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.
I think we really need to wait and see if this issue persists beyond 5000 miles...anyone out there over 5000 miles still feel shudder or excessive vibration (there should always be a little with the DCT...its not a 7 series Bimmer after all...)
Yep, it's like telling a doctor what drug to prescribe. Sheeeeeesh.
Hopefully nohasfocus will post the actual reset procedure today.
This stuff is getting old.
Update: When I called the dealer that I bought the Focus from (in another province) they are able to see this TSB. I called the local dealer here, and they still can't see it on the computer system. What the hell?
Here is the Drive cycle procedure. I am sure in most cases the dealer performed this during the update. But if people are feeling erratic shifting then this could have been skipped.
I believe I heard in another thread that if you disconnect the battery for 10 min then the transmission adaptive learning process will be manually reset? May or may not be true but if it was that would be an easy way to do a reset and then perform the drive cycle procedure. On the other hand this drive cycle may only be needed after an actual PCM update as performed at the dealer. I suppose someone who had erratic shifting could always ask the dealer to do another reset and make sure they do the proper drive cycle procedure.
My dealer would of performed this but I volunteered so I could be sure it was done correctly and it also saved them time at the end of a busy day.
First steps I did in the parking lot while shifting from drive to reverse then I pulled out to a quiet street to go from 15mph to a slow stop 5 times. Then I drove slowly keeping between 1-4th gears to get to the nearest freeway (about 1.5mi away from dealer) then I drove from 55-65mph down the freeway to achieve 6th gear for 2min keeping rpm's under 3000 to complete the last step.
Then after about 10 min of normal driving I began sport driving and wow it felt really good and has been just great ever since.
Sorry but when reading the print out I couldn't help but think about that (Pat your hear and rub your tummy at the same time) and are you also supposed to click your shoes together 3 times.
While we will never be sure, I wonder if the 10 Reverse/Drive shifts at the beginning of this process somehow opens the system to accept new instructions? It is a sequence that wouldn't be duplicated in normal driving and it's hard to figure what value it would have in programming shift behavior.
Maybe instead of reconnecting the battery, following this protocol would be helpful even for cars that have been driven considerable distances since new or reflash. One could also position the car near a highway to perform the whole process seamlessly.
Your right we will never know for sure because they usually don't give up this kind of information...
My assumption is that this is the final step of the adaptive learning reset procedure as described in the TSB (step2):
1.Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) and transmission control module (TCM) to the latest calibration using IDS release 75.02 and higher. This new calibration is not included in the VCM 2011.9 DVD. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com. 2.Perform Transmission Adaptive Learning. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 307-01 General Procedures.
So the Drive Cycle is done right after they do the PCM (power train control module) update. Performing the Transmission Adaptive Learning (step2) is necessary because the update wipes out or "resets" the memory in the computer (TCM, transmission control module). Therefore I believe this has to be the first step of the transmission learning process and needs to be performed right after the reset so the shift points are correctly learned and then the rest of the adaptive learning process can occur correctly during normal driving in the next few days.
Probably a reset is necessary for this Drive Cycle to be effective.
Not to say it couldn't hurt to do it anytime later but I believe it was meant to be done immediately after the update (or re-flash/reset). Probably the procedure itself doesn't "open up the system" or reset the adaptive learning.
Just to note if your actually following the instructions to do this that each time it says to "repeat" (10 times for example) that you would actually be doing it 11 times because the first time was already done on the previous step:
steps 1-5 will be done 11 times
steps 7-8 will be done 6 times
step 11 will be done 3 times
I will try to find the post someone made about "resetting the adaptive learning process manually by removing the battery for 10min" and make a direct quote from the original poster so more research can be done to see if this is true or not. I believe he said he used to do this to a mustang on a regular basis to help with sporty shifting or something. Anyway I will update here later if I do find it but if anyone knows already or wants to do more research or actually try the battery procedure then let us know what you find out.
I really, really can't see how Ford ... can do something so dumb as what is being explained here to teach a transmission how to shift. What the hell is the computer supposed to be doing ... tuning everyone's car to a one driver customized product? Whatever happened to having a car do the same thing, the same way?
And we have to do this teaching cycle after we change the battery every 3 years ... or every time the battery gets disconnected for 15 min ... for some other reason ...
My car was built in April, and yes the trans has a few quirks, but now I am getting scared to update this ....
It's not "dumb" it is basically going through all the gears a bit at a time so the computer can learn where to shift.
I have not heard or read anywhere that we'd have to do a drive cycle if the battery is removed. The computer has its own backup battery (usually li-ion) to maintain memory so it's not going to be forget everything by removing the battery.
