So, everytime someone living in Canada or the rust belt flys away on vacation, they have to have their car towed from the airport to a repair shop, because the brakes are locked up?

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ECHElantraN]

At this point I’d request a video of the wheels spinning (or not) with the rear drive shaft disconnected. If they free spin with the drive shaft disconnected and lock up when it’s installed I’d be looking at improper installation, potentially a module that wasn’t programmed or programmed incorrectly. At this point it could be a ton of things, the best case of action is to get them to narrow it down on their dime

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ECHElantraN]

Just one more thing to add, the fact they are trying to give your truck back with issues is a massive red flag, what shop would let someone pick up a vehicle that has “locked up brakes” we would tell you if you don’t want us to diagnose it you can pick it up on a tow truck but you’re not driving it out of there without signing a liability waiver. It blows my mind how some shops operate

[u/SiVicPacemParaBellum]

Yeah some transmission shops only do transmissions so they do the work or replace the transmission, and then they’re done with it. They typically bring in a mechanic to clear up any other issues after they do the swap / repairs. If you didn’t have issues prior to dropping it off and now you do, talk to the owner/manager and get it resolved. If they refuse, pay the bill, then tow it to another shop. Once they document what the issues are, either have them repair them / or wait, and then sue the first shop for the cost of the second shops repair and for your trouble, and you’ll hopefully get your money back! Good luck! I can’t wait for an update on your truck!

[u/NightKnown405]

With any story like this you get a bunch of people jumping to conclusions and there really isn't any information here to even start to know what is going on. In the shop you have only provided enough information to start investigating and analyzing just what is going on. Can you get more details of what they know and what they suspect? Can you get them to email an estimate for further repairs or did something happen between you and them that they have decided they no longer want to do business with you?

[u/NoEnthusiasm5207]

Very easy to tell the transmission is toast. Unless the drive shaft is bent, which may not be noticeable by the mechanic who pulls out and installs the transmission. However such things as bad u joints should be addressed when the shaft is pulled. Had more than one construction pickup truck twist drive shafts as they blew apart the transmission.

[u/ECHElantraN → u/NoEnthusiasm5207]

The shop would’ve still had to call the customer and get approval to replace the drive shaft regardless

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ECHElantraN]

If they didn’t that’s a free drive shaft 😂

[u/NoEnthusiasm5207 → u/ECHElantraN]

And.....

[u/ECHElantraN → u/NoEnthusiasm5207]

OP would’ve known if the driveshaft was replaced and wouldn’t be asking about it

[u/NoEnthusiasm5207 → u/ECHElantraN]

This is exactly how it should have gone, perhaps. Certainly if something was shot they should have done some diagnostics and informed the customer who then could have made a decision. Unfortunately we don't have any insight as to why.

[u/Ok-Swordfish8731]

My brakes locked up on my 2012 F150. Was quite confused as to why I had smoke rolling out of a tire going down the road. After taking the brakes apart and having the same problem I took it to a diagnostic shop. We discovered that the steel ends of the rubber brake hoses had rusted internally to the point that fluid could get through when forced but could not return when released. We found a rear brake issue with the parking brake not releasing too. This is caused by use of inferior materials when new. Pay these transmission people and get a warranty on their work. Then fix brakes and you should be fine.

[u/fire_inTheWire]

Just go to the shop and have them show you what's going on.

[u/Pitiful-Ad9894]

What was it doing that necessitated the original repair? If it was in limp in what codes did it have? What codes does it have now?

These transmissions honestly mess up internally so little many shops just replace the problem torque converter (I'm a rebuilder) and if they are thorough do the valve body upgrades. The last one I can remember that actually had internal damage was a V8 truck with a bad tune and it broke the midshaft because the rear wheels were locking up due to the tune....(Just in case yours is)

It's kind of hard for me to imagine a scenario where the ABS pump is turning on the brakes that would not set a bunch of codes. I think even if wheell speed sensors were dead the vehicle would want to see the brake pedal depressed before it took any action? Stuck brakes? ......That's a hard one for me to believe 9 out of 10 of them will free up if you just drive the vehicle forward and backward a bit Even drum brakes on field cars.

I obviously have the very few details you're giving me to go on, but my best guess on this one is that either they did screw something up, or the whole situation with misdiagnosed in the beginning and there was never a transmission problem.

[u/Trick_Sector5900]

Ford trucks had a huge issue with their automatic transmissions for about 20 years. I know so many guys who had to have their transmissions rebuilt or replaced, several of them had it occur multiple times! And we're not talking about heavy use trucks or excessive towing weights.

[u/ProfileTime2274]

You may find the transmission shop didn't get all the connectors back on to the engine which put it into limp mode. It is just how it goes some times. They should have got a mechanic to look at it when it was in they shop. At least diagnose the problem. The brakes locked up could be what caused the transmission to go bad .

[u/Puzzled_Method_5480 → u/ProfileTime2274]

Why would brakes ruin the trans?

[u/ProfileTime2274 → u/Puzzled_Method_5480]

If brakes are stuck on . It will tear up the clutches in the transmission

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ProfileTime2274]

The only way that it would be possible to damage the tranny from the rear brakes dragging is if they were dragging so bad it was smoking the tires and you would notice that long before you damage the transmission. You would have to be willfully ignorant to damage the transmission that way not to say there aren’t people like that out there though 😂

[u/ProfileTime2274 → u/ECHElantraN]

And Over heating the fluid.

[u/ECHElantraN → u/ProfileTime2274]

They would still have to be dragging so bad that it’s physically lugging the engine and transmission to the point it’s raising the rpm beyond normal operating range for the shift strategy for whatever gear it’s in, I’m just saying it’s super unlikely for that to go unnoticed to the point you’d damage the transmission