help.
i have 2010 1.8 zetec [petrol] and when i start the engine and drive away at about 12mph a clunk is heard from under the car , this only happens the once untill i turn the engine off. but as soon as i start the engine again and drive away it will do it every time .
someone told me it was the abs system self checking but i have never heard this in a car before ?

Check that the a/c is not on. There is a thud on mine when the A/c kicks in

[quote name='starfield' timestamp='1298212725' post='115038']
Check that the a/c is not on. There is a thud on mine when the A/c kicks in
[/quote]

yes i did check the air con ..but its not that ..like i said it only does it on start up and when the car reaches about 12mph and not again ..

Hey, i have just recieved my 2010 ford focus 1.8 zetec from the ford garage after an engine repair. I had the same problem hearing the clunk after starting and reaching 12MPH, and they said that it was just the ABS running a test and is nothing to worry about

chris

[quote name='BIGGSY' timestamp='1298305816' post='115191']
Hey, i have just recieved my 2010 ford focus 1.8 zetec from the ford garage after an engine repair. I had the same problem hearing the clunk after starting and reaching 12MPH, and they said that it was just the ABS running a test and is nothing to worry about

chris
[/quote]

hi and thanks chris .
yes i have just been to the local ford agent here on anglesey ..they said much the same thing to me that it was the ABS self testing and there was nothing wrong ..i wasnt happy about this and phoned up ford direct from the agents and spoke to a engineer there ..he confirmed that it did happen on some cars and not on others and that there was plans to recall them ..i am still not happy about it and told him so and feel that there should be a recall on the cars that have this problem , because what ever they say it is not right to hear this noise.. plenty of mechanics have told me that .

Depends what the ABS test is I suppose. If the ECU is kicking out more power than it should, then I can understand. Does it make any grind noise or would you liken it to driving over a bottle? i.e. when you drive over a plastic bottle and catch the neck, it flips up and wacks the underside of the car? if so that certainly isnt right, but on the basis Ford are even considering recalling these cars, its certainly worth a trip to the dealer, and writing a letter to the customer service department advising them of this information provided by one of their own engineers.

If you have that in writing it would be even better as they couldnt then breach it, it could be taken literally and Ford would have to oversee that even if it is just your car.

Does the car appear to brake at all once the clunk is heard? if so then there is definately a signal being thrown to the ABS, correctly or otherwise, if not, then I dont see what part of the ABS would make a clunk noise! The pump certainly shouldnt, and unless they started putting stones into the ABS fluid, that shouldnt make that noise!

Although I dont own the MK3 model, it will certainly be interesting to see how this pans out...

All Focus's do the clunking thing at 12mph. It is defo the ABS or Traction Control switching on. My Mondeo and my Puma used to do it. Im pretty sure muy old Mazda used to do it as well.

All very intersting posts if there are lot of cars that are doing it why have I not been able to locate it with a google search, surely if it is common there would be loads of discusions about it.
I have a ford direct 09 1.8 Zetec diesel that does the same thing.I am taking it in for its first service Friday, So I wil let you know what they say.

Cheers Dave

[quote name='Binsey' timestamp='1298322748' post='115242']
All very intersting posts if there are lot of cars that are doing it why have I not been able to locate it with a google search, surely if it is common there would be loads of discusions about it.
I have a ford direct 09 1.8 Zetec diesel that does the same thing.I am taking it in for its first service Friday, So I wil let you know what they say.

Cheers Dave
[/quote]

hi dave
yes i would be interested to hear what they say but they insist that there is nothing wrong [ford uk] but why then the "clunk" at 12 mph

[quote name='jeebowhite' timestamp='1298314340' post='115208']
Depends what the ABS test is I suppose. If the ECU is kicking out more power than it should, then I can understand. Does it make any grind noise or would you liken it to driving over a bottle? i.e. when you drive over a plastic bottle and catch the neck, it flips up and wacks the underside of the car? if so that certainly isnt right, but on the basis Ford are even considering recalling these cars, its certainly worth a trip to the dealer, and writing a letter to the customer service department advising them of this information provided by one of their own engineers.

If you have that in writing it would be even better as they couldnt then breach it, it could be taken literally and Ford would have to oversee that even if it is just your car.

Does the car appear to brake at all once the clunk is heard? if so then there is definately a signal being thrown to the ABS, correctly or otherwise, if not, then I dont see what part of the ABS would make a clunk noise! The pump certainly shouldnt, and unless they started putting stones into the ABS fluid, that shouldnt make that noise!

