[cardoc1]

The manual states that when you press the switch on the side of the shift lever when in D a lamp should light on the dash and the car will shift from 6th to 5th. Mine does not. The service department at my Ford Dealer said that the switch on the shift lever only works when in sport mode. Who is correct the dealer or the owners manual?

 

[Doug81]

The shift button does only work in Sport mode.

 

[cardoc1]

I guess the manual is wrong Page 275

 

[motleysalty]

If you have a Focus with the optional Sport pkg or another trim that came with the select-shift ability, then you will not have this light. Instead, the toggle switch on the select-shift transmission is for up/down shifting when in "S". Only auto transmissions without the select-shift mode have this particular button on the side of the shifter which turns the indicator on in the dash.

My guess is that the select-shift transmissions do not have this mode, because you have the ability to downshift into 5th anyway (or 4th, 3rd, etc.).

 

[cardoc1]

I wish that they could correct the owners manual. I looked pretty stupid to the Customer Service Guy.


2012 Titanium Hatch SGM with every thing except moon roof and sport package

 

[friction]

the owners manual has to cover all versions of the focus.

so you can find a ton of information in there that does not necessarily apply to your car.

 

[Dick W]

I stumbled reading the same section.

I finally concluded, but have not verified, that the manual is talking about two different automatic transmissions. "the 6–speed automatic transmission" and one with a "SelectShift Automatic™ transmission (SST) gearshift lever". The former has "D (Drive) with Overdrive Cancel/Grade Assist" as well as an L position. The latter has Sport mode and all gears button shifters.

I read these as mutually exclusive. If you have "L" and one button, you have Overdrive Cancel/Grade Assist. If you have "S" and two buttons, you have SelectShift and can do the equivalent of overdrive cancel and grade assist if you shift to S and start playing with the buttons--this is "manual mode". In manual mode, the transmission will shift if it has to to protect the vehicle but other than that you are in charge. If you just shift to S, you are in "sport mode" and get "sportier" shift timing and no other change in operation.

Awaiting a 5dr Ti. So I'm basically guessing.

 

[Eurofordfan]

Someone else remarked that the non-SST version of the transmission generally engendered fewer complaints...???

In any case, I think the non-SST version is pretty similar to the Powershift transmission in the Fiesta. In the Fiesta, though, I think it views the throttle position, and if the car is increasing in speed, with the throttle closed -- and then it downshifts on its own. It may, in fact, look at the angle the car is at... i.e. down a hill, versus not. I don't remember, on the Fiesta, if there is an OD cancel button / Grade Logic button... but I 'kinda think there is.

Also, in the Fiesta, in L position, the car actually runs in as low a gear as it can, without redlining. So, in L, you actually can go down the road, going 5500 rpm (lower than redline) continuously. It simply holds the lowest gear it can, for the roadspeed you choose to go at. Not sure if the SST in the Focus will do this, in the same way.????

 

[flingwing1969]

I stumbled reading the same section.

I finally concluded, but have not verified, that the manual is talking about two different automatic transmissions. "the 6–speed automatic transmission" and one with a "SelectShift Automatic™ transmission (SST) gearshift lever". The former has "D (Drive) with Overdrive Cancel/Grade Assist" as well as an L position. The latter has Sport mode and all gears button shifters.

I read these as mutually exclusive. If you have "L" and one button, you have Overdrive Cancel/Grade Assist. If you have "S" and two buttons, you have SelectShift and can do the equivalent of overdrive cancel and grade assist if you shift to S and start playing with the buttons--this is "manual mode". In manual mode, the transmission will shift if it has to to protect the vehicle but other than that you are in charge. If you just shift to S, you are in "sport mode" and get "sportier" shift timing and no other change in operation.

Awaiting a 5dr Ti. So I'm basically guessing.

Pretty much dead on. Shift to S, press the minus (bottom) button and you're in 1st. I use that for hold back when descending my steep dirt road to get to the main road. When I hit bottom I can either accelerate through the gears like with a manual, just keep my foot in it and let the TCM shift at the top to prevent engine damage, or shift back to D and let the TCM do it's work.[driving]

 

[flingwing1969]

Someone else remarked that the non-SST version of the transmission generally engendered fewer complaints...???

In any case, I think the non-SST version is pretty similar to the Powershift transmission in the Fiesta. In the Fiesta, though, I think it views the throttle position, and if the car is increasing in speed, with the throttle closed -- and then it downshifts on its own. It may, in fact, look at the angle the car is at... i.e. down a hill, versus not. I don't remember, on the Fiesta, if there is an OD cancel button / Grade Logic button... but I 'kinda think there is.

Also, in the Fiesta, in L position, the car actually runs in as low a gear as it can, without redlining. So, in L, you actually can go down the road, going 5500 rpm (lower than redline) continuously. It simply holds the lowest gear it can, for the roadspeed you choose to go at. Not sure if the SST in the Focus will do this, in the same way.????

I believe the basic transmission is the Power Shift and it is the same unit, dual wet-clutch geared (not hydraulic) and essentially two manual trannys bolted together. Very cool stuff.[headbang]