Well, I just scheduled an appointment on Monday to get my update for my 6-speed dual clutch. Seems like some dealers are willing to hand over the update (another poster on this board did), some dealers will still give the ole "its not a torque converter" mantra, and some dealers (the one I just called) don't know that there's a TSB out there, and when researched will come up with it. And the dealer I called fell into the latter (after I went to another dealer who gave me the mantra).
I'm happy with my DCT but I'm willing to see what this new update does for the transmission (in terms of smoothness and less hesitation). Hopefully, I'll have some noticeable difference. Did anyone else get an update? If so, how'd it work out for you. I'll let you know my thoughts after a good drive on Monday.
Brought my Focus in today at 1pm for this tsb and got it back by 3pm. Didn't drive much after getting it but did notice a big difference in the way it shifted and held the rpms. Hopefully will have more info by end of week.
I got the update done on Monday and all I can say is wow! I really only had one or two behaviors that were bothersome but they now seem to be completely remedied with this update. As others have said, when you are an early adapter to new technology you have to be prepared for problems. No matter how much beta testing you do, you cannot test for every imaginable situation! I think Ford is doing a good job of getting this DCT up to snuff. They had mine for a little over a half day - oil change, PCM update, and patching a flat that I had on Sunday, and they gave me a loaner because the service shuttle wasn't available. The loaner was another 2012 Focus with about 20,000 miles on it, mine only has 6,000, and it drove like a dream. I am really loving the DCT transmission. Is it a little different than a normal automatic? Of course it is, it isn't a "normal" automatic! I love the hybrid manual/automatic that this seems to be. Taking her on a 9 hour road trip Friday and Saturday and absolutely cannot wait for the drive, except for the inevitable Memorial Day weekend traffic. Personally, I really love this car!
I am doing firmer accelerations (no more granny style) and sometimes I occasionally still get a rough acceleration from standstill (00MPH to ~10)). When it happens it's irritating but by no means anything as klunky as it had been. Still, with break-in period still in effect (1304 miles on the car after 3.23 months), this may not be abnormal.
And the loud grind has become a quieter (about the same volume as engine) "blender whoosh" (still at the same time, between 1->2 gear shift) but I've noticed no physical aspects from the noise so the noise is not an abnormal event. I'll report on this again only if I come across actual problems during this shift, but the noise no longer concerns me.
Everything else (low idle shudder, etc) are gone, and the car does not roll down backwards on a slight incline.
I fear the tranny might need to be replaced one day, if the rough acceleration from 0 is a problem with the transmission. But I've got the extended warranty and, again, the rough acceleration is not constant, and when it's not constant a mechanic may not get to experience it... wait'n'see on this, I shall...
Awesome news about the DCT update! I was going to hold off until next month when my Focus will be due for an oil change but the DCT has been acting pretty lethargic this week. Almost scary is a better word because it is so unpredictable I am never sure if the car is going to go or not when I step on the gas.
Well here is the result of today's visit to the dealership service department. I was told that the noises and harsh shifting and rolling back of my transmission is a "normal characteristic" of the transmission installed in my Ford Focus. See Invoice copy below. I called the regional customer service rep and he scheduled a second opinion visit to a different dealership for tomorrow wasted time again.
I asked the shop foreman why my vehicle did not make these noises when I first purchased it and he told me that generally the noises do not begin until after 300 miles are put on the vehicle I can't believe that this is "normal". He also admitted that this is a known issue.
I don't know why they are calling it a "double click" noise in the work order it sounds like a bucket of marbles.
If you plug your VIN into ETIS, what TSBs/FSAs/Recalls are shown? The dealer should be performing this tasks, which I am certain will resolve the issue.
I had all the latest TSB's applied on 05/24/2012. While I was driving out of the dealership the transmission shifted so hard it felt like someone hit me from behind it actually made a "bang" sound. I saw the mileage in was the same as the mileage out and went back to talk to the shop foreman and asked why they did not perform the re-learn drive and he stated to me that "Those tables were not erased in the update and it did not need to be done" I drove away and the car for two days shifted harsh and erratically and on the third day it smoothed out. The car still intermittently will roll backwards on an incline though most of the time it does not. The transmission still sounds like a bucket of marbles until the clutches engage.
I had the customer satisfaction campaign and the wiper seal recall done Wed (5/30). I had no problem with the transmission although it does seem smoother and more responsive now. I brought it in because I had the wiper recall and I feared the denial of warranty on the trans if you don't get this update threat. They checked the pass. side wiper and I did need the seal (very early 4/11 build date).
Ditto to today's visit see invoice below. Sounds are a normal characteristic of the transmission. If so I can't help to wonder why some on this forum do not have these sounds coming from their transmissions.
I have asked the regional customer service rep. to look into providing me a detailed technical explanation as to the actual source of the sounds and why my transmission did not make them just after my purchase. I can understand servo motor sounds we all hear them occasionally in our PC hard drives it should be distinct from gear or clutch plate slapping sounds or in a hard drive the "click of death". Just give me a proper explanation not a generic "it's normal".
Interesting Video. Perhaps these noises are in fact "Normal". I just wish that they would have provided sample signatures of the actual noises.
So Ford has put information out there but the dealers and customer service folks are not apparently in the "loop" Good Communication would have helped greatly here.
I recommended that you verify Etis because if the TSB/FSA/Recall is still listed it means that they did not perform the update. Now you are saying that the shifts are hard and that they car still rolls back, so that means that the dealer did not perform the FSA because the car does not do this after the FSA is applied.
