My new focus 8 speed automatic seems to get caught out when I am driving around town and is often trying to change down when I am accelerating away from a corner etc giving a rather jerky ride. Has anyone else had this problem.

 

Isn't that what's supposed to happen? When you put your foot hard down it changes down a gear so you're in the middle of the power range instead of lugging the engine.

12 hours ago, Den54 said:

My new focus 8 speed automatic seems to get caught out when I am driving around town and is often trying to change down when I am accelerating away from a corner etc giving a rather jerky ride. Has anyone else had this problem.

 

I’ve found the 8 speed gearbox really good. Only complaint and it’s a small one ..it can be a little bit indecisive at times. But yeah best auto gearbox I’ve ever driven. 182 engine is incredibly good too. 

Your issue, I think all automatics suffer from that to some degree. 

Give manual mode a try around town.

It’s just an auto I think.  I have the older powershift and it’s not 100% but it’s pretty damn good for an auto.

 

I feel it at times, this is the first auto ive had. It feels rather jolty like it wants to dive forward when I switch from neutral to drive. That said I probably haven't learnt how to properly drive an auto

Hi

I think this is normal. My car shows 5th gear @ 30 mph so driving around town it is constantly changing up and down. My previous German car had a 5 speed auto and had smoother gear changes but was a lot less efficient . Having said all that I think the box smooths out as you put on the miles ................ unless I've just got used to it !   

it's idiosyncratic yes.  Boz did you have a C class with the 5g box like mine?  I found the Mik4's 8 speed very different until I learnt how it liked to be driven.

1st gear is snatchy, but interestingly so is my nephew's A class, which also has a highly-boosted small petrol.

 

 

I suppose it will take used to. On a different note I am noticing the car produces a tappet noise when being revved 2500rpm to about 3000rpm when cold any other mk4 owners notice this? 

Hi

Yes the engine is a bit rattly when cold ......... normal too and also disappears when thoroughly warmed up + several thousand more miles on the clock. Engine is one of the best I've had in any car ! . Guy , had a 3 series . Ironically the auto box was one of the few things that didn't go wrong with the car but won't go on about that !!  

Sound. I did suspect tappets and the sound gets louder faster as I rev but must be a characteristic of the engine, I love the engine too but long term reliability time will tell

Eco mode for around town.

Yes.

Same here 2020 model going uphills. Speedo and engine jerk up and down 200 revs. 

On 10/28/2019 at 2:07 PM, Jay035 said:

I suppose it will take used to. On a different note I am noticing the car produces a tappet noise when being revved 2500rpm to about 3000rpm when cold any other mk4 owners notice this? 

Agreed!

you learn to drive an auto - the way and when you apply how much throttle will morph in the next month, till you learn to drive less badly...

then two bits the car will do one right one stupid

 

gearbox adaptions - shouldn't be very wrong, but they learn what works and what makes a bad shift and change the fill rates of solenoids till it gets better and wears itself out less

driving style memory - an incompetent mess of stupidity where it seeks to change to your driving style and remember it - but as it has no concept of the road conditions, the traffic conditions, the weather conditions, whether the police are behind you, or even your mood - so just deteriorates to sht behaviour, as you were stuck in one style WAITING for the conditions to allow you to get on with it - and the box goes to sleep (or vice versa) !!!

that last joke has been on there since the late 80s and was a terrible mistake then, and its only far worse with all the fake congestion they build in today

 

Turns out this particular car is prone to gearbox issues. Last Ford Focus 2017 model worked like a dream this model 2020 is a real jerker. 

Try driving round an uphill corner steep! Car just flattens to nothing then increases speed to 40-50mph because your pressing the accelerator so much to get it moving.

A real jerker!

I'll stick to Powershift until it sees me out or breaks!😉 Never noted any of that stuff.

Just have a look at the choke system. My experience leads me to believe this is the issue.  

9 hours ago, ProfitMouse said:

Just have a look at the choke system. My experience leads me to believe this is the issue.

Is this on the Ford Model 'T' with the 3 speed box ?