![]() ![]() If you are still determined on getting a car with the Durashift CVT, look out for these symptoms of problems: Plus, it will be cheaper to fix if it does. It may still fail, but it is less likely to. Leave the CVT for mopeds and get a car with the 4-speed automatic transmission. The bottom line is this: If the transmission fails, you will have a problem. While the Durashift CVT is one of the few decent implementations of the CVT technology, it will still be expensive to fix when it fails because few garages have the knowledge and experience required to service them. Although the principle of CVT operation is very simple in theory, only a few companies managed to create reliable and long-lasting CVT gearboxes, despite the fact that the concept of the CVT is even older than traditional automatic transmissions. That’s often not the case with CVT transmissions. They are well understood and can usually be repaired locally (actually repaired, not replaced). Traditional automatic transmissions with torque converters have been around for around 80 years (starting from GM’s Hydramatic). I think that buying a used car with a CVT is not a good idea because they are difficult to diagnose and repair due to their uncommonness (is this a word?). The catch is the same as with dual-clutch transmissions. This is an advantage because the engine can then operate at an RPM that is most efficient while the car is accelerating and when you floor it, the RPM climbs close to the redline and stays there to get the most power out of the engine. Juddering / vibrations when taking off from a standstillĪpart from their smoothness, another key benefit of CVT transmissions is that they can make the car accelerate while the engine RPM remains constant. Shuddering during acceleration (also a symptom of clutch slip) If you are still convinced about buying a used Ford Focus Mk2 with a Powershift transmission, here are the typical symptoms of Powershift malfunction:Ĭar entering “limp home” mode or transmission warning messages displayed on the dashboardĬlunking or crunching noises when changing gearsĪ sensation that the clutch is slipping (engine revs rising too quickly and not matching the acceleration of the car) The latter is the cheaper option, yet it would still likely cost you £2,000+.īy the way, you may be able to buy a new mechatronics unit outside of the dealership for around £1,000, but I used the dealership prices to get my point across. Sometimes, you can have the faulty part replaced if you can find someone capable of doing it, but it will still be expensive because of the labour involved and the knowledge required.įew places can repair dual-clutch transmissions and even dealerships do not generally repair them. If you go to the dealership with a faulty Powershift transmission, the odds are that they will offer to replace the entire transmission or at least the mechatronics unit (valve body). Trying to fix a faulty Powershift gearbox will most likely be expensive or very expensive, which is the norm for dual-clutch transmissions.Ī failure of an individual component, like a £20 sensor, or a £30 valve, means that you may have to replace half of the transmission. If the transmission fails, you will have a problem. It’s not something you want to own outside of warranty. I don’t recommend buying used cars with dual-clutch transmissions. I keep repeating myself every time I write about dual-clutch transmissions, and I will this time too. While the 6DCT450 (MPS6) used in the Mk2 Focus may have a decent track record in terms of reliability, it’s still a very complex piece of kit. The 6DCT250, used in the Mk3 Focus, is the problematic one. MPS6 (wet clutches) – it became available in the Mk2 Focus after the facelift in 2008. To be specific, it was the 6DCT450 model that was rated at 450 Nm and used in diesel-powered cars.ĭPS6 (dry clutches) – this one came to the market after 2010, and because of the lower torque limit, it was used in petrol-powered cars. There were two types of Powershift transmissions: However, all of that applies to Ford’s dry-clutch variant of the Powershift. You might have heard about the problems (followed by class-action lawsuits) with Ford’s Powershift dual-clutch transmissions. ![]() ![]() The trick to achieving quick gear changes, that dual-clutch transmissions are known for, lies in pre-selecting gears and predicting driver’s behaviour.ĭual-clutch gearboxes are also very efficient because they don’t have torque converters like traditional automatic transmissions. It has two clutches – one drives odd-numbered gears, and the other drives even-numbered gears. Powershift is Ford’s brand name for their dual-clutch transmissions, designed for Ford by Getrag.Ī dual-clutch transmission is like an automated manual transmission. ![]()
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