Although I dont own the MK3 model, it will certainly be interesting to see how this pans out...
[/quote]
hi
funny you saying that but i have asked ford uk for a written confirmation on this .. they say they will tell my local agent to write to me i have even spoken to the mechnic based there and he says that he as come across this before on a number of occasions and that ford say it is "normal"i am not so sure ...ok the brakes are fine.. it is just a clunk and only once after start up and moving... no grinding noise just this one "clunk" anyway we see what the letter says when it comes ...thanks for your info

[quote name='btmaldon' timestamp='1298319528' post='115230']
All Focus's do the clunking thing at 12mph. It is defo the ABS or Traction Control switching on. My Mondeo and my Puma used to do it. Im pretty sure muy old Mazda used to do it as well.
[/quote]


i have never heard this noise before on any car which is why i have pursued it with ford uk so we will wait and see what the letter says
the ford mechanic says he as come across this before but not common .

[quote name='btmaldon' timestamp='1298319528' post='115230']
All Focus's do the clunking thing at 12mph. It is defo the ABS or Traction Control switching on. My Mondeo and my Puma used to do it. Im pretty sure muy old Mazda used to do it as well.
[/quote]

My focus certainly doesnt clunk at any speed, even after I replaced the break pads, and reset the brakes. my ABS definately works, as I drove it around between 10 and 20 MPH and slammed the ABS into life. Either my car is broken and doesnt do the noise as it should, or it doesnt affect all vehicles and its possibly just an over-sensitive process that may have been setup from "birth" by the factory.

i have got a 1.8 as well and fyi i have got drums at the rear wheels. mine does not clunk at 12mph and it is a 56 reg. does that mean it only happens on the newer ones?

ive just had a quick look on the net and found all the Ford range with ABS do this from 1997 Puma's to 2011 Kuga's. I remember when I picked my Focus up from new the salesman even told me about the clunking from the ABS ressetting. However I had already experienced it on previous Fords and was already aware of it.

Mine does it too.......

no its just pot luck i think ..it doesn't matter if you have drums or disks on rear the ford mechanic told me it goes back a few years this problem
but ford wont do a recall check as ...quote "there is nothing wrong the car is only self checking"

[quote name='Wizz' timestamp='1298448758' post='115458']
Mine does it too.......
[/quote]

hi wizz
is it the same as mine at about 12mph a clunk like sound from under the car ?

[quote name='btmaldon' timestamp='1298405720' post='115374']
ive just had a quick look on the net and found all the Ford range with ABS do this from 1997 Puma's to 2011 Kuga's. I remember when I picked my Focus up from new the salesman even told me about the clunking from the ABS ressetting. However I had already experienced it on previous Fords and was already aware of it.
[/quote]

this is the first time i have heard it on any car never mind fords and it is a bit off putting when you hear it ...still i am waiting for the letter from the ford dealer saying that it is "normal" and there is nothing wrong

My 09 focus does it as others have said it's just the abs testing nothing to worry about, my 98 escort used to do it and make a ping when I drive off.

[quote name='Leemaxd' timestamp='1298462391' post='115481']
My 09 focus does it as others have said it's just the abs testing nothing to worry about, my 98 escort used to do it and make a ping when I drive off.
[/quote]
thanks.... it does seem to be more common than the dealers are saying then

[quote name='belknap' timestamp='1298452522' post='115464']
this is the first time i have heard it on any car never mind fords and it is a bit off putting when you hear it ...still i am waiting for the letter from the ford dealer saying that it is "normal" and there is nothing wrong
[/quote]

i had a search on the net as well and yes you are right it appears lots of cars do this but not all ?

<Touch wood> My car doesn't clunk but I wonder if it's because I have to back out of my parking space; perhaps if I drove forward...?

[quote name='IMW' timestamp='1298765133' post='116058']
<Touch wood> My car doesn't clunk but I wonder if it's because I have to back out of my parking space; perhaps if I drove forward...?
[/quote]

no its not that ian ... this happens on "some" cars only when starting up and driving forward ar about 12mph

Hi,

I have a 2008 Mk 2.5 1.6 TDCI Focus, with around 18k on the clock, and came across this thread on a Google search. My car does exactly the same; very slight clunking noise when first driving forward after engine has started. Incidentally, I reverse out of a parking space and it doesn't do it until I drive forward. Can also be replicated by turning the engine off and back on again, then as soon as I start driving forward, there it is.

Just called two local Ford dealers (Manchester) and they haven't heard of, or experienced this at all! Wanted to see what they said, as the warranty on the car ends in December so want to make sure I get anything potentially dodgy sorted before then!

Not too concerned about this noise though, from what I've read on sites such as this.

