Just replace the clutch

[Tilghman07]

I have a 2007 ford focus manual transmission standard package with 42k miles. My buddy was DD and drove the car. At highway speeds 60 mph he forced it into first gear and cause it to stall and wont go in gear anymore. Had another friend pick me up and tow the car home. Had another buddy help me drop the transmission and replace the clutch and the throwout bearing which both was destroyed. Engine seems to be fine. After everything was back together, we test drove it and seems to be fine. But at the beginning of 1st it will show lack of power till picking up RPMS and seems fine and then shifts to 2nd gear and starts all over with the lack of power then fine after wards. My friend suggest that it needs to be broken in. So I let him take the car to work to make sure everything is fine. Well the next day he calls me and says the trans is broken again. But the clutch seems to engage but not moving the car. Like if the axles are not in. The speedometer would go up in speed. Sound like the car is on a dyno and not moving. Goes in every gear and shifts fine. I think its something wrong with diff inside the transmission and axles. I dont want him to touch the car because we spent like 6 hours replaceing the clutch. Any help would be awesome, before I go spend lots of money at a shop. I am hoping not to spend over $800. I will be checking in very often and answer questions. Thanks, Chris

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[gondorian]

HOW do you put it in 1st at 60? 1st hits the limiter around 35.

[Tilghman07]

My buddy said he had the clutch pedal all the way down and was bored and freely moving into gears and said that it wont go into first with the clutch down, so he forced it in 1st at 60mph. The clutch was still down, but still locked up and destroyed the car.

[mikeeshaq]

"""My buddy was DD and drove the car"""

If that was me, I would have it towed to a Ford dealership, plunk down my credit card and say "fix it"

[jetrinka]

Originally Posted by gondorian

HOW do you put it in 1st at 60? 1st hits the limiter around 35.

Rev limiter doesn't matter at this point cause your mechanically over-revving the engine. The rev limiter can't stop this.

As far as your issue, if he truly shifted into 1st going 60, and let the clutch out, the engine would have revved up to probably over 10k RPM (depending on gear ratios...) and possibly done valve damage. At those speeds, the valve springs cant close the valves fast enough and often times pistons make contact with the valves, bending them. I would do a compression test first thing.

[Red Jay 918]

Originally Posted by Tilghman07

My buddy said he had the clutch pedal all the way down and was bored and freely moving into gears and said that it wont go into first with the clutch down, so he forced it in 1st at 60mph. The clutch was still down, but still locked up and destroyed the car.

it's not supposed to go into 1st gear at that high of a speed. 1st gear lockout... keeps you from engaging 1st gear anywhere above 15mph. i sure hope your buddy was the one who paid for the repairs since he was the one who destroyed your transmission. i just can't wrap my mind around the stupidity of purposely trying to go into 1st at 60... no offense. but i agree w/ the compression test. do you hear any weird tapping/knocking sounds from the engine?

[Tilghman07]

He gave me 800 so that's why I'm hoping its not over that. The engine seems to be fine. We drove it for about 30 miles after replacing the clutch. When I took the trans off the clutch was gone and the throwiut bearing was busted. No weird engine sounds, still smooth sounding. Today it will be at the local transmission shop and I'll let you guys know what they say about it.

[Tilghman07]

Well the shop said the axles was not in properly but the spindle is damage. So $360 is the cost.

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Originally Posted by Tilghman07

But the clutch seems to engage but not moving the car. Like if the axles are not in. The speedometer would go up in speed.

That's probably exactly what it is, or you could've KOed the ring gear. Let's hope it's that the driver's side axle is not in. That's the one that typically causes this problem.

BTW. I'd think you would've learned not to let anyone drive your car unless they are willing to pay for the repairs they cause.