What's wrong with my 2010 Ford Focus - does it sound like the differential?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › What's wrong with my 2010 Ford Focus - does it sound like the differential?

sxz

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#156023 16-Nov-2014 21:32

2010 Ford Focus, Manual, 1.8L Turbo Diesel.

I have owned this car for 8 months. Lately I have noticed a problem, which the Ford Dealer cannot find or diagnose. They gave the car a clean bill of health.

The problem: Every now and then there is a clunking, or grinding somewhere in the powertrain. As I am driving along it clunks, whirs, grinds, the car loses power, I then usually lift off the throttle or engage the clutch, and something seems to pop back in, then the car is fine again. This happens very rarely, usually only on long trips.

We've slowly narrowed it down and it seems to only happen on windy hills. It doesn't happen seem to happen in town or on long straight roads. The clutch and gearbox both feel fine to me as all other times, so to me, it seems like the problem only happens when the diff is under pressure.

Has anyone else had any experience with this? Because the local Ford dealer hasn't...

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#1177033 16-Nov-2014 21:42

I think you have something similar to what my ford fiesta does. It kinda shudders when you're turning?

We have 2013 auto fiesta brand new bought last year. I believe it fits your description. It is not an issue. It is the the way how it behave. We received a letter from Ford about this and was told that this is expected and not an issue at all.

sxz

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#1177037 16-Nov-2014 21:48

nakedmolerat: I think you have something similar to what my ford fiesta does. It kinda shudders when you're turning?

We have 2013 auto fiesta brand new bought last year. I believe it fits your description. It is not an issue. It is the the way how it behave. We received a letter from Ford about this and was told that this is expected and not an issue at all.

No, this is something different. 99% of the time the steering/gearbox/clutch/allignment feel fine. The car is a dream to drive. But every now and then, there is a serious clunk, grinding etc. It feels like it is doing damage. The car looses power, it feels like a gear has popped out (although I believe the gearbox is fine). It happens so intermittently it cannot possibly be a normal thing.

Cheers

MikeB4

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#1177038 16-Nov-2014 21:48

Could be a fault with the constant velocity joints.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#1177040 16-Nov-2014 21:51

I got a better one. I gave my ford fiesta 2004 away, then when driving long distance and usually uphill, the check engine light will come on along with loss of power. Happens every time.

So I said aha take it to the dealer he'll read the code.

Every time: nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nadai. Can't find anything wrong. I love ford stories, it keeps me laughing.

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#1177042 16-Nov-2014 21:52

Anyway, I beleive it's the fuel filter ... So I asked them to change it ... Next service ...

sxz

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#1177049 16-Nov-2014 22:28

joker97: Anyway, I beleive it's the fuel filter ... So I asked them to change it ... Next service ...

I've had something similar before - blockage in the muffler, not enough exhaust getting out, causing the engine to back up a bit and not be able to work efficiently, causing overheating, warning lights and loss of power on hills and only happened on long trips...

Don't you just love cars.

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#1177052 16-Nov-2014 22:34

'13 ford focus auto has similar issue. dealer told us it wasn't a problem and have never heard of it before... Discovered with a quick google search its a common problem. They told us it was to do with the manual gearbox with dual clutch being controlled by computer so you have to drive it like one but it was/ is sold as a automatic and should work as such.

ckc

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#1177074 17-Nov-2014 00:09

benokobi: '13 ford focus auto has similar issue. dealer told us it wasn't a problem and have never heard of it before... Discovered with a quick google search its a common problem. They told us it was to do with the manual gearbox with dual clutch being controlled by computer so you have to drive it like one but it was/ is sold as a automatic and should work as such.

It's got a PowerShift semi-automatic six speed gearbox with a dual clutch. It is an automated manual transmission, rather than a traditional automatic or CVT.

ckc

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#1177075 17-Nov-2014 00:12

sxz: 2010 Ford Focus, Manual, 1.8L Turbo Diesel. I have owned this car for 8 months. Lately I have noticed a problem, which the Ford Dealer cannot find or diagnose. They gave the car a clean bill of health. The problem: Every now and then there is a clunking, or grinding somewhere in the powertrain. As I am driving along it clunks, whirs, grinds, the car loses power, I then usually lift off the throttle or engage the clutch, and something seems to pop back in, then the car is fine again. This happens very rarely, usually only on long trips. We've slowly narrowed it down and it seems to only happen on windy hills. It doesn't happen seem to happen in town or on long straight roads. The clutch and gearbox both feel fine to me as all other times, so to me, it seems like the problem only happens when the diff is under pressure. Has anyone else had any experience with this? Because the local Ford dealer hasn't...

When you lose power, does the engine rev high?

riahon

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#1177096 17-Nov-2014 07:13

Have you changed the gearbox oil, paying special attention to the old oil for bits of metal. To me it sounds like a synchro is letting go. I would expect some gold coloured metal specks in the oil.

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#1177138 17-Nov-2014 08:58

Sounds like a visit to a gearbox specialist might bear more fruit than your local Ford dealership. As for the latest generation european Fords, the powershift dual clutch transmission is subject to a warranty repair as faulty valves are causing shuddering. I'm not a fan of this transmission but it was developed to meet EU emission standards.

OP. Do modern front wheel drive vehicles have differentials? I know they need something to get round corners but not sure how they achieve it.

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ckc

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#1177141 17-Nov-2014 09:06

Yes modern cars have diffs. Diffs mean the wheels turn at different speeds. Hence the name.

Sidestep

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#1177145 17-Nov-2014 09:15

A diff failure's more likely to result in a "howling" or whine while under load, a nasty clunk when going to a coast or a loud bang and no movement.. :(

Sounds like a transmission fault.

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#1177157 17-Nov-2014 09:34

I bought a Subaru a couple of years back on trademe, very cheap, failed transmission.

Symptoms were, at 60-80km under load (acceleration) or slower if cornering, there'd be a loud grinding noise, car would loose power, engine rev freely.

Coasting slower, there'd be a clunk at around 30km/h car would start behaving normally again.

Turned out to be a badly installed CV replacement job had allowed the splines to partly strip inside the LH front hub.

Replaced hub, outer CV & splined drive. Car was like new.

Not saying that's your problem, but keep an open mind..

scuwp

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#1177166 17-Nov-2014 09:45

My money is on transmission, and if the Ford dealer can't handle it I would look at contacting a transmission specialist.

Some Fords just have idiosyncrasies like this also. We had a fleet of Fords at work and not one drove the same as the next, some with some very weird behavior. The "we can't find anything wrong" from the Ford dealer was very common.

Some of the reasons I will never buy a Ford again.

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