JG

i feel left out, i have a 2010 focus and mine doesn't clunk at any time

Mine does to at 12mph ABS engagement / test I was told by Ford 

same as above happens on mine too, been told by my local dealership its a known problem due to EU safety regulations, having to test a valve linked to ABS that it can release. hope this helps? let us know if you get evidence that they are going to be re-called

Hi all - my Focus does this too. It could be coincidence but whilst on my private property i forgot to put my seatbelt on. When the clunk happened, it set off the red light/beep to say seatbelt not on. Could be coincidence or could be a check to see if seatbelt is on (tho this doesnt explain why it happens on some and not others!). Pete

[quote name='peteq' timestamp='1315778153' post='143781']
Hi all - my Focus does this too. It could be coincidence but whilst on my private property i forgot to put my seatbelt on. When the clunk happened, it set off the red light/beep to say seatbelt not on. Could be coincidence or could be a check to see if seatbelt is on (tho this doesnt explain why it happens on some and not others!). Pete
[/quote]

Its on all focus cars mate, it's the abs brake's checking them selves if you start the car and wait a second then drive off you wont feel the clunk, happens on every focus every time.

Interesting - thx for reply however, you can wait ages in mine but clunk will still happen at approx 12 mph even if waited ages. Pete

[quote name='peteq' timestamp='1315781868' post='143789']
Interesting - thx for reply however, you can wait ages in mine but clunk will still happen at approx 12 mph even if waited ages. Pete
[/quote]


mine happens when im parked and start the engine, or if im reversing from the drive way i can feel and hear it, most speed id be reversing from the drive would be 5mph tops
unless one of the neighbours kids are standing in the way looking at me then the speed would be greater

Mine has the same clunk 1.8 2009 focus.

iv got a 1.8 zetec S and have only herd this 'clunk' twice, and once herd a 'boing' lol but from reading this thread am hoping all is well!!

B5.5 VW Passats also suffer with this, but at around 9mph (probably other variants as well).

It may well be that all cars do this, but what people define as a clunk will differ enormously. I have very sensitive hearing and can spot unusual noises even when others cannot hear them.

It is interesting that Ford are looking to do a recall, or more likely a field servIce so they don't have to deal with the negative press and cost of getting details of all current owners (from the DVLA) and then organising the letters being created, sent and posted.

My 05 doesn't clunk,disks all round, it also as abs, i would take a look at the rear engine mount

Hello,

I've recently bought a 2008 C-Max 1.8tdci and have also noticed this 'clunk'.

@belknap, did you ever get a letter from Ford confirming whether this was in fact a 'normal' sound.

I've never come across anything like this on any previous cars that I have owned (this is my first Ford) and I'm not totally convinced that it's normal.

Happen's on mine every time i pull away , i'm not worried by it , now if it did not clunk i might be worried lol

@Preee

Good point, I'll start to worry when I can't hear it anymore!

clunk noise here too!

1.6tdci mk 2.5

I get a clunk when pulling away , normally when changing from 1st to 2nd and at lower speeds when changing gear, the problem with me is that it happens more than once while driving but its only noticeable really when pulling away.

same noise here on the first touch of the brakes ive been told by a mechanic that since the disks get surface rust when you touch the brakes and they scrape that rust off the abs will do a check all i can say is every ford ive driven with abs does it

I've got the noise on my mk2.5 1.6 petrol. Have to say it never really bothered me as its not that loud and doesn't feel like its not supposed to be there.

58 reg 1.6 TDCi Focus here - makes the clunking noise every time I start and pull off, and always has done!

Same here!

Brought my Focus (1.6 TDCI) week and half ago, notcied this noise about 4 days ago, its a clonk/spring noise coming from what sounds like the middle of the rear of the car, this is again at about 12mph regardless what gear i am in.

As i am covered with dealer warranty i am taking it back for someone to look at to me on the safe side...

I see this post is a little old, has anyone been able to find a definative answer to this clonking noise? it just do not sound right.... and if i can i do not really want to look like a numpty in front of the dealer!!!!

Cheers Ryan

Haha, quite an old thread that I've already commented on twice! Well, over a year and 11,000 miles on, I can safely say that mine has clunked every single time I've first driven forward after starting.

Interestingly, I've moved home since my last post, and now park in an underground car park, where I reverse out then drive around at low speed. No clunk till I hit the road outside and reach 12mph!

Sometimes its louder than others, especially when turning at the same time.

Nothing's fallen off yet (not even the DPF!!).

It sounds like the ABS clunk that some get.
Nothing to worry about, it's a test thing.

Abs all fords do it ide be worried if it didnt

My mk2.5 1.6 zetec does this as did my mk1 1.8 LX.

My brothers mk1.5 zetec does this too, nothing to worry about as explained earlier.