Gearbox problem on 09 focus

peedee · 22-08-2010, 10:19 PM

A friend of mine was telling me about a problem that he has with his 09 focus 5 speed manual that ford cannot reproduce or fix.
The problem is intermittant that when changing down from second to first mainly and ocassionally from third to second it clashes gears, now this guy has never driven autos and ford have checked the clutch and state there is nothing wrong there, it has done it from new, it sounds a bit like synchros to me or a mis-machined cog that only grabs occasionally as maybe having a tight tolerance that it meshes when engaged earlier in its rotation but just occasionally tries to engage on this tight cog, just some of my theories

Just wondering if anybody had a similar problem tried to search last night but could not find anything

Thanks People

20focus05 · 23-08-2010, 08:13 AM

Do you mean this guy has not driven manuals?
I have been driving manual cars for most of my life, I have cruched the gears a few times(mainly going down gears) in our focus by sometimes just being a bit lazy with the clutch.
If this fellow has not driven manuals before his foot may well not be in sync with his hands yet. Hope this does not sound I am bagging this fellow out.
These manual gearboxes are one of the strongest FWD boxes.

Mainlube · 23-08-2010, 09:56 AM

May be as simple as a different oil.

It's hard to find a new manual car today with the correct oil on the gearbox.

They're missing the boat a little being text book worriers and following each other.

Often doesn't make allot of sense in the real engineering world.

Cheers

Steve

REDDYZ · 23-08-2010, 10:04 AM

I dont know what kind of shift linkages Focus has but it can be linkages too if they are adjustable. On Renaults this is a common issue.

peedee · 23-08-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Do you mean this guy has not driven manuals?

No this guy has never driven an automatic at all only ever manuals
so no problems with using box, ggod point about the oil consistancy and also the adjustments, though as it only happens intermittantly I think the oil maybe the first to try
Thanks

6T · 02-09-2010, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mainlube

May be as simple as a different oil.

It's hard to find a new manual car today with the correct oil on the gearbox.

They're missing the boat a little being text book worriers and following each other.

Often doesn't make allot of sense in the real engineering world.

Cheers

Steve

What do you recommend then, Steve? Gearbox oil opinions from us mortals are about as hotly debated as engine oil.

Mainlube · 02-09-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6T

What do you recommend then, Steve? Gearbox oil opinions from us mortals are about as hotly debated as engine oil.

May need a little help with this, what does the Handbook / Manual say the gearbox should take??

This lets me know what viscosity I can get away with (the higher the viscosity providing an better film strength resulting in less wear)

There is a trade off here protection verses no noise verses smooth change.

Get all these parameters correct we will have a quite smooth changing manual transmission that should perform for a couple hundred thousand Klms.

Cheers

Steve

20focus05 · 02-09-2010, 08:58 PM

From Valvoline
Manual Transmission

HEAVY DUTY SYNTHETIC GEAR LUBRICANT 75W-90
Valvoline Heavy Duty Synthetic Gear Oil is specially formulated for heavy duty manual transmissions, differentials, and transfer cases operating in severe service applications (temperature extremes, extended drain intervals, etc) and requiring an extreme pressure API GL-5 gear lubricant. It is engineered from premium synthetic base stocks and select additive chemistry to provide extended protection from wear, rust and corrosion, heat and oxidation.

Service Refill Capacity: 1.9 Litres

The MTX-75 is said to be one of the strongest FWD gearboxes.
People have also reported that if non ford oil is used it can feel notchy.

Mainlube · 03-09-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6T

What do you recommend then, Steve? Gearbox oil opinions from us mortals are about as hotly debated as engine oil.

With the info provided above I would recommend the Mainlube 154 Synthetic Solid Boundary E P gear Oil SAE 75w90, not the 75w80.

As the vehicle calls for a 75w90 and not an ATF there should be no gear change issue and best protection as 75w90 is a little thicker than the 75w80.

If there was any change issue I would swap to the 75w80 free of charge, would be a "suck and see" this one.

Cheers

Steve

6T · 05-09-2010, 03:29 PM

Thanks mate, question answered.