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Ford Focus Transmission Problems

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Messages Page 35 of 70

#332 of 689 2001 Ford Focus Transmission Issues (I think?) by kiikyo

Jul 16, 2010 (8:51 am)

I believe that my transmission may be failing... but it is just a suspicion right now based on the symptoms and my research. Perhaps someone could help solidify my suspicions?
 
The car is an 01 Focus ZX3. It has been laboring when getting into 3rd gear (~38-45mph?), but this USUALLY happens when going up a hill. Thankfully most of Delaware is FLAT, so it's not always an issue. However, I'm worried that it could become more serious, since I do a lot of long distance driving. Sometimes the car "chugs" or shakes and won't make it past 45 unless I step more on the accelerator or reach flat land. I've read about a solenoid "A" in the transmission being the culprit, but when I talked to a dealership about this they ask me to be more specific, as they do not know which solenoid I am referring to specifically.
 
Also, my check engine light is NOT on. But it was on at one point when I was having an extremely difficult time going up a mountain pass in PA (couldn't get about 30mph). Since then it has gone off, and Auto Zone states that they will not do a diagnostic hook-up to the computer if the check engine light is off. Can they still detect a problem if the light is off??
 
Thank you for any help..

#333 of 689 Codes by dno36

Jul 16, 2010 (11:33 am)

Yes codes can be stored in the computer for a period of time as well as some codes do not trigger the check-engine light.
 
My local A-Z will hook up even if there is no light, as I am a regular.
If you tell them the light was on when you left your house and just shut off, they may help you as well.
 
Keep us informed
Good Luck.
 
Dean

#334 of 689 2002 Focus SE problem. by jadkins45

Jul 18, 2010 (7:47 pm)

2002 Focus SE miss firing when accelerating, and transmission jerks when it finally gets enough speed to shift into Drive, plus the engine light is on.
 
Haven't done anything to it yet because I just bought it.
 
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated?

#335 of 689 Re: add to #156 & 159 [rhonda25] by marked1

Jul 24, 2010 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: rhonda25 (Jul 15, 2010 7:01 am)
It possible that the engine misfiring intermittently when driving only. The check engine light never lights up, no codes stored. May be one of your ignition wires is bad (like mine was, broke and corroded inside a boot), or it could be one of your
spark plugs. Now, don't let them brake your spark plugs while removing them (they brake way too easy).
cheers mate.

#336 of 689 Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? by mysedai

Aug 31, 2010 (9:31 pm)

Hey, guys, I'm having some problems with my 2002 Ford Focus SVT, and I was hoping maybe one of you could point me in the right direction.
The problem seems to be either my clutch of transmission, but I'm leaning toward the clutch at the moment. A month or so ago it made a brief but loud "crunch" when I put the car into reverse with the clutch completely engaged. A few days later, it acted slightly sloggish when I took off from 1st, but was otherwise fine. That happened occasionally, maybe one in ten or twelve times I drove, for a couple weeks, then the whole thing went south fairly quickly.
Now, it's nearly impossible to start on a hill; the engine will be turning 4500 rms, and the car moves by inches. The tach will flutter going up hills at higher speeds, and I realized by accident a couple of days ago that I can take my foot completely off the clutch while my car is in gear, and it doesn't even notice.
The car seems to go into all its gears correctly; that is when I'm sitting still and go through the pattern, I hear only the normal sounds it has always made, and it doesn't give me problems when I shift any more or less than any other time. The engine still purrs, but it's like I'm driving with the clutch pressed. Usually, after about ten or fifteen minutes, everything sort of mellows out, especially if I stop an pump the clutch.
I wanted to check the fluids, but can't find the transaxle resevoir my owner's manual says should be located just right of the middle, near the air filter. I did check the brake/clutch fluid, and when I got it serviced (around the same time the problem started), they seemed to have filled it to the brim. Still, taking the cap off and putting it back on seems to make it a lot better until I turn the car off and restart it.
Does anybody have any ideas? I'm competent to do minor repairs on my own, and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but if I have to take it for repairs, I like to have an idea about what the problem is and how much is should cost. I have had unscrupulous mechanics try to rip me off a couple times and I know for a fact that doing the homework has saved me nearly a thousand dollars so far! I know the vast majority of mechanics are honest guys, but I'm in a new town and don't know the good guys from the bad guys yet!
Thanks,
MySedai

#337 of 689 Re: add to #156 & 159 [rhonda25] by rhonda25

Aug 31, 2010 (9:56 pm)

Replying to: rhonda25 (Jul 15, 2010 7:01 am)
where to start on this car...well before we could figure out what was causing the jerking issue...she went to the gas station to fill up and when she went to start the car she couldn't turn the key...turns out Ford Focus has a bad problem with their ignition...we called a lock smith who fixed that issue. Then about a week later her check engine light came on..and it turned out to be the reason for her car jerking, which started to get really bad...but it was an easy fix..it was her spark plugs and spark plug wires.
She called from college yesterday and she couldn't keep her car started...turns out a mouse or a squirrel chewed the wire from the battery to the starter...she just called earlier tonight and the blinkers stopped working and called a short time later and her car wouldn't start again...could be bad battery or more rodent damage.....
 
