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So I took my car down to the local transmission shop today, figuring maybe they could find something more on what's been going on the past few months with my Focus.
I walked in and asked for the most experienced transmission specialist, and that's what I got. He brought a large scan tool as well (no CEL on my dash) and I believe it was called a Lotus, something or other?
So, he hooked it up and shifted the lever back and forth before even test driving it the car. While he did, I began explaining the situation.
The car would slip only once accelerating from a light, the shifter lever is much tighter than my other SE was, and the car would rev in 3rd gear, and shortly after it would "jolt" into 4th. These were just a few things I informed him on.
As he shifted through the gears, the scanner showed my lever going from Park to O/D as soon as he pulled it down into "1". Confused as I was, I proceeded to ask.
One thing came out of his mouth at this point. "External issue." What kind, I asked? He then began to tell me that was the Lotus is showing, he is almost guaranteeing the transmission range sensor is out of whack, not allowing the car to read properly what gear it's supposed to be in, causing all sorts of issues. "Maybe this is why my shifter level feels really stiff and tight," I thought.
So...what exactly is this Range Sensor? I ordered a Motocraft one from the local auto store. As helpful as the tranny shop was at finding the issue, they want $180 just to change it out. My part was $58. Is it worth a shot? I'm on my last wim with this car...I don't even mind if I need to be putting a part or two into every month, but after all of this work and money, now the transmission decides to be acting up? One other thing! Could this range sensor be causing my shifter to be tight like that?
For those of you who haven't been updated on the issue, or explained what happened, here is a quick sum of it all.
Car shifts fine through all gears (most of the time). However, if I go from P to 1, then give it a little gas, then go back up into N, then back down to D (all while holding my foot on the brake) the car clunks and lurches forward harshly. 1 and 2 don't move the car forward as they should, either.
I walked in and asked for the most experienced transmission specialist, and that's what I got. He brought a large scan tool as well (no CEL on my dash) and I believe it was called a Lotus, something or other?
So, he hooked it up and shifted the lever back and forth before even test driving it the car. While he did, I began explaining the situation.
The car would slip only once accelerating from a light, the shifter lever is much tighter than my other SE was, and the car would rev in 3rd gear, and shortly after it would "jolt" into 4th. These were just a few things I informed him on.
As he shifted through the gears, the scanner showed my lever going from Park to O/D as soon as he pulled it down into "1". Confused as I was, I proceeded to ask.
One thing came out of his mouth at this point. "External issue." What kind, I asked? He then began to tell me that was the Lotus is showing, he is almost guaranteeing the transmission range sensor is out of whack, not allowing the car to read properly what gear it's supposed to be in, causing all sorts of issues. "Maybe this is why my shifter level feels really stiff and tight," I thought.
So...what exactly is this Range Sensor? I ordered a Motocraft one from the local auto store. As helpful as the tranny shop was at finding the issue, they want $180 just to change it out. My part was $58. Is it worth a shot? I'm on my last wim with this car...I don't even mind if I need to be putting a part or two into every month, but after all of this work and money, now the transmission decides to be acting up? One other thing! Could this range sensor be causing my shifter to be tight like that?
For those of you who haven't been updated on the issue, or explained what happened, here is a quick sum of it all.
Car shifts fine through all gears (most of the time). However, if I go from P to 1, then give it a little gas, then go back up into N, then back down to D (all while holding my foot on the brake) the car clunks and lurches forward harshly. 1 and 2 don't move the car forward as they should, either.
