The saga continues (Focus)

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Nick R

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So last update had the TCM replaced by the Ford dealer. Was great at first, and then the shuddering came back, worse than it's ever been. It's especially bad after driving on the highway for a while. For example, this past weekend I drove to New Jersey, and when I got stuck in traffic on NJ-17 and the Turnpike, it was absolutely awful, my friend who was with me asked if it was going to die. I had to explain no, but it's obnoxious. And to top things off, this past week my A/C stopped working as well. Worked one day, didn't the next. The compressor still came on, but it wasn't cold at all. Picked up a recharge kit from Advance, was low, so I recharged it, hoping that's all it was. Well, the next day it was slightly cool at best, 2nd day nothing again. Since I wanted A/C for the trip to NJ, I recharged it again since I knew it would work for a day or two. Then stopped working again sure as [censored].

Had an appointment with the dealer this morning, they are going to replace my clutch pack under warranty (again), reprogram the TCM (again). In addition, they discovered one of the refrigerant lines to the compressor is leaking, and they are going to replace that and recharge. Fortunately that ended up only being $350 including the $150 diagnostic fee, but still obnoxious. I'd like to know why it's leaking, if it was related to the accident in June I can't believe it took 3+ months to show up, especially when it all immediately leaks out again within a couple of days. I was reading that the compressor belt can rub against it, so I'm going to have them look into it tomorrow when I bring it back in to be fixed. Could have been a lot worse I guess, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that I'm having to pay to fix the A/C on a
 
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In regards to filing under the Lemon Law, I assume you are the original owner of this vehicle,.,,,,, purchased new by you?

If not and purchased thru a private owner of this Focus, then good luck winning your Lemon Law complaint. Manufacturers are often protected, when vehicle abuse could have occurred with the vehicle's prior owner,

Also, be sure to get possession of the old, replaced refrigerant line..... for proof of another insurance claim.
 
I missed the previous thread...at what mileage did the shudder begin, is there a chance of solving under warranty and if so, have they replaced the transmission yet?
 
This is one of those DCT's that Ford tried out, right?

I wonder if the ac line is a fluke. Sometimes things just up and die; one good repair and it's good to go. Still, that plus the clutch issue would leave me with a bad taste in my mount too. Sorry man. Hopefully the ac fix does the trick, and that's done with; and hopefully Ford will get behind this transmission issue.
 
Originally Posted By: Kuato
I missed the previous thread...at what mileage did the shudder begin, is there a chance of solving under warranty and if so, have they replaced the transmission yet?


So I've had intermittent shudder issues since about 15k miles. I purchased the vehicle brand new with like 12 miles on it. It suffered from input shaft seal leak and destroyed the clutches at 30k, when they were replaced. I've had it back for the TCM to be reprogrammed several times since then. In June I was in an accident that resulted in the Transmission (but not the clutch, actuators, or TCM) being replaced with a junkyard trans under insurance claim. Following that, the TCM was replaced by Ford under warranty about 2 months ago I think. This is being covered under warranty as well. The transmission problems are covered up to 7 years/100k miles under extended warranty. But the shudder has returned worse than it's ever been. I'm hopeful the new clutch pack (I think they are on revision like H of the clutch pack by now or something, I think I have rev E now.

At least it'll tide me over till I'm ready to trade it in on something else :P
 
This is exactly why I would never own a late model Focus or Fiesta with the DCT. My Fiesta has the 5-speed manual & it's been 100% trouble free & reliable.

The A/C problem just seems like a random issue, likely not common. I wish you the best with your car, keep us updated!
 
Mind-boggling quantity of posts about this on the Focus forums. That's one bad transmission that doesn't seem to be getting any better, even for 2016.

I bought a 2012 Titanium before having done any research on the car, and the horror stories made my toes curl. Mine never did any of the lurching or hesitating, but it did exhibit some odd behavior that I knew I'd never be able to have diagnosed, because it was only once-in-a-while. When I'd slow down to about 20 mph and re-accelerate, it would stop up-shifting after 3rd gear, even while driving 55 mph. I'd drive a while like that, and then finally put it in manual mode and force it to upshift. After a few more instances of that, I traded it in before the real drama started. Too bad....really liked everything else about the car.

