Ford Focus gearbox...

Feb 19, 2008 2 Replies

I have a 2001 Diesel Focus with a manual box. I bought the 'station wagon' when it had been driven 32K km's. At that time the gear box action was never 'smooth'; rapid shifts just didn't happen! Engaging first was a struggle and sometimes changing up / down required some effort.



The wagon now has 45K km's and the gear shift had become much stiffer. Entering first or reverse requires a 'sharp' pull. Changing up or down feels stiff and there's "resistance" - feels a little like an old truck I once used.



The clutch 'seems' OK, engages and disengages smoothly, doesn't grab or stick.



I wonder, has anyone else experienced this on a Ford Focus Diesel? Is it to be 'expected', or is it typical of this model, or...... ???



Any comments help appreciated. John Hewitt, Malaga, Spain


Does not sound good

We have a diesel focus 1999 150K kms

gearbox sound as a pear

Tony

Could be a dragging clutch, faulty selector forks or lack of oil in the box. If you wear the synchromesh cones out the repair bill is going to be unpleasant. My own Focus' box is a tad notchy from cold but fine once the oil has warmed up. There is a known characteristic of Focus boxes in which they are noisy at very low speed. Mine is such but I didn't notice it for ages until crawling very slowly down a country lane one day with the radio off. Usually the radio is on and I'm not going that slowly. It's nothing to worry about though I'm told and doesn't affect service life.

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