2012 Focus SE Transmission Grinding

[unfocused1]

Originally Posted by sdwcam01

It’s funny you say that, because mine still shifts hard, loses power, and grinds between 2-3., but only when it’s warm outside. Recently, it’s been cold here – so, I’m with you and waiting until it starts to warm up again to get it to grind consistently.

Originally Posted by PratoN

Same here - I can still get it to do it with moderate load and low RPM or up a hill, but it's still too picky for me to convince the dealers it's something I need until it REALLY starts to act up come summer.

Same here as well.

In colder temps, the grind noise is far more brief, if it exhibits at all.

Originally Posted by paul21

The CSM/CSR won't do anything. The dealerships are independent, and Ford has setup some kind of warranty repair reimbursement system that is not favorable to the dealers (otherwise they'd be jumping all over the chance to do a repair). If you want it repaired, you have to be friendly with the service center and probably at multiple dealerships until you find one that is willing to accept non-lucrative warranty work. The grinding, unfortunately, is not easily lemonable as your car is still reliably working.

Originally Posted by Kabigon

Perhaps "harmless" would be a more appropriate word than "normal".

The noise may be disconcerting but there is no direct evidence that suggests it is harmful.

Keep in mind that the "grinding noise" is not really grinding at all.

That is true, especially if the noise isn't grinding but a sound analogous to that of a grinding. My transmission has been driven for almost 4000 miles, it had 6 miles when I bought it, and apart from "the noise" has remained very smooth. And I've done more city than highway driving, which means more wear.

From what I know, the noise is said to be harmless. If that's the case, there's no problem. Time is the ultimate teller on this, but as long as customers aren't being screwed over... no problem!

[PratoN]

I don't know how "harmless" the noise is - isn't it the clutch plates making the noise? I don't know how that could equate to no wear. Also, yes - it could arguably lower the resale value of the car.

Also "harmless" to the car or to the driver? Whenever the car starts acting up, the shifts become weird and jerky and I have to be super alert that I'm not going to rear-end someone in traffic. I wouldn't parallel park it when it's in a "mood."

Also, every time I take my foot off the brake or press the gas and release it (creeping in traffic) I hear *knock knock knock knock* - I don't know if that's the clutch doing something weird or the motor mount bouncing back and forth. Either way, I don't think it's good.

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by dan50

Cory, as an FYI for your technical advisor: my DCT doesn't make a grinding noise...

Originally Posted by PratoN

My dealers said "It's a characteristic of the transmission." But then that begs the question - why doesn't it chatter when shifting into odd gears?...

I forwarded these details to my tech adviser, guys.

Originally Posted by Kabigon

...The noise may be disconcerting but there is no direct evidence that suggests it is harmful...

Originally Posted by unfocused1

...My transmission has been driven for almost 4000 miles, it had 6 miles when I bought it, and apart from "the noise" has remained very smooth...From what I know, the noise is said to be harmless...

Kabigon & unfocused1,

I want to make sure this is reviewed with your regional customer service manager. Please send me a PM with your VIN, full name, best daytime phone number, approximate mileage, and dealer name/state.

Originally Posted by sdwcam01

It’s funny you say that, because mine still shifts hard, loses power, and grinds between 2-3., but only when it’s warm outside...

I shot you another PM, sdwcam01; please see your inbox.

Originally Posted by agamben0

Cory did a great job in responding to me and getting a CSM to talk to me about my grinding problem. For that I am quite grateful...

She did however say that she would get my closest dealer to contact me... which they did a day later, I was busy and missed the call, and they didn't leave a message...

agamben0,

Thanks for the shout-out. I want the confidence in your ride to be restored, so I sent a note to Mary and PM’d you with the follow-up info.

Cory

[Strix]

Originally Posted by paul21

The CSM/CSR won't do anything.

Confirming this.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by paul21

The CSM/CSR won't do anything. The dealerships are independent, and Ford has setup some kind of warranty repair reimbursement system that is not favorable to the dealers (otherwise they'd be jumping all over the chance to do a repair).

I can also attest to this. It seems that they can call the dealers and make a recommendation, but it's ultimately up to the dealer/technicians to make the call.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by PratoN

I can also attest to this. It seems that they can call the dealers and make a recommendation, but it's ultimately up to the dealer/technicians to make the call.

I don't think so. It seems to me as if Ford customer service tells the dealership not to repair anything because they won't be paid if they do.

Then the dealership says "cannot duplicate customer complaint", even if they know there is a problem... if they won't get paid to fix it, they'll just deny that the problem exists. Can't blame them for that, I guess.

Then they leave it to Ford's customer service representatives to deal with the angry customers. I suppose it's cheaper to pay a few punching bags than it is to fix hundreds or thousands of cars.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by Strix

I don't think so. It seems to me as if Ford customer service tells the dealership not to repair anything because they won't be paid if they do.

Then the dealership says "cannot duplicate customer complaint", even if they know there is a problem... if they won't get paid to fix it, they'll just deny that the problem exists. Can't blame them for that, I guess.

Then they leave it to Ford's customer service representatives to deal with the angry customers. I suppose it's cheaper to pay a few punching bags than it is to fix hundreds or thousands of cars.

This is not universal. My dealer has always been great, on my Taurus, Explorer, and now this car. All I did was complain about some slipping while accelerating, which they could have easily said was normal, but they called and said they were replacing the clutches under 11-12-13 due to improper disengagement (no seal leakage). The only thing I can think of is that it's a huge dealer with a huge service department and maybe because of economies of scale, lower overhead per unit, or they have several transmission experts on staff, and that allows them to do the clutch replacement for what Ford is willing to pay. Whereas smaller dealers may not have the expertise with the unit yet or overhead per unit is high and they're not willing to take the risk on the repair.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by kam327

My dealer has always been great

Your _dealer_ has been great.

So you haven't had any need to contact Ford Customer Service.

Lucky for you.

They are less than useless.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by Strix

Your _dealer_ has been great.

So you haven't had any need to contact Ford Customer Service.

Lucky for you.

They are less than useless.

Right, I was just trying to provide some counterpoint that not all dealers have the "it's normal" denial syndrome.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by kam327

Right, I was just trying to provide some counterpoint that not all dealers have the "it's normal" denial syndrome.

OK, but I don't think it's a dealership denial syndrome... I think it comes straight from Ford's customer service department. They don't want to pay for repeated repairs, so they start saying the situation is normal.

That's odd, I think. Prior to an attempted repair, the problem is acknowledged... but after a failed attempt to correct it, the VERY SAME ISSUE suddenly becomes 'normal'.