1st of all, thanks Noahsfocus for posting the drive cycle.
I'm new to this forum and been lurking around to see what issues existed with the 2012 Focus. Had I have known what I know now, I would have chosen a build date later than Aug. 12. BTW, my build date is Aug. 8. Lucky me, the steering TSB does not apply to my car but it feels like it needs it. All they did was a wheel alignment but it is not 100%.
To make a long story short, I had the DCT TSB done to the car 3 weeks ago but it still felt weird or erratic. I still had the shudder from time to time at stop and go traffic. It still shifted below 2500 RPM if I don't really press on the gas. This happens when it feels like it. I am not a happy camper.[rant]
This morning I read about this drive cycle that needed to be done after the software update. Well I had just came back from doing this and a half an hour of testing. So far I don't feel the shudder from a stop and shifting is now from 2500 rpm and up. In the highway I didn't really see much of a difference so I can't really make any comments about this.
Tomorrow will be the real test since there is always traffic jams on our highways here in Montreal.[]
[cheers]
Fil
My wife's car was built on 8/8 also. The TSB made her DCT perfect but it was pretty nice to start with. I think it also had the steering issue for the first 200 miles but mild enough that we just thought it was tight and we weren't use to it. By the time we did a 5 hour trip (about 1000 miles on the car at the time) the steering was sublime. I hope yours straightens out (pun intended) as well.
The one thing I don't understand about mine is that at slow accelerations, by the time I hit 35 mph or 40 mph, in many cases, but not all, the car is already in 5th or 6th gear already. And I can sometimes feel it "rapidly" upshifting before I even hit 30 mph.
My old Focus (which obviously didn't have a DC system, but was the 4-speed Auto PowerShift tranny) was a bit better at shifting. It didn't get nearly as good as gas mileage as the 2012, but at least it was able to shift at semi appropriate times.
But then again, I haven't had the update done on my 2012 yet, so maybe this is one thing they will address. But overall, other than that, and the occassional lurch forward when I take my foot off the brake, the car's gotten much better (it use to be very hesitant for the first 2,000 miles or so--and sometimes I thought it was going to stall when accelerating from a dead stop).
Get the update. Drive it for over a 1000mi. Then make your final judgement.
BTW, it is SUPPOSED to shift very rapidly if you're not dumping the pedal. That is how it saves gas. Mine does that too. If I push it a little, it will maintain the gear to well over 3000RPM before upshifting through all the gears. You need to maintain that acceleration demand though, if I back off, it will upshift sooner. You just need to learn how it functions and you will realize it's actually a pretty amazing tranny.
So Fil12, just so I'm clear on what you did, you did NOT disconnect the battery before doing the drive cycle set up and it has been 3 weeks since the TSB? That's the best scenario yet. Please continue to keep us up to date with your findings.
Yup, I didn't have to disconnect the battery at all.
My observations today.
Shifter on D
stop and go traffic- no shudder and feels like a normal automatic. I used to have a shudder when my feet was not pressed firmly on the brakes. This really sucks since i thought the engine was going to stall.
1- normal acceleration from a stop- 1 to 2nd RPM can be from 2000 to 2500 rpm
2- medium acceleration from a stop- 1 to 2nd RPM can easy go from 3000 to 4000 rpm
3- almost WOT from a stop- RPM 1 to 2nd can be from 4000 and up
Shifter on S
On manual mode, no shudder from a stop is the only thing that I noticed so far. I will have to play with it on this mode a few more times. IMO, a seperate shiftgate like the 2010 Fusion V6 would have been better.
On auto mode- While cruising in slow traffic for the 1st time, it went to neutral when it should have gone from 3rd to 2nd. I had to push the shifter back to D to get it moving again but this just happened once so far. It's very disappointing since everything was going well so far. I will keep you up to date if it ever happens again.
I also emailed the drive cycle clipping to my dealer's service manager to see if they are even aware that they have to do this procedure.
I guess im lucky.. i had the update done (build date 10 June) and it completely eliminated the shudder.... Even waiting at a light and letting the car creep i don't have any shudder.
Lucky? perhaps... seems others still have problems w/ this even after the update.
This thread could use the help of a Ford CSR who can get in to design and engineering discussions. Or at least to say, "...we at Ford would like to apologize. Here are the steps on how you can be sure to maintain your 2012 Ford Focus..." and then proceed to outline a detailed, useful letter that is also being sent to every dealer and 2012 Ford Focus owner.
