SVT prob

[Black03SVT]

Ok, here's a copy of what I posted over @ Blue Oval News:

We've had our SVT Focus long enough to put 6800 miles on it. The first time it went in for service, @ 4900 miles, it had a popping noise coming from the driver's side rear. We picked it up the next day, and were told that a "trailing arm had worked itself loose". Well, on Thursday, I took it back, for the same noise, that had gotten progressively worse. I got a call yesterday, saying that they had pinpointed the problem........it was a broken strut/strut plate. Don't get me wrong.........I love this little car, and I'm not one to complain, but I find this a little discouraging. I'm seriously hioping that this time, they can fix it, and it'll stay fixed. Anyone else had this problem, or did I get stuck with a freak car?

Ok, and here's what happened when we picked it up today. The repair order states they replaced the driver's side strut assembly, strut plate, and isolator. The sick part? The car is STILL making the same clunking noise, and is STILL all over the road @ any speed above 35 MPH. Suggestions?

[helga123]

From what you've written, while it appears they're changing things they apparently haven't found the real problem.

The part that sounds scary is the "all over the road above 35 mph". Unless they really screwed up the alignment (almost to the point where it's visibly out of line...) I think you should check out some basics before driving it.

Basics as in a real good visual over all the suspension parts, and as in literally grabbing the wheels (like you were checking ball joints) and rocking them about a vertical center/about a horizontal, including jacking it and CAREFULLY checking. As in don't land it on yourself.

I wouldn't take anything for granted- even that a front wheel's loose/cracked though the problem "seems" to be related to the rear, and so forth.

Just a gut feeling from what you've written, but it seems like something you should be able to find on a good visual. Not that you should have to, but again, the "all over the road" suggests you should be able to find the cause.

If you were here I would say "drive it & I'll follow you", assuming the visual didn't locate the problem.

You know enough about the Focus to know it tracks like a laser when it's right, anything less sounds really wrong.

Hope this helps in some way...

You didn't mention whether power on or decelerating or starting to initiate a turn, etc. causes a change. Anything make things better/worse?

[Black03SVT]

Helga,
Thanks for all the info. Basically, you covered all the bases that the dealer hasn't/didn't. We're going to do the visual tomorrow. I'm just worried about the whole safety issue, because we have small children we haul around in this car. Here's the best description I can give you regarding the noise. The noise sounds like the wheel is literally going to fall off. You can hear it while going over even the smallest bump in the road, and it's especially bad when turning right, and the weight is on the driver's side. The sick part is, even when backing out of the driveway (which is gravel), the noise is VERY evident. My husband says he thinks it's a control arm or bushing or something, but what's really got me is that the noise just gets worse, and worse as we go along! Any ideas?

P.S. It doesn't matter if you're accelerating/decelerating........the noise is always there unless you're at a complete stop. Thanks for all your help.

[dalola]

Something so obvious as this should be very easy to diagnose with possession of the car. This dealership must be very inept.

I would recommend you find a new SVT dealer with a good service reputation, or an independant shop with an equally good reputation.

Best of luck to you.:)

[helga123]

Haven't heard back on this but one other thought.

You mentioned a gravel driveway. Having owned 3 of these in a variety of crushed stone sizes, I have seen instances where the gravel gets picked up & wings off into places it shouldn't. (Between caliper & ID of wheel, etc., which of course produces a ferocious sound).

Perhaps you should check for this.

In the "who cares" category, I've gone to larger & larger crushed stone (now @ 1 3/4") in an attempt to reduce pickup @ the tires & it still happens @ times, particularly with the LTX Michelins on my '03 E-150 work van.

What's evil is when it goes winging off into the wheelwell of a vehicle without an inner fender liner- you can spider crack fglass, for example.

Paved driveway people ignore all of the above & pour another egg nog.

[GapBoyPCS]

Hmm...sounds a bit familiar to my situation a few weeks back ;)

Have a gander at TSB 03-20-2 (http://www.ofoc.ca/garage.html#TSB) listed in this section. As you download, I'll explain my situation:

I had a clunk each time I backed out of the driveway quickly, and when I backed/drove out of a parking spot. It got to the point where I could feel it coming through the steering wheel going over bumps. Going at 80 mph daily...well...it doesn't make you feel that comfortable knowing a clunk exists somewhere.

My dealer tech did a test drive. At first, it was thought to be a stabilizer link. The tech replaced it, but we went on a second test drive (this time, I drove). I managed to duplicate it. After a look on Ford's OASIS network, we found this TSB. We did an undercar inspection...my rubber isolators were coming off! When it came down to the repair, my strut bearings were fine *phew*. Too bad I'm out of warranty and had to pay for the labour :(


I got a call yesterday, saying that they had pinpointed the problem........it was a broken strut/strut plate....Anyone else had this problem, or did I get stuck with a freak car?...The sick part? The car is STILL making the same clunking noise, and is STILL all over the road @ any speed above 35 MPH. Suggestions?

I'd be checking which side they did. You said they replaced the driver's side...but your problems may be coming from the passenger front side as well. I'm also tempted to check how tightly torqued the nuts and bolts are that make up the suspension i.e. strut mounts, linkages, etc.

Hope it helps!

[Black03SVT]

Thanks for all the advice. :) Unfortunately, we haven't done a visual yet, because we got hammered with a snowstorm. But, here's the good part.............when we *do* get around to doing it, I'm going to take a ton of digital pics, and post any findings right here. Stay tuned..........