I haven't waded back thru' 100 pages, but had the reflash done last week. HUGE improvement in responsiveness, smoothness and general driveability.
I've noticed the 'brake release' thing on several starts, tho' as an old manual guy, I was in the habit of 'off the brake and on the gas' PDQ, so it wasn't an issue.
Really a huge improvement IMHO.
Of course, my dealer being my dealer, he didn't have the parts for the wiper work, so I'll need to make another trip.
Moon
ETA-
Didn't check the miles coming and going, but mine drove just fine right off the lot after the work was done.
My around town gas mileage does not seem diminished by the changes.
M
'bike, you might feel a slight click on a moderate incline when you step on the gas after getting off the brake; it's not much, but I'm fairly certain that's what it is.
My car didn't do it before the recall.
Moon
I had both wiper recall and transmission update done this week.
Long story: Made appt. online Sunday night for Tuesday am. Left car Monday night. No word from dealer at end of day Tuesday. I call dealer. "Your service team didn't work Tuesday due to Monday holiday, so we rescheduled you to Wednesday." Gee thanks for allowing me to schedule the appt. and for letting my car sit all day without telling me the appt. was rescheduled. I asked to speak to Customer Service Manager and he does a nice job of taking responsibility and apologizing. Then tells me they don't have the wiper part. Wednesday I get a call from my service team's advisor saying the wiper part will be in Thursday. Picked up car Thursday evening. Rattling from rear passenger door which I've complained about since day 1, not fixed. I thought for sure they would at least wash my car inside and out for the three day wait. Okay, I would've been happy with the just the outside. But, no.
Short story: HUGE improvement in transmission. Shifts much smoother. No hesitation when accelerating from a stop.
My DCT has been pretty good from the start, a short period of strange behavior that settled out after about 5k but, since Ford called for it, I had the update done on Tuesday last, it only took about four hours to complete. After I picked it up I hit the freeway and drove 14 miles to the next town, just to see if there was any change in fuel economy with the update and there was a bit - the drive at 70 (all highway) gave me 46.3 mpg.
I've been taking it pretty easy on driving my Focus with this update. Keeping a light foot and it seems to shift okay but wow yesterday I was at a light and as I pulled through the intersection and completed my left turn my car shifted down to what felt like 6th and there was no further acceleration until I kept pressing the gas which then it finally figured it out and downshifted pretty abruptly.
It does this quite often. Should I pull the Negative battery cable to reset everything or will that even work? I really hate the thought of having to reset EVERY thing. My Garage door Home Link, Navagation favs, Radio presets, etc. Ugh!
So do i, you would think ford would get this right by now. First we had the original software then the 12 1 4 update and now 12B37.If i were the CEO of Ford i would get a whole new stet of engineeres and tell them to start from scratch and then they SHOULD DO A TEST DRIVE of it before they put it out on the street. Does any one here agrre with me.[wiggle]
For the first time yesterday, at a light making a left, I went to accelerate and the rpms went up to 3000 and didnt move. LOL. When I got off the gas and it dropped to 1000 it finally grabbed a gear and went. First time ever happening. Car has 5700 miles.
I do have an extended warranty on the entire car. Gratis. Another 5 free oil changes on top of the 5 that came with the vehicle. Gratis. Rentals on the extended warranty. Gratis.
In writing. Signed by the dealer's customer service manager.
They've done everything for me, that was expected, and obviously some that was not.
I couldn't have asked for better treatment, each and every time I entered that dealership, with a few issues.
Very lucky to have that caliber service, follow-up calls, and all from the CSM, and techs.
I trust this car now, and taking another journey with it tomorrow. I love this car, and so does my wife, more so than her new Cruze. That says a lot.
I agree. We have had similar service from our dealer and the DCT has been absolutely wonderful. I think some people must be driving a different car.
I do not think there are a lot a problems with the DCT. I sympathize with those who are experiencing problems but they are a small minority of all 12 Foci on the road.
I'll add an observation on the 'hill-hold' after you've put your foot on the brake. It appears that a firm push on the brake is required to make the system work; light pressure will keep the car from moving, but it doesn't appear to be enough to activate the system.
As noted earlier, there is a nearly inaudible 'click' when the system releases.
Moon
ETA-
My tranny has never been really bad, tho' it did display some jumpiness. Did have an odd surge at light throttle yesterday, so I'll keep an eye open for problems, but overall the reflash has been a huge improvement.
M
Got my update done on 6/4/12. The shifts are much less harsh (that didn't bother me since I like a firm shift), but are much more precise (no slipping feeling, it just goes into gear quickly). I am happy to see these nice, precise, butter smooth shifts. The shifting RPM seems to be spot on, and the car does not hunt for the proper gear on a hill. The ECU seems to predict the proper gear needed much better than before. I believe my idle RPM is slightly higher, which is a good thing since it was way too low and thus bumpy. Much better now.
All in all I am happy with this update, but I really had no complaints before after the ECU adapted to my driving. This new update is adapting well BTW.
I got my update yesterday. I thought my Ti Hatch wasn't even eligible for the re-flash since mine was built March 12th 2012... but I got the letter.
I had some shuddering and erratic RPM for low gears in the first 1500km, but after the break in period, I had no issue at all with the transmission.
I test drove it yesterday after picking it up at the dealer and did not notice anything different, which is fine by me because it was already shifting smoothly and behaving as a normal car.
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