[narkotskyb]

3rd update

No word from dealership yet and it's 7:33PM PST.

 

[PratoN]

Dropped off my car today. Mentioned about them checking the seals on the transmission. I got a, "we'll test drive it to replicate your concerns and if we find anything we'll go from there" response.

The guy checked if there were any bulletins in regards to the problems mention with regard to the transmission, but he said there weren't any.

I'm doubtful this will get fixed, but i just can't swallow a financial loss on this car right now by trading it in for a different car.

Ditto on the financial loss.

The reason no dealers are fixing the cars are because TSB 11-12-13 only states to proceed if there is an external leakage of transmission fluid. As far as I know, you'll essentially need 2 failed seals. If just the internal seals are leaking, it destroys the clutch pack, but you're screwed because the dealer won't open the darn thing up!

 

[tigertiger]

Dealerships are actually audited on TSB/Warranty related repair work. If they willy nilly decide to replace a part that's functioning perfectly on a customer's vehicle and then the audit shows that the replaced part actually was in good working order, the dealership foots the bill and doesn't get credit for the work. That's how I've come to understand it.

That said, almost everyone in this thread should have sufficient evidence to argue in their favor to get this TSB applied, afterall, we're all exhibiting similar issues, some worse than others, but similar nonetheless, this is NOT an isolated incident.

Interesting. I didn't know this. It has a certain amount of sense and logic to it, but clearly isn't being applied properly here.

Do you think the size and volume of the dealership may also be a factor? A large dealer is maybe able to be more flexible and justify claims to corporate whereas a small one needs to be more cautious and might not be given the benefit of the doubt.

 

[smizak]

Interesting. I didn't know this. It has a certain amount of sense and logic to it, but clearly isn't being applied properly here.

Do you think the size and volume of the dealership may also be a factor? A large dealer is maybe able to be more flexible and justify claims to corporate whereas a small one needs to be more cautious and might not be given the benefit of the doubt.

My dealer is a monster with several lots in several locations and probably ten or so auto brands. The manager told me explicitly that he would love to open my gearbox up and prove me right, but Ford will not authorize it unless the leakage is visible. He spoke with engineering and they told him only to reprogram the tranny with the newest calibration. They open themselves up to other issues if the repair department just starts taking new cars apart because their customers want them to.

He expressed doubt and frustration to me as well, he knows damn well it's not gonna work either.

 

[2008 Ford Focus]

When people state that they are turning off traction control, Are you guys turning off the stability contol or is that something different?

Stability Control can save your life and others! Can you clarify?

 

[Dysan911]

When people state that they are turning off traction control, Are you guys turning off the stability contol or is that something different?

Stability Control can save your life and others! Can you clarify?

I know of NO way to turn off Stability control. Were only turning off Traction Control.

 

[hotleadsingerguy]

When people state that they are turning off traction control, Are you guys turning off the stability contol or is that something different?

Stability Control can save your life and others! Can you clarify?

There is no way to turn off stability control on these cars.

 

[MyThIc3LiTe]

When people state that they are turning off traction control, Are you guys turning off the stability contol or is that something different?

Stability Control can save your life and others! Can you clarify?

Stability programs can't be shut off, the only cars that Ford sells that do that are the Taurus SHO and Mustang.

 

[PratoN]

The manager told me explicitly that he would love to open my gearbox up and prove me right, but Ford will not authorize it unless the leakage is visible.

So... can I open it? Does it void my warranty?

 

[narkotskyb]

Well I got a call from dealership stating that 'all checks went ok and I should go an pick up my car'... Told 'em they can shove and keep and I'll keep driving rental until they will fix it.

 

[feta_mgp]

My dealer is a monster with several lots in several locations and probably ten or so auto brands. The manager told me explicitly that he would love to open my gearbox up and prove me right, but Ford will not authorize it unless the leakage is visible. He spoke with engineering and they told him only to reprogram the tranny with the newest calibration. They open themselves up to other issues if the repair department just starts taking new cars apart because their customers want them to.

He expressed doubt and frustration to me as well, he knows damn well it's not gonna work either.

I don't understand. Ford won't authorize a few hours of labor to check on an INTERNAL leak unless it's visibly leaking EXTERNALLY. Even though the TSB states explicitly that it's an internal problem?

Wow..

