Powershift problems

[TimJ]

Hi

my newly bought beauty is exhibiting some of the classic powershift problems.  It sometimes drives OK but after it gets warmed up its jerky at low speeds or when I try to accelerate suddenly to pull out at a junction.  I've been glossing over it really, I want the car to be OK but both my daughter and my father have noticed it.

I bought the car at a small independent dealer about 2.5 weeks ago and took a 1 year extended warranty.  This is with Warranties 2000 and I've noticed has a £500 claim limit.

I want to get it fixed properly with the new clutch pack but I don't know what to say.  The warranty says it doesn't cover 'Mechanical breakdown where the fault could be reasonably stated to have existed before the commencement of this warranty' nor 'Any parts which have not actually failed' (car still goes and changes gear) nor anything which has an inherent design problem.

So am I better claiming under Sale of Goods thing or motors traders arrangement or whatever ie claim on the dealer rather than on the warranty?

Thanks for any advice people can give as I'm a bit unsure which direction to go in. 

 

[Jonro2009]

If you have only had it 2½ weeks then I'd speak to the dealer first. Don't rush in with the Consumer Rights Act (formerly SOGA) because that will inflame the situation. You should be able to get it sorted without going through your warranty.

 

How old is the car, what's the mileage? Has it had the gearbox device done at the correct intervals?

[isetta]

out of interest how much was the warranty. it does not really sound worthwhile.

[TimJ]

3 hours ago, Jonro2009 said:

If you have only had it 2½ weeks then I'd speak to the dealer first. Don't rush in with the Consumer Rights Act (formerly SOGA) because that will inflame the situation. You should be able to get it sorted without going through your warranty.

 

How old is the car, what's the mileage? Has it had the gearbox device done at the correct intervals?

Hi its 2014 / 14 reg    mileage is 37k   No mention of gearbox service, but with it being the dry clutch, I don't think its supposed to have had the 3yrs oil change anyway

[TimJ]

7 minutes ago, isetta said:

out of interest how much was the warranty. it does not really sound worthwhile.

Warranty was £295 for one year

[Jonro2009]

26 minutes ago, TimJ said:

Hi its 2014 / 14 reg    mileage is 37k   No mention of gearbox service, but with it being the dry clutch, I don't think its supposed to have had the 3yrs oil change anyway

Ah right, yeah the diesel has the wet clutch so needs the 3yr device, otherwise I think it's 5 yes and 56k miles.

I'd still suggest having a friendly chat with the dealer first, he may be very helpful. Smaller dealers will often work harder for you than a huge franchise

[TimJ]

1 hour ago, Jonro2009 said:

Ah right, yeah the diesel has the wet clutch so needs the 3yr device, otherwise I think it's 5 yes and 56k miles.

I'd still suggest having a friendly chat with the dealer first, he may be very helpful. Smaller dealers will often work harder for you than a huge franchise

OK thanks, I'm gonna ring them tomorrow

[dtulip8]

Have you checked its had the recall done, or this a different issue to the one addressed by the recall? 

[DaveT70]

Yes, take it to Ford first and check it has had all the recalls or TSBs done.

Also, have the software updated to current level and ask them to reset the adaptive learning system so that it adapts to your driving style

[isetta]

£295 for a warranty policy worth £500 claim limit and those exclusions sounds very poor value.  That's like having a house that would cost £250k to rebuild and paying over £125k premium to insure it for one year. Was it all explained to you? were you mis-sold the warranty? No doubt the dealer gets a huge commission out of the £295 for selling this.

(I do agree that a warranty policy should never cover a fault that was already there as that's for the car dealer to sort out))

[Botus]

the original warranty was extended on the clutch & gearbox (due to known issues) to 5 years on UK vehicles... USA and Australia got it all replaced with new - here they hope you don't know and pay out yourself 

check when it was first registered and or haggle with Ford (at that mileage - especially if FSH)

and even then as its a known manufacturing fault, UK legislation is on your side for 6 years but no one ever gets anywhere with it

[TimJ]

13 hours ago, isetta said:

£295 for a warranty policy worth £500 claim limit and those exclusions sounds very poor value.  That's like having a house that would cost £250k to rebuild and paying over £125k premium to insure it for one year. Was it all explained to you? were you mis-sold the warranty? No doubt the dealer gets a huge commission out of the £295 for selling this.

(I do agree that a warranty policy should never cover a fault that was already there as that's for the car dealer to sort out))

Not sure I was actually mis-sold the warranty, I knew what to expect with dealer warranties, they're never as good as ones you can get on the internet.  But they're cheap and easily available.  Wasn't fully explained though, I was surprised about the £500 limit when I got home and got round to reading the certificate.

