2011 Ford Focus Sport, Transmission Shudders :(

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So last Saturday I picked up an LW Ford Focus Sport Hatch with a Powershift Transmission, build date Dec 2011. Anyhow at low speeds (e.g. around town) I get frequent shudders and it feels like the cars constantly searching for gears. At high speeds its fine. BUT going up hills it feels as though it doesn't stop shuddering, going down hills it's no constant but near enough. It's ruining the drive of the car. I realise the transmission and clutch has to be run in, but my Focus has 17,000kms on it. Surely it is run in by now. It is still covered under warranty but from what I've read will Ford do anything to fix it. it seems to me that in the US they've solved it with a reflash of the Powertrain Control Module. Can this or will this be done here?

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Originally Posted by Golfer

Had our diesel powershift for 12 months. Done 15,000km. No problems at all. Did have the software upgraded and it made a great gearbox even better. The changes in both normal and sport mode are very smooth. The sport mode is great on hilly and windy roads with quite agressive up and down shifting. The powershift is much, much better than conventional automatics.

I may have found a clue in the cars service history, it had the 3 month inspection, missed the 7,500km service and the 15,000km service was done at Ultratune. Could the car have missed a software update or something?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by aaaaplay

I may have found a clue in the cars service history, it had the 3 month inspection, missed the 7,500km service and the 15,000km service was done at Ultratune. Could the car have missed a software update or something?

The 7.5km service?? I don't think there is one. If you did this it would be an oil change and possibly a filter and that's it.

If you want an update, take it into Ford for the next service and mention that the box is acting up. They should do updates as part of a service if they know of one available, but you saying that the gearbox is erratic will make sure they see if the software is updated.

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So I am currently having my Focus serviced. The dealer said he is currently downloading and then installing a new software update, the dealer hasn't performed on any Focus before. I'll report back and tell you the results

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Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

The 7.5km service?? I don't think there is one. If you did this it would be an oil change and possibly a filter and that's it.

If you want an update, take it into Ford for the next service and mention that the box is acting up. They should do updates as part of a service if they know of one available, but you saying that the gearbox is erratic will make sure they see if the software is updated.

There is however it is a type C so it is optional.

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I forgot to mention it is a petrol engine. I still thought the quote was relevant.

[martinijosh]

I'm afraid to say that this is normal for Ford's dual clutch gearboxes.

Our wt fiesta does it too from brand new. Generally only if you are very light on the throttle, though.

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Its just tonight on the drive home it was doing it violently on a slight lope and on and off the whole time around town. We didn't notice it on our drive home from Melbourne because we were on a freeway for 4 hours.

[wombat66]

Our cars only do it occasionally at slow speeds but otherwise drive really well. Maybe your car still needs a firmware update.

[paul-r-d]

I find if I hit the accelerator really quick from the brake it only very lightly shakes. Other than that once working through the gears they are smooth and don't feel anything. Mines a Fiesta though.

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Well thats what I think has happened, the first inspection was in april of 2012 then it is missed a service and had a service at ultratune where I doubt it would get software updates.

[jonohoang]

Originally Posted by aaaaplay

Well thats what I think has happened, the first inspection was in april of 2012 then it is missed a service and had a service at ultratune where I doubt it would get software updates.

Just take it to your local dealership if you are concerned.
It takes them 2 mins to hook it up and check if you have the latest software for the transmission.
We had the exact same concerns as you when we bought our titanium petrol powershift. Unfortunately this is how the transmission is, and as others have said it usually happens if you are light on the throttle in the first 2 forward gears.

[Samurai_Chris]

I have the same year Sport. It is essentially a manual transmission without the clutch and shifting.. So it is normal.. Not normal to be violent like you have said, but yes, it does have to think at lower speeds... For example, if I am on a hill and don't give it enough, it almost stalls.. But as a manual driver would do, it quickly puts the car into gear and you go.. Its quirky for an auto, but I love it..

[vztrt]

There were issues with the DSC when they were first launched it. There was also a software update that apparently fixed it.

Edit:

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11347138

That's the thread and it seems to be drivability issues at low speed.

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So apprently it had 2/3 of a software update and while at the dealer it had the final 3rd installed. The upgrade has improved the shuddering at medium speeds and a little bit at low speeds. Sport seems to be worse though Drive has less shuddering. Overall improved but I expected better.

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I found this which anyone with issues might find interesting. It is about the update:
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/pu...sb13-04-05.pdf

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Is it normal to have a slight 'jump' while idling?

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So I've discovered two oil leaks since bringing it in. Maybe it is related going to book it in for Monday.

[WILDB]

If it is due to poor workmanship on behalf of another dealer they will need to charge the other dealer for the rework.

Ford Motor Company will not pay for poor workmanship.

I would be asking for proof that this has been replaced previously - i.e. information from Servis2 to suggest that this had been fixed previously under warranty by another dealer etc. If they cannot produce reasonable evidence I would be questioning the credibility of their story.

[Nolz]

Good news mate. I hope that's the end of all the problems and you'll now have a trouble free run!

You bought it second hand yeah? I wonder if the previous owner got jack of the issues and traded it in. The same troubles that you've just had sorted.

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They had looked up previous repairs with that being the replacement of the Crankshaft Seal due to the previous owner complaining of the exact same issue shudders.