 

[PratoN]

I don't understand. Ford won't authorize a few hours of labor to check on an INTERNAL leak unless it's visibly leaking EXTERNALLY. Even though the TSB states explicitly that it's an internal problem?

Wow..

Eh, it's not explicitly stated, but should be inferred.

The transmission is filled with fluid, there is a shaft with an internal seal that connects the driving gear(s) to the clutch which resides in the bell housing. There is an outer seal to keep the clutch safe from the elements. The internal seal fails and fluid (apparently it doesn't take much) gets on the clutch plates and (I can only assume) thrown toward the edges of the bell housing. If the external seal is doing its job, nothing is getting out of that housing either. My guess is that if I open that up I'll see fluid come out (I can't guess how much, but any would be bad). Those not having the slipping issues should not see this.

Note: As stated before, the transmission oil is slick. If you have a thick, honey-colored substance on your bell housing, it's probably just corrosion inhibitor.

EDIT: I took a few videos but they're kind of noisy and it's hard to differentiate what's the transmission and what's the camera making its own hissing noises. Shall I post some of them anyway? :-\

 

[narkotskyb]

Did you guys do the 'complaining basics' yet? If not I suggest before taking apart clutch packs by yourself do this:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml
Doing mine right now

 

[PratoN]

Did you guys do the 'complaining basics' yet? If not I suggest before taking apart clutch packs by yourself do this:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml
Doing mine right now

I was really trying to avoid needing to do this because it probably doesn't look good on Ford's behalf... but neither does what they're doing to us. What do you say? Should I fill it out? It's kind of a safety hazard... but I drive like a grandma and give myself some big ol' driving cushions. But if I drove like some of my cohorts, I'd have rear ended someone or been rear ended by now.

 

[primetime]

I knew about the TSB about the seals. When the service guy told me that there aren't any TSB's that set off alarms in my head, that's the reason why I asked them to check the seals.

He also mentioned that they don't open the transmission, I asked if it's because of the closed transmission. And he basically admitted that that was the cause.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[narkotskyb]

It is a safety first issue.

Biggest concern here is driving in traffic. I am a very lucky person because I get to work from home but IF I had to drive my car in traffic for the past 10 months I would probably be dead now. So here it is:
Incident Information
Approximate Incident Date:01/12/2012 Vehicle mileage at time of incident:4,500 Vehicle speed at time of incident:70 (mph)Affected Partsower TrainFire: NoCrash: NoInjury or Fatality:No
Tell us what happended:
While driving on I-8 toward San Diego I heard a engine revving up then transmission downshift suddenly. Engine lost a considerable amount of power/torque ever since. For example I can not accelerate in 6 gear @ highway speeds. Shift times sometimes are more then 2 sec apart which presents an enormous risk when driving in any traffic. Car has been to Kearny Ford for repairs multiple times since with neither Ford nor dealer providing any fix and telling me that 'it's operating within normal limits'. I am driving a rental Ford Focus with approximately same mileage as my car now and it does not exhibit any of the issues I have. At this point I feel that my own safety and my family safety are being put at risk. I can not safely drive this car on anything but empty or almost empty roads.

 

[narkotskyb]

Well spoke with Ford CS - basically conversation went as 'since dealership can not detect the issue based on the conditions/tests we developed there is not issue'. We're imagining these issues apparently.

 

[bassmobile]

Holy Poop Balls! Turned off the TC and WOW! It was like driving a new car. I can't believe the difference. I have a 1/12 build with all the latest updates.

 

[narkotskyb]

Ok so this is what I did today - drove and video taped both rental car and my Ti going under cruise control over the same steep grade uphill and trying to accelerate using cruise control.
Results - rental car accelerated from 70 to 73 mph
My Ti - !slowed down! from 70 to 68 mph

If this is how FORD defines 'normal operating range' then I keep bringing my car back to dealership until lemon law threshold can be reached. I'm not imagining this and I have video proof of it.

 

[PratoN]

Sorry about cross-posting, but here is a (crappy) video of my car's clutch slipping. I'll try to make another one...

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4399753&postcount=17

I'm only throwing it on here because I don't know if the bad seals causing slipping are the same root issue with low-speed shudder or not.

EDIT: Traction control doesn't stop my slipping, but it does seem to reduce start-up shudder and push through the gears a little better.