While driving through 110° Mojave Desert heat, my Ford F-150's 10-speed transmission suddenly started hunting for gears before slipping out completely. I looked down and saw the transmission temperature climbing to 235°F...and that's when the panic set in.
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, Courage and I break down exactly what happened, why Eco Mode may have caused the issue, how Tow/Haul Mode helped save the truck, and what every truck owner should know before taking a long road trip through extreme heat.
Along the way we also discuss:
✅ The Avants San Diego car community
✅ Preparing your vehicle for long road trips
✅ Tire safety and dry rot
✅ Ford's 10-speed transmission
✅ Transmission temperatures explained
✅ Alfa Romeo reliability stories
✅ Dealership experiences
✅ Why modern trucks are smarter—but sometimes more complicated
If you own a Ford F-150, Bronco, Mustang, Expedition, or any vehicle equipped with Ford's 10-speed automatic transmission, this episode may help you avoid a very expensive mistake.
00:00 Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
01:10 Summer Road Trips & Car Events
04:50 Inside the Avants San Diego Car Meet
09:35 Vinyl Records, Music & Car Culture
15:05 Networking in the Car Community
18:30 Alfa Romeo Reliability & Dealer Horror Stories
24:15 Planning the Las Vegas Road Trip
28:10 Discount Tire vs. Ford Dealer Inspection
33:40 Why Old Tires Can Be Dangerous
37:15 Heading Into 110° Desert Heat
41:10 My Ford F-150 Transmission Starts Acting Up
44:20 Transmission Hits 235°F
46:55 ChatGPT Helps Diagnose the Problem
50:10 Eco Mode vs. Tow/Haul Mode Explained
54:35 Monitoring Transmission Temperature
58:20 Did the Transmission Survive?
1:02:15 Should You Rent a Car for Long Road Trips?
1:06:20 Final Lessons & Advice for Truck Owners
1:10:57 End
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💬 Have you ever had a transmission overheat or a vehicle almost leave you stranded? Tell us your story in the comments!
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🌐 Cool Cars with Chris Website:https://coolcarswithchris.com
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