Hey Unbeatabull.

smac, Aug 4, 12:58pm
Roughly what's the cost (to the customer) of an FG 90k service (engine, diff and trans)! Ta
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:15pm
About 3.5-4+ hours labour, depending on what else is done at 90k. Most Ford Dealers are around $100/hour these days.

Depending on if STD or LSD diff, takes 1.8L of oil. around $50 for for the good stuff, STD stuff is cheaper.

6 Speed Trans Oil I believe is around 60-70$ p/l now. Depending on if yours is a steel pan or plastic pan it will take either 4-6L of the stuff. The Steel pan doesn't have a bung so has to be completely removed which means more oil comes out = more to go back in. Although, it is quite common for the loom seal at the rear of the trans to leak so pay to get this checked at the same time, as you have to remove the pan to replace it.

Fuel filter is also due at 90k, cheap part though, around $40-50. I also always clean out the throttle body at 90k as they start giving trouble of being carboned up around 120k. If a dealer does this you also have to reset the adaptive learning on the ECU which they will most likely charge out a Diagnostic Tool charge as well. I think ours is $40, not sure on others.

So your looking around $7-800 for a basic one, assuming it doesn't need any brake pads etc done as well.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:19pm
In saying that, it is quite common for them to blow out to around as much as $1200.

By the time you also factor in other things likely due like Coolant, B/F, air filters, set of pads and a balljoint or two in the rear end.
gunhand, Aug 4, 1:28pm
Don't take this wrong, but do ever wonder why cars don't get serviced!
$1200 foroil and a few checks and pads!.
I guess thats what happens when they take the ability away from the home handy man. Mind you home handy mens work prob keep ya busy to lol.
smac, Aug 4, 1:28pm
Thanks heaps for that. Just eyeballing a car that I know wasn't done, so wanted to factor this into price. Cheers
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:35pm
Not just oil and a few checks. That is factoring in parts actually being replaced. Would be another couple of hours labour as well.

But yes, if I was doing the job myself it would cost under half that . as I wouldn't have to cover all the overheads of staff, power, get parts at cost price etc.

A straight service with just oil and filter and checking all joints, brakes etc is around $350.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:37pm
The only real concern with the Falcon (And Territories) around this mileage and over 100k is any knocks from the suspension, particularly in the rear. It is common on them, and can get quite expensive - trailing arm bushes, rear balljoints, sway bar links, shock bushes etc all relatively common to knock/make noise.
gunhand, Aug 4, 1:40pm
Again, don't take it this wrong way. I reckon anyone charging $100 an hour should have veiwing rooms to enable the customer to watch there doller isn't wasted buy some mechanic more interested in chatting up the receptionest than working on my car.Could be bit harder on the big jobs lol, need a bedroom at the shop.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:43pm
Not taking it the wrong way . but our customer room is right next to our workshop and has windows into so they can watch! Sometimes depending on the customer, us guys are watching them as well! haha
gunhand, Aug 4, 1:45pm
Thats good then.Mind you be expensive taking a day off to watch ya being serviced and a wast of a holiday day lol.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:45pm
And hey I agree Re: Labour. I'm one of the tech's on the floor and I think its ridiculous that someone is essentially paying $100/hour for me to work on their car, considering how little of a percentage of that actually comes down to us doing the work. But when you factor in all the overheads that a dealer workshop has to cover with genuine/specialty tools, diagnostic's etc, as well as in our example the sheer size of our workshop it is understandable.
mugenb20b, Aug 4, 1:48pm
Slightly OT, but can I ask how do you fill the auto trans on a BA or FG Falcon!
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:51pm
Which trans is it! 4/5/6 Speed!
mugenb20b, Aug 4, 1:52pm
The one with a plastic sump, ZF 6 speed I think.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 1:59pm
Yup, the pain in the ass one! Has a filler bung on the side just above the sump. However the filler hole is too low, you will only get around 2L in before it starts leaking out. We generally put 4L in as a start (quickly putting the bung in when we pull the hose out from our suction pump). Then you have to start it up, and run it through the gears, each gear for 3 seconds in order - Park - R - N - D - Tiptronic 1st - 2nd - D - N - R - Park again. Then pull the bung out with it still running in park and fill up till it runs out, then same procedure again until it runs out when you pull the bung out. Usually only have to do once or twice.

Other thing is it isn't meant to exceed 80 degrees as the fluid expands and you won't get as much in. In reality, as long as you haven't had it running for more then 5-10 minutes you should be fine.
mugenb20b, Aug 4, 2:03pm
Thank you very much for the info. I thought there would be a trick to it due to that low level mounted filler plug.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 2:09pm
Yup. Generally the plastic ones take around 4.5-5L assuming you just drained out of the bung in the sump.
smac, Aug 4, 2:11pm
Why wouldn't you drop the pan!
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 2:13pm
Some people are lazy, and it has about 30 screws holding it on!
the-lada-dude, Aug 4, 2:26pm
what !don'tlisten to him mugenb20bthere'san easier way !it's just sort of the same deal as removing spark plugs either from the top or bottom of the engine. just use a sharp stanley knife to cut a chunk out of the carpet on top of the trany tunnel, then a hammer and sharpened screw driver will make quick work of the floor pan, once your through there you'll likely find a screw or bolt you can rip out of the trany case, and hey presto ! gravitys on your side. if ya cant find a suitable bolt, just drill a hole at about the right place and use a rubber bung / kneed it once finished. that ados F 2 sticks every thing down again.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 2:28pm
A hole saw and drill would be a little quicker then a hammer and screwdriver!
smac, Aug 4, 2:32pm
Ha fair enough.
mugenb20b, Aug 4, 2:40pm
Well.I do wonder why they made them like that. It's almost like the transmission was designed by two separate firms who forgot to talk to each other.
unbeatabull, Aug 4, 2:45pm
We did get told when they first came out, but in reality it just sounded like they f#cked up and bullshitted there way to find a reason! haha