DCT / PowerShift Transmission Update TSB Thread

[bsp_53]

I got my car back this afternoon. They were not able to isolate what I thought was a driver's side upper strut mount issue, but that's OK. If it wasn't a rogue ice chunk, the problem should become more obvious and easier to diagnose over time.

The transmission work was done (new seals, clutch assembly, etc. TSB 11-12-13). As expected, it shifts like a dream. The dealer indicated that so far none of the seal / clutch assembly jobs they have done have come back with the same problem. I am hoping / expecting that the new seals are superior and will hold up. I was pleasantly suprised with improved gas mileage on the drive home. That trip with winter tires usually gets me 37.1 - 37.3 mpg. Coming home today I got 39.3!! Besides being a few degrees warmer (28F instead of 18F, the only difference is the clutches not being contaminated with gear oil. It is logical to expect better efficiency, I just didn't expect to see any kind of noticable improvement in the numbers. Only time will tell.

[cuozc]

Originally Posted by bsp_53

I got my car back this afternoon. They were not able to isolate what I thought was a driver's side upper strut mount issue, but that's OK. If it wasn't a rogue ice chunk, the problem should become more obvious and easier to diagnose over time.

The transmission work was done (new seals, clutch assembly, etc. TSB 11-12-13). As expected, it shifts like a dream. The dealer indicated that so far none of the seal / clutch assembly jobs they have done have come back with the same problem. I am hoping / expecting that the new seals are superior and will hold up. I was pleasantly suprised with improved gas mileage on the drive home. That trip with winter tires usually gets me 37.1 - 37.3 mpg. Coming home today I got 39.3!! Besides being a few degrees warmer (28F instead of 18F, the only difference is the clutches not being contaminated with gear oil. It is logical to expect better efficiency, I just didn't expect to see any kind of noticable improvement in the numbers. Only time will tell.

Congs!

I won't be able to get mine back till the 14th. The samo clutch replacement. Yet, the dealer said some special part on back order...
Glad to hear that no one has come back after the new seal and clutch; and the fact that yours is working perfectly for you!

[Tonybaloney]

So after 5 days of driving mine after an apparent 2nd TSB update, its now WORSE. It now shudders while at highway speed. Before it was just 1st-3rd. Now if I let off the gas to coast a bit and then accelerate I feel the shudder again. And just looked up the info, and in MD after 18,000 miles or 2 years I cannot file for the Lemon Law on a new car. I'm at 27,000. I'm so done with this car. I JUST WANT A SMOOTH DRIVING EXPERIENCE! IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK FOR FORD?!?!?!?!?!

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by Tonybaloney

It now shudders while at highway speed. Before it was just 1st-3rd. Now if I let off the gas to coast a bit and then accelerate I feel the shudder again. And just looked up the info, and in MD after 18,000 miles or 2 years I cannot file for the Lemon Law on a new car. I'm at 27,000. I'm so done with this car.

At least your dealerships replaced your clutch (right?) or did they just replace the seals? If it's the latter, that's probably your problem. I still have shuddering (same as you - releasing the gas and pressing it again causes shuddering). I don't think you're out of luck, though. Check the BBB to see if they can do repairs. I also don't qualify for the lemon law (over 40k miles), but I'll be contacting the BBB in the summer when it starts acting up again to see if I can force Ford to do the repairs without a full lemon buy-back.

[Tonybaloney]

They said the transmission was bone dry, no leaks. What do I have to do to make it leak? Seriously, how can I sabotage my car so it gets fixed PROPERLY!!!

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by Tonybaloney

They said the transmission was bone dry, no leaks. What do I have to do to make it leak? Seriously, how can I sabotage my car so it gets fixed PROPERLY!!!

Weird... although, my car shudders and they also said it was dry. I think they're lying, but they've also never completely opened it up and replaced seals like on your vehicle. They tried to look at it through the starter opening or something?

I think there's a chance we have bad clutches (glazed/broken/etc.) without the oil contamination as well. But Ford seems to be ignoring that possibility, so if there is no oil, they won't replace the clutch.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by Tonybaloney

I JUST WANT A SMOOTH DRIVING EXPERIENCE! IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK FOR FORD?!?!?!?!?!

Apparently, it is. My Focus vibrates and shudders more than any car I've ever owned. And I've owned some real junkers in my day.

Funny thing is, it didn't vibrate and shudder until after a Ford dealership worked on it.

But Ford doesn't care... they 'fixed it', so they now feel entitled to dismiss my concerns and label me a crank.

A couple words of advice to anyone considering contacting Ford 'customer service' on this forum: don't bother. Worse than a waste of time for me... it's been an insulting and frustrating waste of time. They are more interested in keeping dealerships from making 'unnecessary' warranty repairs than in making customers happy.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by PratoN

Weird... although, my car shudders and they also said it was dry. I think they're lying, but they've also never completely opened it up and replaced seals like on your vehicle. They tried to look at it through the starter opening or something?

I think there's a chance we have bad clutches (glazed/broken/etc.) without the oil contamination as well. But Ford seems to be ignoring that possibility, so if there is no oil, they won't replace the clutch.

My clutch seals weren't leaking but the dealer said one of them wasn't disengaging properly which was causing the slipping while accelerating. I primarily complained about the slipping, but it was also shuddering from a stop. They replaced the clutches under TSB 11-12-13 despite the lack of leakage.

[BigFuzzyArchon]

I had all the funky transmission problems with my car. I started driving it harder and flooring it a bunch. Seemed to have smoothed everything out, no more noise either while shifting. I'm just over 22k miles.

[gostinger]

Originally Posted by cuozc

Congs!

I won't be able to get mine back till the 14th. The samo clutch replacement. Yet, the dealer said some special part on back order...
Glad to hear that no one has come back after the new seal and clutch; and the fact that yours is working perfectly for you!

2 repairs and there will be a third....False hope. Same parts = same problem will occur until a fix is found.