Tranmission Work

[androidtopp]

OK, the moment of truth...

I took my Focus in to Bo Beuckman Ford here in St. Louis yesterday evening for work on the rattling transmission, and, as luck would have it, it was particularly "rattly" that day. I went in armed with TSBs and new clutch part numbers, and the guy sounded pretty horrified by the noise, so hopefully I'll have good news to report. They said they would give me a call, hopefully today, once they knew anything. Has anyone else taken their Focus in for the rattling transmission problem and gotten the new clutch parts?

[deactivated]

how many miles on your car?

[androidtopp]

Just under 14,000. I've had it since early July of 03, and it's honestly done this rattly thing for almost the entire time. I initially chalked it up as a quirk of a way higher performance car than my 88 Jeep, but I couldn't fool myself for long. The main delay has been laziness on my part, and a prolonged St. Louis area mechanics strike.

[svt170]

I think mine rattles, but not sure what the rattle is. I just dropped my SVTF off this morning for multiple issues (Cat heat shield is missing, 2nd gear clunk, front right wheel bearing and housing, and clutch concerns). I also said something about some rattles when engaging first gear, and when driving around corners in 2nd. Is that what you mean by tranny rattles?
I'm driving a brand new 4 door crew cab F-150 4X4 with a 5.4 liter. Thank you SVT. Gas is bad, but it's cool and BIG .
I'll update when I get my car back. I think they'll have it most of the week, if not into the weekend or next week, depending on the clutch outcome.

[deactivated]

the biggest symptom is when the tranny is in neutral with the pedal out it rattles like crazy. When pushed in it gets noticeably quiet.

[androidtopp]

Right. Exactly what mine does. Sounds like a diesel with the clutch out and the transmission in neutral.

[androidtopp]

Hooray! Beuckman called, and my car needs a new clutch/flywheel assembly. The parts are on their way "emergency" from the Memphis parts depot, and they should be here tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to seeing if I can tell any kind of difference.

[androidtopp]

This is fantastic. I know it's my imagination, but the car actually feels faster with the new clutch. It feels fully engages just an inch or so off the floor, with a really positive feel. It's like a new car again, and it's so much fun!

Now, if I can just get used to it, and stop lugging it around like a 16 year old in a high school parking lot...

I highly recommend each and every one of you break your clutch and get the replacement. It's absolutely amazing.

[svt170]

AAAARGH!!!
Just got my car back today. Out of the 5 issues I wanted looked at, all they did was put a new heat sheild on my cat.
I want the new clutch because mine is not right. They told me it's "within factory specs". I tried to argue, but you know how that goes.
Got my car back with bird crap all over it and no vacuum.
Sure sure. Rub it in that the new clutch is great.

[androidtopp]

Sorry to hear that. I have to think it's dealer by dealer. The place I bought the car from wouldn't know what a car was if it ran over them. They wouldn't do anything to it, no matter how I complained. Surging with the old ECU? "Normal. This car should do that." What's that? I got the flash and it quit? Hmm...

Safe to say I will never take this car anywhere but Bo Beuckman Ford. Fantastic service. They even looked at and performed work to attempt to fix issues that they couldn't recreate! When is the last time a dealer volunteered to take your door apart and snug everything up becuase you said you thought you heard a little rattle, and they didn't notice it?

Does anyone know if SVT has an email for dealer complaints/compliments? I need to slam Lou Fusz and pimp Beuckman.