[makuloco2000]

“Green” clutch break-in period
New, replacement, and reset clutches are “green” and require a break-in period before shift event quality
is maximized. During the break-in period, green clutches may exhibit:
 A rattle noise similar to a loose catalytic converter shield. This noise is commonly heard
after light throttle 1-2, 2-3 or 3-4 upshifts. This rattle noise will diminish greatly as the
clutch completes the break-in process.
 A take-off shudder/launch judder (shaky vs. smooth) on light loads.
 A harsh-shift feel during the first few cold shifts before the transmission reaches
operating temperature.
All of the above conditions will diminish and the customer will notice progressively better launch and
smoother shifting within the first few hundred miles of mixed driving as clutch break-in occurs.
Note: The break-in process may take longer for highway driving, where the clutch is not shifting. The
transmission will automatically learn and make adaptations during shifting events, so it is important to
evaluate after allowing sufficient driving time for adaptations to occur.
This green clutch feel may reappear if the clutch touch points are reset and/or the clutch is removed
and/or replaced. The condition may last longer for a clutch replacement than a reset. A reset may take
up to 100 miles to get the new touch points learned to the point of not making any out-of-adjustment
noise. A clutch replacement may take as much as 1000 miles or more to reach break-in depending on
the customer style of driving.

 

[slybarman]

Mine must be breaking in again. Rattle noise and slipping shuddering have returned full on with the warmer temps. Kind of a number since most the winter wasn't too bad.

 

[Guest]

No they wouldn't it is all independent of what is going on with the engine load side. I now have a new I posted about exactly how we are TOLD by Ford to test them and they see the recording so we cant fudge it. So you can see just what we are looking for! I posted it in another thread but I will post here since many asked about it.

My Ford Focus 2012 is past the 60,000 miles. I drive for work. I will have owned it for 2 years within the next few weeks. I have taken it back to the Ford dealer 3 x for the shuttering problem. They have reflashed the computer but have said" we cannot find the shuttering problem which now from your video I understand what they are saying. It is getting worse as it is almost a jerking motion from 1st to 2nd 90% of the time. I am embarrassed to take clients in my car. Now I am worried as to how bad it will get and I am left with on repair bills even when I tried to have it fixed. Any news on extended warranty?

 

[makuloco2000]

My Ford Focus 2012 is past the 60,000 miles. I drive for work. I will have owned it for 2 years within the next few weeks. I have taken it back to the Ford dealer 3 x for the shuttering problem. They have reflashed the computer but have said" we cannot find the shuttering problem which now from your video I understand what they are saying. It is getting worse as it is almost a jerking motion from 1st to 2nd 90% of the time. I am embarrassed to take clients in my car. Now I am worried as to how bad it will get and I am left with on repair bills even when I tried to have it fixed. Any news on extended warranty?

No news on an extended warranty. If you have been taking it to the same dealer and have a history with them on the issue and you are just past 60k miles and they can duplicate it now they will likely goodwill it for you. Especially if you call Ford I have seen it many times. There are allot of after warranty assistance programs at Ford. The good thing is you have a history before you got out of warranty and its so new plus it is a widely known problem with fix available so if you are nice instead of irate you will likely get assistance from Ford. Doesn't hurt to say in a couple years I am going to be buying another car so I have nice cars to bring clients around in and I would like to buy another Ford but...
I complained about how the dealer we bought out explorer from treated us and got a free FORD ESP plan without even asking for it.

 

[Grayghost]

“Green” clutch break-in period
New, replacement, and reset clutches are “green” and require a break-in period before shift event quality
is maximized. During the break-in period, green clutches may exhibit:
 A rattle noise similar to a loose catalytic converter shield. This noise is commonly heard
after light throttle 1-2, 2-3 or 3-4 upshifts. This rattle noise will diminish greatly as the
clutch completes the break-in process.
 A take-off shudder/launch judder (shaky vs. smooth) on light loads.
 A harsh-shift feel during the first few cold shifts before the transmission reaches
operating temperature.
All of the above conditions will diminish and the customer will notice progressively better launch and
smoother shifting within the first few hundred miles of mixed driving as clutch break-in occurs.
Note: The break-in process may take longer for highway driving, where the clutch is not shifting. The
transmission will automatically learn and make adaptations during shifting events, so it is important to
evaluate after allowing sufficient driving time for adaptations to occur.
This green clutch feel may reappear if the clutch touch points are reset and/or the clutch is removed
and/or replaced. The condition may last longer for a clutch replacement than a reset. A reset may take
up to 100 miles to get the new touch points learned to the point of not making any out-of-adjustment
noise. A clutch replacement may take as much as 1000 miles or more to reach break-in depending on
the customer style of driving.

So why is it that when I put my car in reverse it bucks like a bronco? Still have some shuddering going on...the jury is still out on this one! [wrenchin]

 

[I am Focused]

Thank you makuloco2000 for responding. They did not give me a clutch break in characteristics sheet. Where can I find one? I'm assuming the new seals and clutch are from the same distributor's as I had previously since there hasn't been a change in those two components since the 2014 model came out? Mine was built 07/13. I noticed last week when I put the car in reverse to back out that it jerked real bad. Felt like I had the foot on the brake! Will be watching that closely! Any other tips you can give me? Thanks again!

You'll still have a lot of these issues even after it breaks in. I had my focus for 20k miles and it NEVER went away.

