Countryside Motors

Truck purchased from Countryside Motors, Conway, Arkansas needs $5000 repairs before 500 miles The total amount for our repairs and expenses, including towing for our 2010 Ford F150 purchased in June of 20 needs $5000 repairs before 500 miles The total amount for our repairs and expenses, including towing for our 2010 Ford F150 purchased in June of 2023, was nearly $5,000 before driving it 500 miles. Note: “Shop A” is a general purpose automotive shop. “Shop B” is an automatic transmission shop. CSM refers to Countryside Motors. CSM –Transmission flush including (3) LubeGard Shudder Fix –– $369.15 Shop A – Alternator, belt, tensioner pulley, 3 idlers, battery, and labor –– 1,045.99 Shop B –Transmission rebuild (torque converter etc,) –– 3,415.67 Towing (to Shop A, then to Shop B) –– 120.87 Total ––– $4,951.68 I ordered a flush of F150's transmission by CSM the day we made the purchase. I took possession of vehicle three days after the flush was completed. When I reached hilly terrain (less that 50 miles later), I encountered the first problem. Stopping on an any upgrade, I had to press on the accelerator prior to releasing the brake pressure. Otherwise a loud “clunk” and a jerk occurred. The transmission shifted harshly during a 300+ mile trip, and acutely more so returning the next day. We cut our trip short. The distinct change overnight prompted me to see if part of the problem was a slow transmission fluid leak, so several days after we returned, I placed cardboard underneath. A few days later, there was a T. fluid spot about 2 ft by 3 ft. Reaching a drop of red fluid beneath the transmission was a real challenge. CSM emailed me to tow it to a repair shop. Shop A was unable to add T. fluid. The dipstick metal cap was broken off from the threaded part inside the transmission housing. Shop A provided the error code P0741. I researched the P0741 code. It defines a serious transmission problem. “Driving a vehicle (with a P074X code) may cause damage to other internal transmission parts. A P0741 DTC in itself is very serious and should be addressed as soon as possible and handled with adequate repairs.” (Kelly Blue Book). “A P0741 code is typically triggered by a faulty torque converter, but it can also be caused by a worn TCC valve, or internal transmission failure, among other issues.” (Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com). Shop B informed me that it would need extensive repairs. I now knew that driving the 130 miles to CSM may make matters worse (per Kelly Blue Book). I had Shop B do the repairs. They provided me with the broken cap. The mechanic demonstrated how the cap was held in place (via friction) by the dipstick, which prevented it from falling off. My photo of the broken cap has the two pieces lying side-by-side. It can be seen that the cap yielded between the threaded section and the nut section of the cap. The vehicle also needed extensive work by Shop A on the alternator system and a new battery. I sent two letters to CSM in late summer requesting that we discuss an equitable cost-sharing formula with CSM for the transmission repair. The only communication that I have received was a phone call on Aug. 28. The caller began the conversation regarding the truck by declaring (and I paraphrase) the vehicle left there in good condition. I do not recall the caller mentioning any of the points presented in the two sources quoted above. Instead of addressing “adequate repairs”, I heard solutions that were not helpful. Assuming that the unidentified caller represented CSM, he should have been aware that my e-mail of Aug. 3 to CSM included the P0741 error code (among others) provided by Shop A. It is worth noting that Shop B agreed with the above quoted sources, even though I had never discussed any of my research with Shop B’s staff. At the end of the conversation I was made a monetary offer that I did not consider to be an *equitable* cost-sharing resolution. It was only a small fraction of my total expense to have the transmission repaired. I cannot comment further as I never recei More