[TimJ]

14 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Yes, take it to Ford first and check it has had all the recalls or TSBs done.

Also, have the software updated to current level and ask them to reset the adaptive learning system so that it adapts to your driving style

 

22 hours ago, dtulip8 said:

Have you checked its had the recall done, or this a different issue to the one addressed by the recall? 

No I haven't tried asking about recalls but its with the independent dealer I bought it from now and they are taking it to a gears specialist.  If they don't reset/ update software, I could try taking it to Ford to do that but I presume it will be chargeable!

[TimJ]

4 hours ago, Botus said:

the original warranty was extended on the clutch & gearbox (due to known issues) to 5 years on UK vehicles... USA and Australia got it all replaced with new - here they hope you don't know and pay out yourself 

check when it was first registered and or haggle with Ford (at that mileage - especially if FSH)

and even then as its a known manufacturing fault, UK legislation is on your side for 6 years but no one ever gets anywhere with it

It was reg about 5.5 years ago so out of any kind of manufacturer warranty.

[TimJ]

** Good News **

Had a missed call from the Warranty Company (bit strange since I hadn't made a claim or even rang them at all) but when I called back they explained first that they considered this wear and tear and not covered.  BUT since it was so close to purchase they are going to have the clutch pack replaced, they and the dealer are colluding (not their word!) to pay most of the bill and I just have to pay a £350 contribution.  Its the best I can hope for (I've read its the best fix and its a 4 figure cost) so I've said yes.

[Alex.S]

1 hour ago, TimJ said:

** Good News **

Had a missed call from the Warranty Company (bit strange since I hadn't made a claim or even rang them at all) but when I called back they explained first that they considered this wear and tear and not covered.  BUT since it was so close to purchase they are going to have the clutch pack replaced, they and the dealer are colluding (not their word!) to pay most of the bill and I just have to pay a £350 contribution.  Its the best I can hope for (I've read its the best fix and its a 4 figure cost) so I've said yes.

Pity you have to pay the £350. I’m new to Ford but have heard of the notorious powershift gearbox in that age of Ford. Multi million dollar recalls I’ve read. Least you know it’ll be fixed properly, I’d have thought that’d be done by Ford recall tho. 

[Jonro2009]

@TimJ it may be worth having a read of this article, which came out recently. It may be the reason behind Ford being so eager to sort out your issue. This article would give me the leverage to go back to them and decline their 'kind' offer of letting you pay £350 to fix something they are responsible for...

The American customers are getting reimbursed

https://www.autonews.com/regulation-safety/ford-reaches-new-settlement-over-focus-fiesta-transmissions

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[TimJ]

24 minutes ago, Jonro2009 said:

@TimJ it may be worth having a read of this article, which came out recently. It may be the reason behind Ford being so eager to sort out your issue. This article would give me the leverage to go back to them and decline their 'kind' offer of letting you pay £350 to fix something they are responsible for...

 

Hi Jonro, some confusion here, Ford are not involved in this, its an independent dealer, a transmission specialist and an extended warranty company in the mix!

[Alex.S]

I’d be onto Ford sharpish ..

[Jonro2009]

1 hour ago, TimJ said:

Hi Jonro, some confusion here, Ford are not involved in this, its an independent dealer, a transmission specialist and an extended warranty company in the mix!

Might be worth having a quick chat with the local Ford dealer then.

[Botus]

I'd want ford to do the software update... I'd also give them the opportunity to resolve issues before letting anyone else touch it

As I'd also be asking Ford how they want to handle your claim regarding UK legislation and the fact if you go to a small claims court after having it all done by ford, using ford parts and with a ford warranty it will be at no cost to yourself including costs.  Having put that idea to them ask if they want to change how they wish to pursue fixing it

note other countries don't need to fight so much

...because of the problems with the Powershift box, Ford extended the warranty on the gearbox to five years in the UK, 7 years in the US and Australia

[TimJ]

Hi lots of suggestions to go to Ford but I've already been to the local Ford dealer, 5 yr warranty is only on the token TCU update, the real stuff, replacing the clutch pack finishes after 3 years.  The car actually had the TCU update in August 2016. Dealer offered to have a look with a £110 dismantling charge (!), this is only covered by warranty if they then authorise work.  They were also a bit snooty about my non-Ford warranty reminding me (correctly) that these don't pay main dealer labour costs and anyway, I know from both the warranty T&C's and a conversation with them that a claim would normally be disallowed under wear and tear, its only when working with the dealer I purchased from that this work is now getting done.  So basically Ford would charge me £110, to tell me there was a problem but nothing would get done!

Edited January 29, 2020 by TimJ

[Botus]

known manufacturing fault = their problem for 6 years !!!!