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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Focus / August 2006Gear box problem (i think)
Hey guys, Hope some one can help. Probably a mechanic knowing my recent luck but here goes anyway...... I drive a 1998 UK Model 1.8ltr Manual Petrol Focus. Zetec Model. Its approaching 60k and I drive a variety of road types regurlarly and trip lengths vary. Its alway been fully serviced. I've had nearly 3 years of a wonderful car with minimal costs but recently everything seams to be going wrong, some bad luck i know and the rest I'm putting down to the car just getting old. Anyhow, I noticed on Monday it suddenly became much more difficult to get it to shift gear. It was fine over weekend but after I'd reversed out of my drive on Monday it was difficult to get first. 2nd was a problem and then 3rd was a nightmare. I've never had a problem but now, on starting, its horrid. The last 2 days have been similar. 3rd seams particularly bad in a morning. Wierdly during my commute (about 6 - 7 miles) it gets better but not as smooth as before. I've been increasing my gear shifts trying to figure out when it occurs and at what revs but it seams consistent across all reasonable ranges. When i return home on the night it stills feels poor (when compared to before) but without the problems of the morning. The best way i can describe it is "clunky". I cant feel any unusual vibration through the gear stick or the clutch. The bite point of the clutch also seams to be the same. I can get reverse fine and during driving its fine, throttle is just as responsive, its just on gear change that its changed. It appears to need increased pressure to take it out of gear then increased again to put it in the next. The only bit that feels normal is the half an inch lateral movement while it is in neutral between shifts! I think its the same whether I shift up or down. There are no warning lights on, engine and gear box don't appear to be making any unusual noises. So before I go to the garage - anyone suggestions to whats up with my car? Thanks >Anyhow, I noticed on Monday it suddenly became much more difficult to get it >to shift gear. It may be something as simple as a broken spring. See <http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/browse_frm/thread/ba 23f634cca79fc5/36a2fa3ac8796ee2?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#36a2fa3ac8796ee2>  SignatureAlan news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com Please please please let that be it!!! Clutch return spring went 2 month ago also. Many thanks for the reply. Dunno why didnt see it on google search though :-s I'll be having a look at weekend > Hey guys, > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > So before I go to the garage - anyone suggestions to whats up with my car? It doesnt sound internal- sounds more like a partially seized selector cable 'tween 'lever and 'box. Tim.. the snapped neutral gear spring is common on this year, however if this was at fault(which i dont think it is)it would be there all the time,regardless of engine temp(syptoms are mostly 2nd to 3rd,ie no neutral position) i think your problem is, wots known as clutch drag(when you press the clutch its not releasing fully hense the difficult gear changes). the cure?... a new clutch assy > the snapped neutral gear spring is common on this year, however if this > was [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > clutch its not releasing fully hense the difficult gear changes). the > cure?... a new clutch assy Thanks for the reply. Thats my fear. I've had a look at the spring mentioned in an earlier reply and it appears ok. Today the gear changes didnt feel so bad, still "clunkier" that normal but better than previous few days. Clutch though feels like its hardly there. Seamed very light, almost on an off with little feeling. Wonder if the few days of clutch drag worn it to point it becomes very obvious. I did think it wierd though that yesterday so much different than today. I think i'll take it the garage and see what they say. Assuming its a new clutch. has anyone had similar and could post how much it cost? I know prices vary but my garage seams reasonable on labour but parts will be a bugger. >> the snapped neutral gear spring is common on this year, however if this >> was [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > prices vary but my garage seams reasonable on labour but parts will be a > bugger. sorry while I'm on the subject - whats the best way to check for clutch drag? I've read that if I run the car at idle and try to select reverse repeatedly, if i get a crunch most/each time the clutch kaput? Its that right? Thanks yep its most common on 1st and reverse the price of the part(from a dealer)is err, let me think about £68, this comes without the bearing/slave cylinder(if needed) which costs about £45 and about 3hrs labour book time +VAT > yep its most common on 1st and reverse > > the price of the part(from a dealer)is err, let me think about £68, this > comes without the bearing/slave cylinder(if needed) which costs about £45 > and about 3hrs labour book time +VAT Thanks very much for your replies. Gonna have to look at getting it fixed before any more damage is done. My Focus becoming a drag now. May have to upgrade ;-) ST170 looks tempting ;-) > > yep its most common on 1st and reverse > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > My Focus becoming a drag now. May have to upgrade ;-) ST170 looks tempting > ;-) No, no no no!! Tim.. >> > yep its most common on 1st and reverse >> > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Tim.. ??? > >> > yep its most common on 1st and reverse > >> > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > ??? Thirsty as hell, very little faster in day to day driving than the normal 2.0, and you soon bore of the need to rev it past 5000rpm to get anything resembling acceleration. One of the rare STDCi's is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar infront of the petrol driven ST and looks the same. Tim.. >> >> > yep its most common on 1st and reverse >> >> > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Tim.. Fair enough. Guess I'll have to have a go first. Wanted the 2 Litre but couldnt find one for sale near me on the second hand market so ended up with the 1.8. > >> >> "ford_technical_" <dave@nospam.uk> wrote in message news:91518c57f5e37f0a75adfb23203f0bf2@localhost.talkaboutautos.com... > >> >> > yep its most common on 1st and reverse > >> >> > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > couldnt find one for sale near me on the second hand market so ended up with > the 1.8. I found the 1.8 perfectly brisk enough 95% of the time, and 35mpg at the same time you cant go wrong. Tim. . > > >> >> "ford_technical_" <dave@nospam.uk> wrote in message > > >> >> [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Tim. > . I've got the 1.8i Zetec. X Reg 2000. It gets 34MPG and I never go slow, on very windy roads. Overtaking everything up to Chrysler Crossfires no problem. Have to rev it above 4000 tho to get anywhere. 2nd gets u very quick up to 56MPH at 6000 revs (Road Angel GPS speed). Whack it into 3rd and you're past most cars (3rd gets to 90MPH). Get the odd Audi TT that downshifts as u pass, but it passes them too because they're crap drivers with too much money and slow reactions. I'm interested in what tyres are best on the Focus for wet driving. I've put Firestone TZ200's on the front. There are Toyo RoadPro 610's on the back and I think they're a bit crap. When I bought the car from the dealer they switched the Firestone 700s on the front for Mega Optimas and the car went straight on at every wet corner and roundabout. So I've had to complain to the dealer but because of the danger I had to immediately on the wet day get something on the front [TZ200s]. They've not slipped at all yet. The TZ200's are the replacement for the Firehawk 700s. http://www.bridgestone.eu/bfe/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=00000000000000000000001_2_77 4articleRCRD On Thursday I'm getting another set of TZ200's for the back so that I can feel confident about wet driving again. Is that a good choice? BTW, when I first had the car (May 2006) I found it difficult to get 3rd gear. I was crashing the stick into the H block all the time. Upgrading from a Fiesta that had silky fast gears. After a week or two I've finally got used to the position of 3rd in the Focus. I will get it checked out at service in 4000 miles time. |
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