Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

420 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 5:58 AM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Transmission, SUV

#390 of 420 Re: Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions [steve_] by gregthom99

Nov 05, 2012 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 13, 2006 11:24 am)
Hi all,
 
I just came here to get some advice from other users. I own a ford freestyle 06 wagon I bought second hand from a private owner. Recently, I have started noticing that the car is not as efficient as it used to be.
 
2) My main issue is that when on the highway sometimes the car seems to not want to gove over 80km/h however when I pull over and retart the engine, everything seems to work fine. This is happening now more and more often as I use the car more often to commute.
  
3) Also, when the car in gear and I turn the steering, sometimes the car tries to lunge forward. For example, when I try to park inbetween cars in a busy lot, while manoeuvering the car to park, it simply lunges forward. A few times I have missed hitting other cars.
 
Can someone tell me what these issues might be ? I have read things about transmission but I honestly cant spend 3000 now on this car having bought it only for a few months ago for about 6.5000.
 
PLEASE ADVICE

#391 of 420 Re: Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions [gregthom99] by hault

Nov 06, 2012 (8:03 am)

Replying to: gregthom99 (Nov 05, 2012 7:25 pm)
I have had a 2005 Freestyle since new. It now has 70,000+ miles. Few problems. Cleaning the throttle body or having someone clean it for you is the first step to solving the lunging problem. The engine management computer struggles with fuel and transmission adjustments when the throttle body is dirty. There are good "youtube" videos showing how to clean it without removing it from the engine. I cleaned mine around 60,000 miles when I was having hard start issues. I have only experienced the lunging a few times over the years, but none since I cleaned the throttle body. Good luck.

#393 of 420 Anyone else experience this? by usedcarguy

Dec 06, 2012 (11:03 am)

I'm currently going round and round with Ford on a customer's car. All codes point to a faulty TCM which is in the Mechatronic unit. The car still has over a year left on the 8/80 emissions components which include PCM, TCM, etc... Everyone I've talked to with the dealership AND Ford has told me the TCM is not covered until I show them in their warranty manual that it is. After submitting a warranty claim, Ford denies it because they are claiming that part is the valve body which isn't a covered part rather than the TCM which is. The truth is that it's BOTH, and they are conveniently hiding behind that fact to avoid paying the claim. Advice anybody? Am I going to have to sue?

#394 of 420 Re: Anyone else experience this? [usedcarguy] by hault

Dec 06, 2012 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: usedcarguy (Dec 06, 2012 11:03 am)
I would take the vehicle to a different dealership. As a customer have them decode the problem the vehicle is having. It is probably worth the diagnostic fee. If they find the TCM bad and it is under warranty voila! I had a Freestyle since new for 72,000 miles. I had few problems. Through my reading forums I believe alot of the transmission problems are related to a dirty throttle body. Apparently a dirty throttle body sends bad info to the TCM which screws up the transmission. Good luck.

#395 of 420 Re: Anyone else experience this? [hault] by soarneagle

Dec 15, 2012 (11:08 pm)

Replying to: hault (Dec 06, 2012 3:22 pm)
Hi this is a little long and windy but i have to give u all info to show u i have what i think the same issue / Question. let me know what u think i have an email at the end of this.
 
Lets see where do I start, Lets begin with this, I have owned 2 Ford Freestyles in the last year, a 2005 and now currently a 2007 AWD SEL.
 
I have had problems with both these vehicles and both times transmission, the 2005 started with a lurching forward at any given time when at low drive speed (IE: pulling into park and backing up to get out of parking space.) greatly increased in the heat of the summer with air-conditioner on. Then the noise started from the transmission, I looked at it and tried to hear where the noise was coming from but with no success as it seemed to come from everywhere and a couple locations. So before I even had a chance to bring to ford the Torque converter and gears associated had blew up and caused catastrophic damage to the transmission which required a rebuilt and a $4500.00 bill, after the replacement I still had issues with lurching and lunging forward and was told that i had to replace the Throttle Body Module, at another $905.36, re-programed the computer ( flashed ). I did not have enough time to have tested everything that was done as i was T-boned at an intersection 1 1/2 weeks later that wrote off my car. I was not a happy camper, as not only did I loose my money from the transmission, i have been out of work since November 23,2011 to date. I don't know if I will be able to return i have been suffering from health related issues from the accident and have no time frame to getting better.
  
With the write off of my 2005 ford freestyle, i needed another vehicle, the girlfriend and i enjoyed this vehicle so much we decided to go ahead and get another freestyle as we liked its all around functionality for what we used it for and that is allot of highway driving to and from the trailer and space. we purchased the 2007 ford freestyle on December 23/2011 and loved it ever since, I realized that we were having the same issues as we did with the 2005 in the summer of 2012 with regards to the lurching and lunging.
  
