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Ford Focus Transmission Problems
Hi everyone... My girlfriend owns a 2003 Focus. (I don't know the trim, but it's a 4 dour sedan with the SOHC engine.)
Anyhow, the automatic transmission slips badly between all gears, esp. when accelerating harder. The car is under warranty but the dealership appears to me to do everything (and charge for it) but to actually get their hands dirty with the tranny...
Any suggestions? How do you get a Ford dealership to stop pulling your chain?
Thanks! J
Anyhow, the automatic transmission slips badly between all gears, esp. when accelerating harder. The car is under warranty but the dealership appears to me to do everything (and charge for it) but to actually get their hands dirty with the tranny...
Any suggestions? How do you get a Ford dealership to stop pulling your chain?
Thanks! J
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Comments
Marj
While I didn't have the clutch problem you described, I did notice odd smells (like burning plastic) coming from one of the dashboard vents after the second fix attempt. I too ascribed the smell to "burning off the newness". Perhaps this is not related to the clutch at all. But for what it's worth, my original dealer thought he had to replace the clutch when that was not the problem.
I too had this problem (burning smell) when I first got my 04 ZX3. Took it back to the dealer and they determined it was a cleaning agent used during the detail process. They cleaned the engine up and I never smelled it again.
My ZX3 is just over 1 year old and has over 42,200 miles on it. No real problems with the car to speak of, clutch is still like new.
Igor
What year was your Focus? I ask because I wonder if Ford has
redesigned this flaw. I wonder if you can make a lemon law claim?
I have a 06 Focus ZX5 automatic with only a few hundred miles on it. Noticed, that in one instance when I brake hard then ease up on the brake (squeeze)and come to a stop the tranny hangs in second gear too long, and then shifts in to first giving the car a noticeable jolt. Other times brake hard then do a rolling stop and than back on the gas the tranny hangs in second then shifts to first gear abruptly. Under normal braking the downshifts are smooth. Asked the dealer about it but they say there is no technical service bulletin issued by Ford and they believe this is normal for this tranny. They did not sound too convincing, so I would like to ask you guys for your opinion on this shifting pattern for the Focus. Is it normal or I have a bad tranny? Thanks for your help.
Okay, so I get back from a short trip and the next day struggle to get the car in reverse. It will not do this (the reverse lights won't even come on) and the car instead drives forward. Clutch and all other gears seem to work fine, just can't get that reverse gear to engage.
Anyone had this problem before?
Mark.
Remember there is no syncro on reverse.
Thanks
At approximately 43,000 miles I had to take my Focus to get the transmission repaired. I did this at an authorized Ford dealer in Huntington Beach, CA. Repairs were made and I was on my way. At approximately 73,000 miles I was having the same issues and again was delivered to an authorized Ford Service center. They weren't able to find any problems with the transmission, however they found $429 in other repairs I "needed". I took the car back another time at about 74,500 to be looked at again without the dealer finding any problems.
Now, I am at 75,420 - 420 miles past my ESP Warranty and according to the dealer I need a new Transmission. I've been through all of the 800 numbers I can find and they all say there is nothing they can do and I am screwed. Actually one of the ladies hung up on me!!
2 transmissions in 75k miles and Ford is telling me that is MY problem. I took out a 5 year loan on the vehicle, I owe $3500 still and according to Ford I need $2,900 in repairs on a car that might be work $3,000... Thanks Ford! I will never buy a Ford again!!
Mark.
I went to Ford's customer service website and tried to e-mail them, but the page didn't load correctly both times I tried. All I can say is that EVERYONE needs to call their dealer and/or Ford's customer service line so they are forced to acknowledge the problem.
Here's the Ford number: 1-800-392-3673
I'm going to start shopping for a new car immediately.
It was actually my girlfriend who took the car in and as usual it was the computer that told the mechanic where the problem lay... Must be nice that.. Never have to find the problem yourself. Well enough of mocking todays auto mechanics.... Almost...
My girlfriend was told what the problem was in this case it is a faulty shift solenoid that was faulty. Fine I'll accept that, what I wouldn't accept is that the mechanic said it would be fine to drive about normally until it could be repaired. NOT FINE... My girlfriend drives like a maniac at times and I can only imagine what would happend to the head, head gasket and con rods if she were driving it around in third (Through 'D') and was going at any speed when it suddenly dropped back down into second. Engine braking is fine on a manual when it is controlled and this isn't a diesel so isn't designed to cope with the high pressures involved.
Do yourself a favour and drive the car in second so you have no unexpected shifts. This car was second hand and had 60,000 on the clock so you know. The action I am taking is to change out the entire solenoid valve shift assembly and housing and replace it. $750 inc tax.