I am getting tired of this car!

#338 of 689 02 focus se speed sensor by kaylynn

Sep 01, 2010 (4:14 pm)

I have had an issue for about 2 months now. This seems to happen after my car has sat in the sun for the day or first thing in the morning. I'll turn on the car and accelerate and it seems like the car doesn't want to go into 1st gear. The rpm's will go up but the speedometer stays on 0. Sometimes it'll catch in gear and the car will jerk and the tranny light will come on. Then the speedometer works too. Other times, if i slowly press the gas, it'll catch and go. Lately, it takes a few minutes for it to catch into gear. It feels like im drving in neutral. I usually have to restart my car 4 or 5 times before it'll work. Sometimes the speedometer will randomly drop to 0 and there will be dash marks (----) where the odometer reading is. Its odd. I took it to a shop where they hooked it up and nothing came up. One of the workers suggested i try the transmission range sensor. After $80 that didn't work. I took it to a transmission specialist and they said the speed sensor code popped up. My check engine light had turned on around that time too. I'm planning on having that sensor changed soon. I have to find out if it is the input or the output speed sensor though. Has anyone had this happen to them or have the same issue? Thanks

#339 of 689 Re: Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? [mysedai] by dno36

Sep 02, 2010 (3:10 am)

Replying to: mysedai (Aug 31, 2010 9:31 pm)
Just to clarify..Manual 5-speed transmission, correct.
How many mile on the car??
Original Clutch??
Personally, I would first check and see if there is any pedal adjustment available for your car. it sound as if you are slipping terribly (4500 rpm's only moving inches) This is very bad to do to any clutch and will 'smoke' it.
You fluid-level description seems a bit strange...
Suggestion....I would start by getting a Haynes or Chilton repair manual for your car. This is a source of much better detail for all basic service and repairs, with many pictures to assist. It sounds like you are competent at the basic stuff and would be a good investment of less than $20.
Keep us informed.

#340 of 689 Re: 02 focus se speed sensor [kaylynn] by dno36

Sep 02, 2010 (3:28 am)

Replying to: kaylynn (Sep 01, 2010 4:14 pm)
Hi Kaylynn, hope we can assist.
You say, "I'll turn on the car and accelerate and it seems like the car doesn't want to go into 1st gear. The rpm's will go up but the speedometer stays on 0."
Is the car moving and the speedo stays at 0??
 
Can you tell us, mileage of your car, with any recent work done.
Second, take your car to a place and get the codes scanned for free. You may need to call a few places and explain your situation. Have them scan it and look at the codes yourself as they do it, it is not a big secret thing. Details get lost/filtered in translation.
A decent parts store will give you a printout of the codes with recommended repairs/parts all for free.
A speed sensor can cause problems. Most speed sensors now are magnetic, and there is a maintainence item with some of them as they collect a mass of little bits of metal on the tip as the years pass, They can be removed, cleaned, and reused.
If you allow a shop to just replace things until they find the problem, you may be broke by the time they replace them all.
Always start with the codes.
Keep us informed.

#341 of 689 Re: Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? [dno36] by mysedai

Sep 02, 2010 (11:42 am)

Replying to: dno36 (Sep 02, 2010 3:10 am)
No, the car has the manual 6 speed transmission, close to 75,000 miles, and I know the previous owner had the clutch replaced. I bought it from a friend of mine when she moved to Japan, so I am pretty well aware of the car's history. She bought it new, and learned to drive a stick in it. The clutch that was replaced was faulty, though. I think that was at about 30,000; I bought the car at about 50,000. By the time the clutch was replaced, she was proficient at driving a manual. Luckily, my parents insisted I learn to drive in a manual ('73 AMC Hornet), so I'd say the clutch has been pretty gently used by me, except for a few people I gave driving lessons to (three of them, at about an hour apiece), and one DD who claimed to know how to drive a stick (If I'd known he was that bad at it, I'd have walked the mile to my house, lol).
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. I genuinely appreciate it.
-Mysti

Messages Page 35 of 70

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