 I brought my 2007 back to the dealer i bought it from and they informed me of the throttle body issue. I asked if warranty will cover they checked into it for me and said no.
  
 I could not afford a $1000 dollar repair. The lurching had stopped so I decided not do anything at that moment. I had bought some cleaners to see if the throttle body issue would stop or lighten up and it did for the most part. Odd time here and there would i have the issue.
  
I then started to hear a noise from the time i would start my freestyle until I engaged drive or reverse, the noise would go away even in driving, with a week of hearing this noise i noticed when i would put the car in reverse and move i heard a very loud gear winding noise.
  
I paid close attention to it, keeping track of things as well, i finally decided to bring into a shop with my after market warranty, it is currently being investigated for transmission issue, the mechanic has suggested to me that he thinks it some kind of a ( plemun gear ?? ) not sure. but he needs to open the transmission and go from there.
  
I called Ford Canada today, reported issue and was told there is a 1 time customer service satisfaction recall/??.
  
I have the number for it and was told after the transmission is fixed bring to a ford dealer and this will be taken care care of the following is what Nancy said at ford, they will clean the throttle body and or replace and re-flash the computer. Now i think this might do it but i have my doubts.
  
Plus this does not fix or help me with the transmission issue as i think the two are directly related, this whole transmission is based on electronic signals sent to it via the computer and throttle body.
  
My question to anybody that wants to listen and i would also direct to Ford is, if you know the throttle body is causing the electronic lunge forward, on a system that is mechanical, would this not cause early failure in the transmission as its the transmission that is being told what to do by the electronics that are being fed by the computer?????.
  
I know it seems simple to ask and the question is simple and may not be related but i cant seem to understand why one part fails and its fixed by replacing and re-flashing a computer that controls everything from top to bottom in the car. Its not right, I Believe there is a direct issue with the computer to the transmission because there are more electronics in this CVT transmission than any other, I believe the lurching forward that goes on is not the only issue. I believe that the problems the computer has with the throttle body and the signals it sends to the computer to cause parts within the transmission to prematurely wear and or break. because who knows what else the electronic signal is activated at the wrong time within the transmission.
  
  
Sorry if I sounded long winded in this but I believe I have a true and valid point with Ford and ford is hiding more than what they are saying or just fixing as a customer satisfaction. I am not happy with them even though i enjoy there cars and trucks and think they are the better one of the north American dealers and would go back to them with a new purchase if I could afford it.... But I think they need to stand up to this issue and fix both the transmission and computer as I am no computer wizard I do know computers can send more than one signal at a time to cause parts not to function in the right order. Hence causing catastrophic failure in the transmission.
  
  
  
Thank you.
  
mjbelfiorirogers.com

#396 of 420 Re: Anyone else experience this? [soarneagle] by hault

Dec 16, 2012 (8:52 am)

Replying to: soarneagle (Dec 15, 2012 11:08 pm)
I had a 2005 Freestyle fwd since new. Drove 72,000 miles. Cleaned throttle body myself. Only problem was hard starting that's why I did the throttle body cleaning. I only experienced the "lurch/surge" issue a few times. Recently sold vehicle. Anyway I received the Ford letter. It says they may reimburse for the repairs related to the dirty throttle body which sent "bad" info to computer which eventually may damage the transmission. Also causes the "surge/lurching" issue. The only other thing I can add is I only use "Top Tier" gasolines in my vehicles. They are suppose to have more cleaners in them. Don't know if it makes any difference or not. Good luck!

#397 of 420 Re: Anyone else experience this? [hault] by cabhoney

Dec 16, 2012 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: hault (Dec 16, 2012 8:52 am)
When did you receive a letter from Ford? I'd sure like to receive one. I had to have mine replaced right after the CVT transmission went out.

#398 of 420 Re: Anyone else experience this? [cabhoney] by cabhoney

Dec 18, 2012 (5:56 am)

Replying to: cabhoney (Dec 16, 2012 5:05 pm)
I also received my letter from Ford yesterday, right after I read this. I paid over 600 to have mine done a year ago August. I'm taking the letter and my receipt today to the dealer and I hope to get reimbursed for the full amount.

#399 of 420 CVT repair reimbursement! by emmaurer

Dec 18, 2012 (3:34 pm)

Now if they'd do the same thing they did for the throttle body, for the CVT Transmission issues we would all be satisfied! I'm not giving up the CVT issues is $1000s of dollars to fix, and I'd love to be reimbursed for that repair also!!
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