Hi Crazy Dazz,
If you've read this whole thread, you deserve a medal!
I know I'm long-winded, but as Mark Twain said, "If I had more time, I'd write less." Brevity ain't my better skill.
134,000k. Sorry, looks like not stated in this thread (but see it's in a DTC report - just found by Search). Too easy to miss.
Also have most of the Service Records going back to new. Original lady owner. Fully serviced in its early life. Then looks like some cowboy owned it for a while. Had straw, sand and dirt in the spare wheel well etc and maybe didn't give it any love.
The guy before me only had it a short distance - obviously that's when he discovered that it already had big problems. I bought it sight unseen, online. Thought I was buying Odd gears only, but turned out much better than that, so can't complain. Apart from the bucking and kicking (learned that from the cowboy?) described two posts around 3rd Jan, this seems to be its worst fault.
So, Yes, I'm coming to the conclusion that you are 100% correct - probably an mechanical issue inside the box. Something has suffered as a result of all those sudden engine "stalls" and restarts. I couldn't bear to drive it like that for more than a few minutes, thinking of what damage it might be doing, but it must have been driven like that for a while before I got it.
I've noticed that it has a different sound from the 2011 I also have. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the tranny. It's an unusual kind of whistling whine. Not too loud but it's there. It sounds a bit like that unusual sound the 5-cylinder Rangers make, but makes me think there's something a little bent in there.
Ha! Funny you should ask, I know it's #1 in the service book, but no, haven't actually checked the fluid level. Planning to drain it and pull the cover off soonish, but the last Fluid & Filter change was done 20,000k's back, by the local Ford Dealer and charged at 6 litres. No obvious leaks. My feeling is it's not that. If I'm wrong, I'll fess up! I'm betting there's a heap of steel on the magnets though.
I appreciate your comments. It's been a real learning curve...