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NEW PROBLEM!!!!! So I was driving today and 2,4,6th and Reverse gears failed turning into virtually neutral gears. Managed to limp it to the dealer using sport mode to select the odd gears. They've told me it is the Electronic Rail Selector that has failed. Due to having brought it in later in the day the part won't be ordered till Monday and I won't get the car back till Tuesday!!! At least tomorrow morning I'll be supplied with a courtesy car. This car seems to me to be a bit of a lemon

[Nolz]

That's terrible! I really do hope its a quick and simple fix for you :(

[mrmavx]

well i just got my focus titanium petrol back today after a week off the road and it had both clutch packs replaced. all very strange as there was no paperwork and when i asked about what was the problem that caused my cars shudders (in 2 4 6 below 2200 rpm, felt like someone had pulled a plug lead off) i was told we dont know exactly as we send the gearbox off to bayfords to do the work and they sort it out with ford not us. i thought it was strange that both sets of clutches required replacing yet there was apparently no oil leak on to them which according to a lot of reports is what causes constant shuddering in gear. the only other information i could get out of them is that they have seen "quite a few" boxes with clutch issues, doesnt exactly fill you with confidence that it will not happen again which is a worry as this car spends 90% of its life cruising at 110 kph on the highway and not going up and down thru the gears like a city car would

ps hope this is your last issue aaaaplay

[aaaaplay]

Originally Posted by mrmavx

well i just got my focus titanium petrol back today after a week off the road and it had both clutch packs replaced. all very strange as there was no paperwork and when i asked about what was the problem that caused my cars shudders (in 2 4 6 below 2200 rpm, felt like someone had pulled a plug lead off) i was told we dont know exactly as we send the gearbox off to bayfords to do the work and they sort it out with ford not us. i thought it was strange that both sets of clutches required replacing yet there was apparently no oil leak on to them which according to a lot of reports is what causes constant shuddering in gear. the only other information i could get out of them is that they have seen "quite a few" boxes with clutch issues, doesnt exactly fill you with confidence that it will not happen again which is a worry as this car spends 90% of its life cruising at 110 kph on the highway and not going up and down thru the gears like a city car would

ps hope this is your last issue aaaaplay

The original owners had purchased our car from Bayford Coburg and had repairs done on our car previously.

[mrmavx]

Originally Posted by aaaaplay

The original owners had purchased our car from Bayford Coburg and had repairs done on our car previously.

that makes me even happier NOT to know that who stuffed up and repaired your car badly the first time are the same people who have done the repair to mine

[Rocksprint]

Take it back to ford
My partners had the same probs needed new clutches and reprogram on electric

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So We got the car back on thursday and since not a shudder at all!!!! It drives like a new car should, there are a few residences in changes but otherwise Wow. I feel as though it was the rail selector and thrust bearing all along causing problems. But the whole process our dealer Blacklocks lavington have been good to deal with and hopefully this is the last of the issues.

[damo76]

I bought a new focus sport and have similar problems with transmission. I phoned ford to book the car in for 7500 km service and they said it was unnessasary, only if the car has worked hard in the first 7500km.
Anyway i did read somewhere that the transmission shudder at takeoff was normal as the design of the transmission was similar to a manual transmission being it has dry clutch setup.
So see how it goes, it has had its 15000kkm service at ford and i asked them to check out the transmission and see if there's any software updates but they said it was fine so touch wood.
i do notice that the shudder happens more if your very light on the accelerator. May just have to change my driving style.
there was another theory about the tranny i was thinking of, when i had my vrx magna fwd, when i used to accelerate hard or flutter accelerator, it used to jerk or shudder expecially on take of now this was because of the torque and the design of the horizontal engine as theres not much to stop it from torquing backwards and forwards, not like rwd cars were the running gear is long ways down the car.
Bit hard to explain but im sort of thinking buying stiffer engine mounts might stop the shudder.

[EB#]

At the risk of coming across as overly-negative, these Powershift autos do not have such
a good reputation...... However, I do hope that the OP and others experiencing problems can get
them sorted out soon!

From the Dog and Lemon Car Guide, Current Focus Review:
http://www.dogandlemon.com/

"Ford’s 6-speed Powershift automatics have been the subject of much
criticism. The Ford Powershift transmission uses what’s called a dualclutch
system to give extremely quick gear changes and better fuel
economy. Drivers can also select gears using tiny plus or minus buttons
on the side of the gear selection lever, but this is clumsily annoying.
Ford’s rivals put paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
We have a dim opinion of dual clutch transmission systems, because
they tend to give lots of expensive problems and because they often
don’t work all that well in the real world.

Being a racing system, the Powershift is pretty good if you’re travelling,
say, through a series of winding roads at high speed. It’s at city rush
hour speeds that the Powershift’s glaring defects really start to show. At
low speeds the transmission often can’t work out which gear it should
be in. Thus the transmission hesitates, jerks and sometimes won’t
accelerate properly. In very cold weather the transmission sometimes
takes a long time to get going. Ford has modified the programming
on these transmissions to try and get around these problems, but these
problems have not gone away.

Ford has repeatedly tried to claim that this is a great transmission,
but that owners simply have to get used to a different type of gear
changing. We think that this is a crock: the Powershift simply doesn’t
work properly. The owners are right and Ford is wrong.

And, as is so often the case with fancypants car technology, it’s not very
reliable: we have heard of a number of cases of Powershift transmissions
totally failing at very low mileages. God help any poor sod who owns
a car fitted with a Powershift transmission once it leaves warranty."