hi guys,

first post, hope someone can help, while driving yesterday morning i started the vehicle and on moving off heard a couple of clunking noises, after the car warmed up they dissapeared so didnt think much of it, a few miles later my dashboard light came on, when i got home i checked the problem and it was showing a P0691 powertrain fault code

i checked under the car and it seems like my gear box is drenched with oil and engine sump housing also seems like oil dripping on it, has anyone got any ideas whats happened and needs fixing, have attached some pics

cheers

steve

2006 focus petrol 1.6 manual

 

Hi, I don't think those problems are linked.  P0691 is a cooling fan fault - but I'm surprised that would put the engine light on so I reckon you probably have another fault code stored which will need Ford diags to read, such as Forscan.

I can't see how far back the gear oil leak starts, it's potentially the driveshaft seal that's failed but you'd need to get a picture further underneath to see it.  The alternative is something inside that plastic box, that's where the gear selector is, it just unclips to open - though I'd suggest wear glove as gear oil smells awful.

It also looks like the engine oil filter has been leaking, unless it just wasn't cleaned up after a previous replacement.

(PS - Is that a cat footprint on the second picture?  I can't unsee it now lol.)

lol yes looks like a paw print in the most unusual of places! ill give the car a scan with forscan today and also have a look at the plastic box and oil filter

thanks for the helpful reply

ste

 

just got the box open and doesnt seem to be any leaking oil coming from it, there is a lot of oil build up and gunk behind the box would that mean the driveshaft seal has failed

 

 

Still can't quite see the end of the driveshaft in those pictures unfortunately.  

It looks like it might be coming from between the engine and gearbox though.  If that's the case it'll be an expensive fix.  Either crank oil seal or gearbox input shaft seal. 

Possibly clutch slave cylinder - though with that amount of fluid lost I think you'd notice the clutch and brakes weren't working lol.

Looks like the selector seal has gone like my old mk2 did but looks worse. 

8 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Still can't quite see the end of the driveshaft in those pictures unfortunately.  

It looks like it might be coming from between the engine and gearbox though.  If that's the case it'll be an expensive fix.  Either crank oil seal or gearbox input shaft seal. 

Possibly clutch slave cylinder - though with that amount of fluid lost I think you'd notice the clutch and brakes weren't working lol.

lol the clutch and brake are working no issues with either!

ive just been able to properly get under the car for some better pics, i can only see the oil around the plastic box do you think it could be the selector seal as focue suggested or something more serious as you said

sorry the first pics were not that clear i had to shoot off this morning so just took them quickly

 

Defo the selector seal here is the Guide on changing it and yes it's fiddly but manageable. You need to 100% get the seal from Ford or you will be changing it twice like me and its cheap. 

14 minutes ago, F0CUE said:

Defo the selector seal here is the Guide on changing it and yes it's fiddly but manageable. You need to 100% get the seal from Ford or you will be changing it twice like me and its cheap. 

 

nice one f0cue, will definately get one from ford, am i alright to drive the car a little before i do it and will it need topping up with any oil from the leak

If you want to drive the car you should check the gearbox oil level first and top up if necessary.

To reduce costs Ford did have the habit to only fill the gearboxes with a bare minimum of oil at the factory. On most vehicles I checked/serviced the gearbox oil level was well below the recommended level. With a low transmission oil level from the factory even a small leak can result in gearbox damage pretty fast.

46 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

If you want to drive the car you should check the gearbox oil level first and top up if necessary.

To reduce costs Ford did have the habit to only fill the gearboxes with a bare minimum of oil at the factory. On most vehicles I checked/serviced the gearbox oil level was well below the recommended level. With a low transmission oil level from the factory even a small leak can result in gearbox damage pretty fast.

cheers mate will definately top up if needed, is there any easy way to check the oil level

Your car has the Ford/Getrag IB5 gearbox. The fill/level plug of this gearbox is located behind the black plastic cover.

The oil level needs to be flush with the lower edge of the filler hole (just fill until the oils starts dripping out).

You might find the local Ford parts are closed to the public under lockdown, shame you didn't notice a few days earlier lol.

While you're buying gear oil, also worth getting some engine degreaser or brake cleaner to clean up the oil leaks from both the engine and gearbox after repair.  I'd probably swap that oil filter while you're under the car anyway, they're cheap enough.    

From the latest set of pictures, that's probably the cleanest driveshaft I've seen on a 15 year old car, not even any minor splits in the gaiter or oil seal weeps!  

9 hours ago, JW1982 said:

Your car has the Ford/Getrag IB5 gearbox. The fill/level plug of this gearbox is located behind the black plastic cover.

The oil level needs to be flush with the lower edge of the filler hole (just fill until the oils starts dripping out).

cheers mate really appreciated, do you know what size tube to use

7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

You might find the local Ford parts are closed to the public under lockdown, shame you didn't notice a few days earlier lol.

While you're buying gear oil, also worth getting some engine degreaser or brake cleaner to clean up the oil leaks from both the engine and gearbox after repair.  I'd probably swap that oil filter while you're under the car anyway, they're cheap enough.    

From the latest set of pictures, that's probably the cleanest driveshaft I've seen on a 15 year old car, not even any minor splits in the gaiter or oil seal weeps!  

lol ik was shocked myself 15 years! if i cant get one will just wait as its lockdown anyway and thanks for the heads up on the degreaser!

Your local ford dealer should be open for parts and service. Just ring them up first and then you should be able to collect after. 

2 hours ago, iantt said:

Your local ford dealer should be open for parts and service. Just ring them up first and then you should be able to collect after. 

cheers mate will give them a call monday morning!

just one thing i forgot to mention when moving off from cold the car was making a clunking noise which dissapeared when it heated up, would this be because of loss off gear box oil