 

[Pierce_2014]

Yeah when I took. Y 2012 back to ford I told them I'm keeping the rental until it was fixed. It's my wife's daily driver

The beechmont location here took it right in when I told them what it was doing and what I had read on the internet about the issue, so luckily my dealership was concerned about it.

Took it in on a Tuesday and got it back Thursday and drives like a brand new car now!

I've taken my 2014 Focus back to Kings Ford twice now. They did a computer reset the first time. My car wasn't fixed, I gave it the weekend and called back and had to fight with them for a week (which included a call from an attorney I work with) for them even LOOK at my car. Took it back in, and they replaced the clutch. This was about a month or so ago. Already, I can feel my car starting to shudder again, and occasionally it feels like it's shifting hard when it shouldn't be shifting at all. The grinding is coming back as well. I bought this car in September. Kerry Ford won't even look at it. I was debating on going to Lebanon or Beechmont. Did they give you any hassle?

 

[misfire]

Attention MK3 owners (includes Fiesta owners) with the DCT 6 Speed transmissions:

Ford has extended the warranty on them as of 07/21/2014. The warranty has been extended to 7 years (from original sell date) or 100,000 miles. Parts included are: input shaft seals, clutches and transmission software calibration. The Program is 14M01.

If the owner already has more than 100,000 miles, they will extend the coverage until January 31, 2015.

 

[TooOld]

Attention MK3 owners (includes Fiesta owners) with the DCT 6 Speed transmissions:

Ford has extended the warranty on them as of 07/21/2014. The warranty has been extended to 7 years (from original sell date) or 100,000 miles. Parts included are: input shaft seals, clutches and transmission software calibration. The Program is 14M01.

If the owner already has more than 100,000 miles, they will extend the coverage until January 31, 2015.

All DCTs, or only 2012 and 2013 DCT equipped vehicles?

 

[mr_cassandra]

Attention MK3 owners (includes Fiesta owners) with the DCT 6 Speed transmissions:

Ford has extended the warranty on them as of 07/21/2014. The warranty has been extended to 7 years (from original sell date) or 100,000 miles. Parts included are: input shaft seals, clutches and transmission software calibration. The Program is 14M01.

If the owner already has more than 100,000 miles, they will extend the coverage until January 31, 2015.

is there a link to a memo, ford bulletin or news story about this?

sure would be a lifesaver to a lot of owners

 

[mr_cassandra]

Attention MK3 owners (includes Fiesta owners) with the DCT 6 Speed transmissions:

Ford has extended the warranty on them as of 07/21/2014. The warranty has been extended to 7 years (from original sell date) or 100,000 miles. Parts included are: input shaft seals, clutches and transmission software calibration. The Program is 14M01.

If the owner already has more than 100,000 miles, they will extend the coverage until January 31, 2015.

I am genuinely heartened (subject to documentation) for the many folks with DCT problems , who have had to deal with the "everything is normal memo" and its defenders-supporters, both from within Ford and without.

 

[misfire]

 

[Etch.]

In other words a couple more years of 'it's normal' or resets that last a few days while it settles in. [rofl]

Granted it's a couple more years to hold out hope for a REAL + SOLID fix....but in 3+ years these cars have been on the road now they still haven't found that magic bullet, so as more time goes on the less chance there will ever be one IMO.

 

[TooOld]

In other words a couple more years of 'it's normal' or resets that last a few days while it settles in. [rofl]

Granted it's a couple more years to hold out hope for a REAL + SOLID fix....but in 3+ years these cars have been on the road now they still haven't found that magic bullet, so as more time goes on the less chance there will ever be one IMO.

So you're saying the replacement of shaft seals, and replacement of the clutch assembly, and updating the software is not a real and solid fix? What would you consider a real and solid fix? I.e. how would you fix the issue?

 

[slybarman]

Stupid question and not his (or any customer's) job to figure out.

 

[TooOld]

Yep, about as stupid as the people that are too lazy to get their vehicles fixed, or don't like the vehicle then complain that it's "designed wrong" when they've never designed a thing in their lives. Of course they get what they deserve.

And how exactly, if it's not his to figure out, did he figure out the fix isn't solid? You two just like to bitch and moan about the DCT. Great entertainment though. [twothumbs]

 

[slybarman]

Yup, nothing wrong with DCT. nothing to see here. Move along people. Pay no attention to all the problems, redesigns, service backlogs and extended warranty. Move along.

 

[sailor]

Posted via FF MobileChill or post in one of the many other DCT threads guys, this is for Macaluco`s info posts or questions for him/about them. Let people read his posts without other chatter.

 

[zmud1]

Thanks for this. My GF has a 2012 that I noticed this problem and found this post. Car only has 15k on it and started doing this. She took it to Ford and they had it for 2 days and gave her a rental. Whatever they did it fixed the problem. I'm guessing they did exactly what was stated in the video.

 

[nitewulf]

I hope I can get my 2014 Titanium fixed. When I took it in 6 months ago, the service manager said the shudder was within "acceptable limits". Six months later and 15k miles, it's worse, plus under light acceleration there is often a "growling" noise. I have read every thread in this and other forums about the idiosyncrasies of the dct transmission and how best to drive it. I printed the letter a couple posts above (even though mine is still under full warranty) and hope I can convince them this time to investigate and repair it. If not, I'll be calling Ford to see if they can send me to a more cooperative dealer.