RDU Speed Sensor

[Transplant]

I really hate to be "that guy" but I'm seriously questioning a recent repair quote I got from my dealer. I have an AWD Powertrain fault, just had the truck in to check it out. It came back as an RDU Speed Sensor Failure, I am being quoted $600 including the diagnostics charge and including a 60% discount as a favor from Ford apparently. The job is going to take all day (once parts come in).

I looked up similar issues through this forum and best I can tell it's a $75 part, there's one bolt, and it sits on the top of the RDU. Is it not easily accessible or something? I'm just really unsure about how much I am being charged and how long this is supposed to take, it just doesn't seem right to me. if anyone is familiar with this repair and could enlighten me I would greatly appreciate it.

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[HeyBales]

Here's a post that contained another option besides dealer.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...t-k2gz9e731b-rdu-speed-sensor-location.63469/

 

[bgn]

Yes, it really is that easy. And yes, they do want to bend you over. Don't let them.

 

[inline_five]

I really hate to be "that guy" but I'm seriously questioning a recent repair quote I got from my dealer. I have an AWD Powertrain fault, just had the truck in to check it out. It came back as an RDU Speed Sensor Failure, I am being quoted $600 including the diagnostics charge and including a 60% discount as a favor from Ford apparently. The job is going to take all day (once parts come in).

I looked up similar issues through this forum and best I can tell it's a $75 part, there's one bolt, and it sits on the top of the RDU. Is it not easily accessible or something? I'm just really unsure about how much I am being charged and how long this is supposed to take, it just doesn't seem right to me. if anyone is familiar with this repair and could enlighten me I would greatly appreciate it.

There was a member here quoted over $1000 to replace the temp sensor. To get to it you don't even need to remove the front bumper but if you do, it's about a 15-20 min job. Sensor is like $15.

Dealers have really upped their service costs since Covid. Definitely the main source of profit for them.

 

[colinl]

Yes, it really is that easy. And yes, they do want to bend you over. Don't let them.

looks extremely easy unless the wire is damaged.

 

[Transplant]

Thanks all. I didn't get a chance to check the sensor location after I picked up the truck yesterday but I'll have a look tonight. I'm trying my best to give the benefit of the doubt here, maybe they're quoting an RDU fluid change as well at the very least, but as long as I can access the sensor with no issues I'm likely going to take this job on myself (including changing the fluid) and save myself a good bit of money in the process.

 

[Transplant]

Just a follow-up to this. I stopped in at my dealer yesterday to pay my bill for the diagnostics charge and see what I could learn.

First off, my dealer charges $175 an hour. Holy smokes. That alone is enough of a reason to not go back to the dealer for anything not recall related at this point. I'm out $175 for an hour of plugging a code reader into my truck.

As for the sensor, my dealer is charging $200 for the sensor that I can get from another dealer for $75. Another knock against my local dealer.

As for the sensor, I found it under the truck, it's easily accessible on the top of the RDU, one bolt and one electrical connector. Ford schedules for 5-7 hours of labour because apparently the sensor breaks on removal every single time. This info comes from a technician and I have no reason to doubt that it's true. apparently once it's broken it requires dropping the RDU to access the broken part and dig it out (not sure what process they use to dig the broken sensor out), requiring a full day of effort.

I'm going to order the part from the dealer charging $75, and I'm going to cross my fingers I can get this sensor out without breaking it. I'll update on my process when I eventually get around to following through on it.

 

[colinl]

Ford schedules for 5-7 hours of labour because apparently the sensor breaks on removal every single time. This info comes from a technician and I have no reason to doubt that it's true.

I have reason to doubt that is true.

You'll be fine.

 

[Transplant]

Oh I have no doubt that I'll figure it out if need be, and I'll definitely plan to be extra careful on the removal part. I just don't really want to blame the technician. I have plenty of reasons to be unhappy with the service I get from Ford, but that guy probably doesn't see nearly enough of that $175 hourly charge to care if he's heavy handed with a cheap plastic sensor that shouldn't have been installed in the first place if it can't come out in one piece 99 times out of 100. This entire design/installation is absolute trash by Ford. We have a part that is vital to the AWD system failing at 90,000 kms, and may or may not require 5-7 hours of labour when it breaks in the differential. It's the customer that suffers every single time, I just consider myself lucky that I can deal with it myself and don't have to pay over a grand on a 3 year truck for a cheap plastic part.

 

[bgn]

Oh I have no doubt that I'll figure it out if need be, and I'll definitely plan to be extra careful on the removal part. I just don't really want to blame the technician. I have plenty of reasons to be unhappy with the service I get from Ford, but that guy probably doesn't see nearly enough of that $175 hourly charge to care if he's heavy handed with a cheap plastic sensor that shouldn't have been installed in the first place if it can't come out in one piece 99 times out of 100. This entire design/installation is absolute trash by Ford. We have a part that is vital to the AWD system failing at 90,000 kms, and may or may not require 5-7 hours of labour when it breaks in the differential. It's the customer that suffers every single time, I just consider myself lucky that I can deal with it myself and don't have to pay over a grand on a 3 year truck for a cheap plastic part.

Are you out of warranty? Should be covered by the powertrain warranty...5 years/100k in Canada, if im not mistaken.

 

[Transplant]

I also thought a powertrain failure would be covered under the powertrain warranty, but apparently not. I'm at 90K and 3 years. I looked through the warranty and it seemed that electrical sensors were not included, but I could be wrong. I'd be willing to call other dealers around if there's any chance it could be covered though.

 

[colinl]

I expect it to be like an abs wheel speed sensor, but I've never looked closely at one.

I also thought a powertrain failure would be covered under the powertrain warranty, but apparently not. I'm at 90K and 3 years. I looked through the warranty and it seemed that electrical sensors were not included, but I could be wrong. I'd be willing to call other dealers around if there's any chance it could be covered though.

it's a required, functional, non-wear component of the RDU so that does seem to be obviously part of the powertrain and should be covered.

 

[NycGoose]

Hey, 57k miles my mav with the same sensor rdu speed sensor failure. I tried 3 different local dealers and all of them said warranty wont cover even with the extended. Sadly i was quoted 650 to change it and plan to attempt myself for the same reasons.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

It's easily accessible on the top of the RDU, one bolt and one electrical connector, you'll be fine no worries

 

[Transplant]

It's easily accessible on the top of the RDU, one bolt and one electrical connector, you'll be fine no worries

Don’t plan on it being this simple unfortunately. You’re not wrong, it’s one electrical connector and one bolt, they do come out easy. Unfortunately no matter how careful you are and how hard you try, that sensor will separate into two pieces on removal, and the piece in the housing will be absolutely welded to the housing. Plan on spending some time drilling it out and fighting with it. The only thing to be careful of when drilling is there’s a magnet in the bottom of that piece that will be stuck, don’t lose that in the Rdu. Helps to remove the spare tire for a bit of space under there because you’re going to be under there for a while.

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