Hi there everyone, 

I have got a 69 plate Ford Focus titanium model automatic with 20,000 miles on the clock. Not sure if anyone els has had this issue, but when the car changes from 3rd to 4th gear I believe, the car jolts and also with going into 7th to 8th. I took it into my Ford dealers where I brought it from and they said the PCM needed an update, which they done. This didn’t seem to solve the situation. So I took it to them again and they said it needed the same thing again? Isn’t the PCM to do with the engine not the gear box or will this help the gearbox? 
 

Hope anyone can suggest with anything I can do to help with this situation with the car.

Thanks

1 hour ago, FWP_21 said:

I took it into my Ford dealers where I brought it from and they said the PCM needed an update, which they done. This didn’t seem to solve the situation...

I'm very cynical on dealer suggested 'updates' to repair a fault. If it worked on a Monday, and broke on Tuesday, how on earth would a software update fix it?

23 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

I'm very cynical on dealer suggested 'updates' to repair a fault. If it worked on a Monday, and broke on Tuesday, how on earth would a software update fix it?

That’s exactly what I was thinking. It’ll be going back again. 

PCM: The powertrain control module, is your vehicle's brain. It manages the engine, transmission and other systems based on information it receives from various sensors around the vehicle

After a software update to the PCM with regards to a transmission issue, it is often necessary to reset the adaptive learning of the gearbox. If this is not done it can take a good few hundred miles before the gearbox adapts.

5 minutes ago, unofix said:

It manages the engine, transmission and other systems based on information it receives from various sensors around the vehicle...

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with my simplistic hypothesis, in how would a simple 'update' cure a fault that developed?

11 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with my simplistic hypothesis, in how would a simple 'update' cure a fault that developed?

Nope 😀

Sometimes faults do occur that were previously unknown but come to light as either the vehicle gets older, or a set of circumstances happen that had not been foreseen by the manufacturer. In these instances a software update fixes a 'bug' (but they don't like to call them that 🤣). There is also the possibility of improvements in the software to make things operate better, but these would not normally be something that could be classed as a fix, but rather an upgrade.

Firstly, What engine is it?

Secondly, is the battery condition good, a poor performing battery will make the trans loose it's memory. You can reset, as advised below, but if the battery's on the way out it will just happen again.

How many miles has the car done?

Get the condition and level of the transmission fluid checked ASAP

You've had the software updated but does your car have a combined PCM/TCM or are they separate? BOTH need updating, not just one. TCM controls the solenoids and torque convertor etc but the PCM will engage and disengage the throttle body etc

Did they perform a adaptive shift strategy reset and relearn drive cycle? They should have, that's what needs doing.

I'd pop back and ask what exactly they did

6 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Did they perform a adaptive shift strategy reset and relearn drive cycle? They should have, that's what needs doing...

I would also ask Scottie to check the condition of the dilithium crystals, and ensure the flux capacitor connections are OK whilst you're at it 

On 2/1/2023 at 9:18 AM, DaveT70 said:

Firstly, What engine is it?

Secondly, is the battery condition good, a poor performing battery will make the trans loose it's memory. You can reset, as advised below, but if the battery's on the way out it will just happen again.

How many miles has the car done?

Get the condition and level of the transmission fluid checked ASAP

You've had the software updated but does your car have a combined PCM/TCM or are they separate? BOTH need updating, not just one. TCM controls the solenoids and torque convertor etc but the PCM will engage and disengage the throttle body etc

Did they perform a adaptive shift strategy reset and relearn drive cycle? They should have, that's what needs doing.

I'd pop back and ask what exactly they did

The engine is the 1.0 125ps eco boost petrol engine. The mileage on the car is 20,500. 
 

I assume the battery is in perfect condition as  everything is working perfect fine on as in electrics wise and the stop/start works. 
 

Wouldn’t have a clue about the PCM and TCM being combined. I also wouldn’t have a clue about the relearn drive cycle or adaptive shift strategy. All they told me they done was a PCM update. 
 

It’s going back for a further investigation. 

16 hours ago, FWP_21 said:

Wouldn’t have a clue about the PCM and TCM being combined. I also wouldn’t have a clue about the relearn drive cycle or adaptive shift strategy. All they told me they done was a PCM update. 
 

It’s going back for a further investigation. 

Now you know what to ask them