Sign In Join 

You are here: [F] Forums / SUVs / Ford Freestyle / Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions



Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

203 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 6:23 PM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

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


Messages Page 2 of 21
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
...
21
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#9 of 203
CVT end in sight: by buckwheat
Jul 31, 2006 (8:49 am)
Reply
From the last paragraph of 7/31/06 Automotive News:
 
"Ford is dropping the continuously variable transmission offered in the Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego at the end of the 2007 model year."
#10 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by saabturboid
Jul 31, 2006 (9:54 am)
Reply

Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am)

That is very sad news. Nissan is expanding their CVT models and advertising which is creating a greater awareness of the benefits of the CVT transmission. Ford should also be doing this rather than jumping ship.
 
I find it a dumb move by Ford that just as awareness of the CVT is gaining momentum with the general public they decide to drop it. They really need to re-think the closing of the Batavia transmission plant. It seems they are tripping over dollars to save pennies.
 
- Chad
#11 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by rwolsonn
Jul 31, 2006 (3:21 pm)
Reply

Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am)

Definitely sad news. I considered purchasing a new FS to replace my Explorer, but decided not to make the purchase because I had read about the plant closing. I didn't want to buy a car and run into problems getting parts.
 
BTW, second Explorer and no problems. I'll turn 60k in a couple of weeks. I wanted to FS because I do a lot of kayaking and frankly, tired of lifting boats onto a higher roof line.
#12 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by passat_2002
Jul 31, 2006 (3:32 pm)
Reply

Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am)

The development of the CVT at Ford was begun in the late 90's during the Jac Nasser era at Ford. Mr. Nasser was shown the door in Oct. 2001. The CVT he was responsible for developing didn't actually make it into any vehicles here in America until the fall of "04 when it appeared in the Freestyle and Ford 500. Despite it's technical superiority over a conventional automatic transmission, it's future was sealed by it's cost of production. It's a luxury item that Ford simply cannot afford any longer. The new 6-speed trany that was co-developed by Ford and GM is going to be the future at Ford for the forseeable future. I'm sure we'll see it in the '08 Freestyle. None of this takes anything away from the CVT itself. It's a wondrous transmission in my book.. and I will miss it greatly when I buy/lease my Fire-Engine red '08 Freestyle.
#13 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [passat_2002] by buckwheat
Aug 01, 2006 (7:14 am)
Reply

Replying to: passat_2002 (Jul 31, 2006 3:32 pm)

Fords CVT is made here in the US in Batavia, Ohio. Production started about 3 yrs ago originally via joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen that goes back about 7+ yrs ago and which was bought out by Ford in late Feb. 2004.
That makes Ford the sole maker of the current CVT known as the CFT30 found in the Freestyle/Five Hundred/Montego. Multiple manufacturing delays caused the project to be delayed they originally intended to ship there first CVT in 2001. The problem with the CVT is as engines produce more HP and torque (primarily torque) that is where the problems arise. At present the 3.0L produces 207 lbs of torque. The 3.5L produces 250 lbs of torque. The current CVT can not handle an increase in torque and is made to operate under 258lbs. anything approaching that number would be operating at its max and therfore not conducive to longevity. Does that mean Ford can't make a CVT to handle the torque, from what I have read yes they can, but that brings on a whole slew of other considerations including additional expense, weight, the current CVT weighs about 7 lbs. more than an auto tranny. Ford has had some problems with the CVT and from what I have read they believe their new 6 speed Auto tranny joint venture with GM is the way forward. The Nissan Murano is probably one of the better known CVT operated but it also is not without problems.
 
The full Autmotive News article can be found here;
buckwheat, "What about the future of Ford Inc??" #1625, 31 Jul 2006 9:36 am
#14 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by blue05
Aug 01, 2006 (8:12 am)
Reply

Replying to: buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 7:14 am)

You said that the CVT was made in the U.S. I'm wandering why my parts content information sheet on my 05 stated that the transmission was made in Germany . It also noted that part contents does not include final assembly . Are the 06 CVT's made in the U.S ?
#15 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by buckwheat
Aug 01, 2006 (9:21 am)
Reply

Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am)

It is possible that in the early days of the joint venture some parts made for the CFT30 by ZF Friedchshafen were made in Germany but ZF's contribution was mainly CVT technology & design. What I said is "Fords CVT is made here in the US." That particular joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen has been dissolved, but Ford maintains other ventures with them.. My uderstanding is Fords Batavia plant, which is scheduled to close in 2008, is the maker of current Ford CVT's.
#16 of 203
Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by passat_2002
Aug 01, 2006 (9:47 am)
Reply

Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am)

As far as I know, all CVT transmissions for the Freestyle/500 since day one have been assembled in Batavia, Ohio. Some of it's parts, however, come from Germany. The stainless steel belt (by far the most expensive single part) comes from Germany . If 51% of the content cost comes from Germany.. then they gotta say it's from Germany. But it's made in the Buckeye state.
#17 of 203
transmission trouble by jackij
Aug 14, 2006 (7:43 pm)
Reply
We recently bought a brand new 05 Freestyle. Soon after, the "wrench light" indicating a problem with the transmission started coming on sporadically. When it comes on, you get no acceleration. We have taken it back to the dealership 4 times, each time they say it's fixed, but each time the same thing happens. They even tried to blame it on a cell phone or garage door opener signal interfering with the car's computer. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
#18 of 203
Re: transmission trouble [jackij] by stmss
Aug 15, 2006 (5:01 am)
Reply

Replying to: jackij (Aug 14, 2006 7:43 pm)

The light has come on a number of times on my 06. Usually when accelerating (moderately hard) to merge. Sometimes you get a lurch from the car. Only once at a stop light did I get a momentary loss of acceleration. Light does not come back on after I restart the car.
 
They diagnosed it (after 2nd visit) as a faulty mechatronic unit (code 2765-20, if that means anything). It is being replaced next week.

Messages Page 2 of 21
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
...
21
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

You are here: [F] Forums / SUVs / Ford Freestyle / Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Learn More

2007 Ford Freestyle

2007 Ford Freestyle SEL Wagon

More Pictures

DoMore

Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics
Advertisement