Would not that be ground breaking?[]
The procedure mentioned is only to "retrain" the transmission after the software upgrade erases it's shift strategy. It is not used for maintenance. And it should be done by the technicians and the customers should not have to worry about the procedure.
Just had my 1st service and they applied the update, it seemed to shift differently, I will know more tomorrow when i take it for a longer ride. My dealership is awesome! Barrie Ford.
I got my Focus in June, so, I wanted to get this update. I have had hesitation pulling out into traffic on occasion. So, I called the dealer and explained I tried to give him the TSB, but, he didn't want it. He said they will check for updates. I printed it and tried to show him, but, they still didn't want it..how frustrating. So, I waited for 2 hrs and the Tech manger said we applied an update to fix the hesitation and shifting. It was TSB 11-10-2! I can say the throttle is much more responsive and the RPM's hold higher..very noticable. I just hope this doesn't lower MPG's. I'll post back after a few tanks of gas. So far, I very much like the Update. Only negative is when car is at a full stop, I still feel idle is a little low. But, overall, throttle has come alive with this update.
Damian
Damianinpa, is your throttle response better because it operates at higher RPMs or is throttle response better generally?
I ask because my December build has pretty poor throttle response when fully warm. Wonder if they are continually tweaking the programming and went backwards on this part.
After a long trip to Ohio and back for xmas, it was time for the first (free @ dealer) oil change, and while I was there I asked them to road test the car for the tranny issue. My build date was 8/5/11 -- I just barely missed getting the new firmware at the factory -- and I've been having the usual complaints about throttle response.
The guy at the dealer had given me a hard time about bringing in the car just for the re-flash when I phoned in November, saying that it wouldn't be automatic that they'd do it and in any case they'd have to keep the car for a while. So I decided then to wait until it was time for the oil change.
I went in this morning, sat down with the service rep, and when I told him about the problem he told me at first that the car was behanving perfectly normally... that the hesitation etc was common for a CVT. I said "um, what? this car doesn't have a CVT. I'm sorry, what kind of car did you think this was?" then I mentioned that the reason I had bought the car was that I had driven 2 of them for a week apiece as rentals while on travel, and that the car I bought definitely did not behave the way the others did. I also mentioned that I'd heard about a TSB for the transmission.
Then the guy figured out that I wasn't necessarily a total idiot. So he threw the factory under the bus, saying 'well yeah they came out with that, not to fix the problem but to try to help a little. We've re-flashed about a dozen of these from the TSB and half of them it makes worse, the other half it either makes no difference or maybe helps a little bit.' I was getting a little miffed by this point, but kept my cool and my smile and said 'okay sure, just have your guys drive it and see what they think'.
One hour later, flash done, I'm on my way home. The car now runs like it should, and I am delighted.
Lesson: Be nice, but don't let them BS you. Then keep on being nice.
Creamsicle, did you happen to mention the "drive cycle" procedure as talked about on this thread?......I had my dealer do the re-flash and the only thing that changed was that it shifted at higher rpm's but all the other symptoms are still there. I havent had a chance to perform the procedure yet. I'm thinking my dealer didnt know about it.
Mine honestly seems the exact same after the TSB update its been a month now and yeah doesn't seem all that different. After reading everyone talk about how night and day their car was after getting it I was hoping for same result.
I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems like the problems described with shifting in the TSB on the first page of this thread relate to deceleration. The biggest problem I appear to be having is sluggishness on acceleration from a standstill and shuddering on downshifts coming out of a sharp turn while going uphill.
I'm taking my car in to the dealership tomorrow and want to make sure the description I give them will get them to refer to this TSB.
I think the throttle is better generally. Prior to Update I would hit the gas and there was delay before I noticed RPM increase..now it is instant. And, having the higher RPM's has provided for a more enjoyable ride. I tend to drive slower for better MPG's, but, the shift points really seem good now. My only issue is from a dead stop at a light or stop sign when I let off the break and car starts rolling I do feel some shuddering like it is going to stall. It hasn't stalled, but, you can feel it. I think I just have to get used to that. I did not notice that prior to the update.
Also, I noted in another post I was getting 33-34 mixed driving in the summer which has gone down to 30-31 since colder temps hit and winter gas. I was worried with this update that the higher RPM's would result in a drop in MPG. But, the last 2 tanks have been 32 MPG so, I think that fear can be put to rest.
Damian
I have an early December built Titanium that I just picked up today. Drove it about 150 miles in town and on highway. Shifts like a dream! Those waiting to get the update should be quite satisfied.
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