Hi,

I have a 2017 66 plate Ford Focus Titanium X with adaptive cruise, I took it in to a garage for an issue with the clutch, the pedal wasn’t returning and I would have to manually pull the clutch back up with my foot after each gear change. The garage couldn’t be sure if it was the master cylinder or the slave cylinder but we agreed as it was the cheaper option to try and replace the master cylinder first. This has now been done but the car now has different issues that were not present before.

Now, the cars characteristics seem to have changed:

1) I’m having an issue starting the car. Prior to changing the clutch I would start the car just by pressing the clutch down and just tapping the start button. Now If I try this there is a clicking sound and the dash displays “Press clutch and brake to start”

2) When I the press the clutch and brake there is no guarantee the car will start after a few attempts of this and holding down the start button not just tapping it like I used to, it may then start but I have to hold the start button down if I just tap it it will try to start but then stop trying as soon as I let go.

3) With the adaptive cruise prior to this master cylinder being changed I could set the adaptive cruise and change gears up / down no issues at all without having to reinstate the cruise,   now, the adaptive cruise disengages not when put the clutch down but I bring the clutch back up? It shouldn’t disengage at all?

4) The stop / start feature no longer works?

I’m taking the car back on Wednesday but they don’t know what’s wrong with it. I’m just wondering if there is something they have forgotten to do when replacing the master cylinder?

Thanks for any help.

Lawrence

Sounds to me like they’ve done something wrong with the switch on the clutch pedal. See  if there is a wire off or switch out of place. I know it’s not easy to see very well up there.

I don't have exact details for your model but generally there will be two switches for the Clutch. 

One on the Pedal to show when it is at the bottom of its travel and one incorporated into the Master Cylinder. It looks like one or both of these is  not right and that is what is giving you the problems that you have.

I would have thought that a good Ford specific scan tool such as FORScan would be able to read if these were operating correctly and there may be a fault code as well, but not one that would illuminate the dashboard light although I'm not certain about these two points.

Thank you both for your replies, are these switches accessible to me the owner / driver or do I have to take it back to the garage? The reason I ask is they don’t have a clue?!?!

The one at the Pedal should be if you don't mind lying on your back. It is normally high up at the pivot point.

I'm not sure how accessible the other one is, there might be a lot of stuff in the way. It is normally operated by the Clutch Pushrod in the Master Cylinder and is there to show the actual position of the pushrod when the Clutch is operated rather than whether it is fully pushed like the other one. 

Maybe the Electrical Connector on one of them is loose or has come off.

Hi Guys,

 

Just wanted to give an update, I picked the car up yesterday from the garage after asking them to replace the switches behind the pedal and at the master cylinder and I’m pleased to say this has resolved all the issues I was experiencing after changing the master cylinder. So a massive thank you from me to you guys for all your help, I would not have known what the issue was or how to direct the garage without your help 🙂

 

THANK YOU 🙂

 

Did they charge you more or did they admit they had done something wrong? It sounds like they should have realised it wasn’t right after the original work was done

They didn’t charge for the extra work but thought they may have done. To be fair, I do take the car to them for everything the car needs so I am a loyal customer, whether that counts for anything I’m not sure 🙂

Lawrence

I have a similar clutch problem with my Focus. Clutch would not return and couldn't change gears. When the recovery truck came he drive it a bit but because it still didn't feel right they took it to my garage. When they tested it the next day the clutch worked fine! 

No repairs, used the car for over 2 weeks then it happened again. Not sure if the master cylinder or slave cylinder need replacing or whether the flexible hose needs replacing? 

I pushed the clutch pedal back up and it worked again!!! Not a permanent solution though. Any thoughts.

Leopold

Had issues with clutch pedal sticking ,changed slave cylinder but still the same .

So had master cylinder changed but have had issues since-

auto on /off switch liton off constantly 

cruise control will not work

limiter not working

gear change on screen also not working

CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE

 

 

1 hour ago, Stressed said:

Had issues with clutch pedal sticking ,changed slave cylinder but still the same .

So had master cylinder changed but have had issues since-

auto on /off switch liton off constantly 

cruise control will not work

limiter not working

gear change on screen also not working

CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE

 

 

Clutch switch problem. 

Potentially the wrong master cylinder - you need the one with the integrated switch.  Potentially one of the pedal switches has been accidentally knocked out.  Or potentially one of the plugs has just been left off by mistake.

The post from Lawerence was October 2021