Good luck to you. From the reading I've done on the Focus Forums, I'd venture to say your troubles will continue until they replace the entire transmission. At that point, pray you get a good unit. There are some folks on the forums that have never had any troubles, which is part of what makes this issue so puzzling.

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Those transmissions sound absolutely awful. Sounds like a good candidate to be traded in at 99k miles.
 
It's terrible how Ford ruined such a nice car with an awful transmission.

I wouldn't be surprised if the AC issue was from your wreck. It has started to cool down now. My Jeep has a small leak in the AC. It will work all summer and never lose any, and the instant the temperature hits 30 , I lose all the refrigerant.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Those transmissions sound absolutely awful. Sounds like a good candidate to be traded in at 99k miles.


+1. I'd be trading that car in ASAP. Get as much value as you can even if you are gonna lose.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Kuato
I missed the previous thread...at what mileage did the shudder begin, is there a chance of solving under warranty and if so, have they replaced the transmission yet?


So I've had intermittent shudder issues since about 15k miles. I purchased the vehicle brand new with like 12 miles on it. It suffered from input shaft seal leak and destroyed the clutches at 30k, when they were replaced. I've had it back for the TCM to be reprogrammed several times since then. In June I was in an accident that resulted in the Transmission (but not the clutch, actuators, or TCM) being replaced with a junkyard trans under insurance claim. Following that, the TCM was replaced by Ford under warranty about 2 months ago I think. This is being covered under warranty as well. The transmission problems are covered up to 7 years/100k miles under extended warranty. But the shudder has returned worse than it's ever been. I'm hopeful the new clutch pack (I think they are on revision like H of the clutch pack by now or something, I think I have rev E now.

At least it'll tide me over till I'm ready to trade it in on something else :P


Fwiw:

1) They aren't all like this
2) The TCM is warranted for 10 years/150k, the clutch 7/100

What in the world happened in the accident to require a transmission, but not clutch/TCM module? This, and the pedigree of whatever replacement transmission was installed, seem to me to be big contributors to your problems.
 
Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Kuato
I missed the previous thread...at what mileage did the shudder begin, is there a chance of solving under warranty and if so, have they replaced the transmission yet?


So I've had intermittent shudder issues since about 15k miles. I purchased the vehicle brand new with like 12 miles on it. It suffered from input shaft seal leak and destroyed the clutches at 30k, when they were replaced. I've had it back for the TCM to be reprogrammed several times since then. In June I was in an accident that resulted in the Transmission (but not the clutch, actuators, or TCM) being replaced with a junkyard trans under insurance claim. Following that, the TCM was replaced by Ford under warranty about 2 months ago I think. This is being covered under warranty as well. The transmission problems are covered up to 7 years/100k miles under extended warranty. But the shudder has returned worse than it's ever been. I'm hopeful the new clutch pack (I think they are on revision like H of the clutch pack by now or something, I think I have rev E now.

At least it'll tide me over till I'm ready to trade it in on something else :P


Fwiw:

1) They aren't all like this
2) The TCM is warranted for 10 years/150k, the clutch 7/100

What in the world happened in the accident to require a transmission, but not clutch/TCM module? This, and the pedigree of whatever replacement transmission was installed, seem to me to be big contributors to your problems.


lol, no. So the problem was hitting a big piece of iron in the middle of the highway in Cleveland after midnight, which broke the steering rack in half, and broke the transmission housing, ripping the trans mount right off of the transmission itself. Only the transmission itself needed replaced, the actuators, clutches, and TCM were all carried over. The transmission itself is fine, the clutch is the problem. as is the problem on almost all of these. Even the dealer says they replace multiple of these weekly, some people have had 4 clutches on their cars.
 
We had one that was thankfully a lease. Turned it in and never looked back. Trans problems multiple times, passenger window was stuck down twice with new regulators, shock tower issues. It was a 2013, so not the first year they were out.
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
When can you lemon law it?



Seeems the accident is going to throw a wrench in to using the lemon law. IMHO.
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
When can you lemon law it?


I'm trying to find out what the upper limit of age/mileage is on a car to do a lemon law claim.
 
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
When can you lemon law it?



Seeems the accident is going to throw a wrench in to using the lemon law. IMHO.


Not 100%, but I think the magnusson moss might help here, I'd really have to talk to a lemon law lawyer most likely.
 
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