P0750 Shift solenoid (SS) A - Circuit malfunction
P0751 Shift solenoid (SS) A - performance or stuck off
P0752 Shift solenoid (SS) A - stuck on
P0753 Shift solenoid (SS) A - electrical
P0754 Shift solenoid (SS) A - circuit intermittent
P0755 Shift solenoid (SS) B - Circuit malfunction
P0756 Shift solenoid (SS) B - performance or stuck off
P0757 Shift solenoid (SS) B - stuck on
P0758 Shift solenoid (SS) B - electrical
P0759 Shift solenoid (SS) B - circuit intermittent
P0760 Shift solenoid (SS) C - Circuit malfunction
P0761 Shift solenoid (SS) C - performance or stuck off
P0762 Shift solenoid (SS) C - stuck on
P0763 Shift solenoid (SS) C - electrical
P0764 Shift solenoid (SS) C - circuit intermittent
P0765 Shift solenoid (SS) D - Circuit malfunction
P0766 Shift solenoid (SS) D - performance or stuck off
P0767 Shift solenoid (SS) D - stuck on
P0768 Shift solenoid (SS) D - electrical
P0769 Shift solenoid (SS) D - circuit intermittent
P0770 Shift solenoid (SS) E - Circuit malfunction
P0771 Shift solenoid (SS) E - performance or stuck off
P0772 Shift solenoid (SS) E - stuck on
P0773 Shift solenoid (SS) E - electrical
P0774 Shift solenoid (SS) E - circuit intermittent
I have a 2005 Ford Focus ZX4 (manual transmission). Recently I've noticed that while driving at 35mph or above (usually in 4th or 5th), the transmission seems to "hitch" or "skip" (not sure how to best to describe this...). Additionally, occasionally when I go to start the vehicle it doesn't always turn-over immediately. Both of these things don't happen on a regular basis but just every now and then...
I know that I need to take it into a garage to get it looked at but I wanted to find out if anyone else out there had any information on these 2 issues? Any idea(s) about repair costs?
Thanks much,
Seth
Someone tell me I'm wrong but I understand that ONLY a franchised dealer can sell "new" Fords.
For the purpose of this discussion, I consider a car used once it is titled.
Did you do the trans service every 30k?
Most people DO not understand that 61,000 miles of stop and go traffic over 6 years is way way harder on a auto trans then 61,000 of mostly highway miles over 3 years. You could easily have put the car through the number of shifts in 61,000 miles of city driveing that someone else does in 150,000 of mostly highway miles.
IMHO if you do not follow the scheduled maintenence in the owners manual, you have only yourself to blame for problems.
Mark.
I bought my 2003 Ford Focus SE as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. One aspect of that purchase was that it had extended warranties out the wahoo. Another was that it was supposedly certified to have never been in a collision. The warranties are real, but the other one is false. The car had been wrecked, the hood had been replaced and painted in a repair shop. This was pointed out to me by an insurance adjustor during a later claim. Anyway, being a good little puppy I took the Focus to a nearby very well regarded dealer for a 30,000 mile service.
At that time I mentioned that on a couple of occasions it had slipped out of gear momentarily. The dealer promptly rebuilt the transmission under warranty. No jacking around.
Lately, on a few occasions the transmission has delivered a very momentary blip. Today, though, in trying to accelerate from 40mph on a service road to 60mph on a highway, the transaxle crapped out and wouldn't leave second gear. I was about 4 miles from the previously mentioned dealer and managed to limp into their service drive with no further destruction. This dealership has treated me so good, I'll say their name, Sam Pack's Five Star Ford in Lewisville, TX.
What do I expect? I expect them to make it as good as new under the extended warranty, and charge me a small deductible, just like the paperwork says. That's the way they've been treating me ever since I've been doing business with them, and I don't regret a bit of it.
The service advisor checked the transaxle fluid and remarked that it was discolored. The mileage on the vehicle is about 56000 miles, and by-the-book transaxle service would have been done at 60000. When I get it back, though, I'm going to move that transaxle service interval to 15000 miles.
These are just machines. You use them, and they wear out. You maintain them, and they last forever. This one is under warranty so the cost out of pocket will be low, but I'm highly educated on transaxle issues now. 15,000 mile interval for transaxle service, and it will be ok.
Also it takes up to six weeks for a repair to appear on the vehicle history report. The dealer was probably aware of the repair though.
Mark.
They also found that the timing belt pulley was loose. That repair was warranted. The air mass sensor was not.
The AMS part & labor was a little over $500. Ow!
Anyway, the car runs good now, and the transaxle fluid is bright pink.
Mark, I've read one place on the internet where a CPO means that the car is not to have been in a collision. That differs materially from saying that a car may not have been salvaged. The part known to have been replaced was the hood, and I never asked for a vehicle history report.
I've got the car and the payments, and it runs good.
I'm not converted to the "Fix Or Repair Daily" religion yet.
As a postscript, the first shop will just be be doing tire and alignment work for me henceforth and maybe an occasional oil change.
I'm hoping to find a lightly used '07 ZX5 next summer, to replace the faithful old Escort.
The problem is that VIN character 8 seems to indicate displacement and nothing more, as the same character can be a PZEV or not.
AFTER 05, no 2.3L were PZEV and so if you have an 05 though 07 with a 2.3L, you do not have PZEV.
For 05 to 07, PZEVs are mandatory in the 5 CA emissions states. If you live in CA emissions state, you have PZEV.
PZEV is also available in cross border states. If you live next to a state that requires CA emissions, open your hood and if you see a sticker that says "this car is certified for sale in CA" then you have PZEV. If you see "this car is certified for sale in all 50 states" then you do not have PZEV.
Mark.
Mark.
Older Focuses required trans service at 30k I believe.
Mark.
The engine light when on and we checked the errors -- thermostat and gas cap. Hubby changed the thermostat and we tightened the gas cap.
She drove it 40 mins and then from a stop sign it wouldn't go past 35 miles an hour without it engaging. Our reliable transmission people state that third and fourth gear are shot within the transmission. Before hearing again from them I'd like to ask...
Questions: Is it worth fixing? Is it best to swap the who trans out or fix the internal issue? Was there a recall situation, we are not aware of? Could this car have more mileage on it that we see on the gage? If so, how so?
I was so proud of her paying cash for this car....She she trade it in (running of course) for a newer dealer Toyota?
Thanks!!