Ford focus TDCi DMF disaster - advice sought!
Discussion
Hello,
This is my first post on these forums, so I'd to say hi to all those who frequent it. I wish I was joining under better circumstances as I'm looking for advice on what has become a nightmarish saga, and to pick people's brains and see if anyone has had a similar issue.
I have an '04 Mk1 1.8 TDCi Focus Ghia with 74k on the clock. I've looked after it well and it's never missed a beat, up until a couple of weeks ago when I had the infamous dual mass flywheel failure.
Took it to my usual trusted garage who said a solid flywheel conversion was the best option so in one went, along with new clutch and concentric slave/thrust bearing.
Result - the car was an absolute pig. Jerky as hell to drive and snatchy when taking your foot off the gas, but worst of all loads of vibration both through the clutch pedal but also shaking the whole car. The vibration intensified when the clutch was dipped and the engine revved. I've done a bit of research and a fair few online seem to have this issue with solid mass flywheel conversions, so I put it down to that.
Back it went, and in went a brand new dual mass flywheel kit (and matching clutch). Result - car now drives beautifully, but STILL vibrates and wobbles significantly around about 1200rpm - I feel like a jelly on a plate in there. There's also the same, drumming vibration that gets worse when the clutch is dipped, though not as bad as before. Garage is stumped as the new DMF is a warrantied LUK part, but I can't help but think it's a dodgy flywheel and is unbalanced somehow.
Does anybody know what's happening at this magic 1200rpm figure? It seems to crop up a fair bit on google search results as a vibration mode in diesel focus' with new flywheels. I'm happy to drive it and live with it as a peculiarity if there are likely no repercussions, but I can't help thinking that vibrating components inevitably work loose, or wear (or both) and subsequently fail.
Any advice would be massively appreciated as I'm on the verge of tearing my hair out!
Cheers, Neil
This is my first post on these forums, so I'd to say hi to all those who frequent it. I wish I was joining under better circumstances as I'm looking for advice on what has become a nightmarish saga, and to pick people's brains and see if anyone has had a similar issue.
I have an '04 Mk1 1.8 TDCi Focus Ghia with 74k on the clock. I've looked after it well and it's never missed a beat, up until a couple of weeks ago when I had the infamous dual mass flywheel failure.
Took it to my usual trusted garage who said a solid flywheel conversion was the best option so in one went, along with new clutch and concentric slave/thrust bearing.
Result - the car was an absolute pig. Jerky as hell to drive and snatchy when taking your foot off the gas, but worst of all loads of vibration both through the clutch pedal but also shaking the whole car. The vibration intensified when the clutch was dipped and the engine revved. I've done a bit of research and a fair few online seem to have this issue with solid mass flywheel conversions, so I put it down to that.
Back it went, and in went a brand new dual mass flywheel kit (and matching clutch). Result - car now drives beautifully, but STILL vibrates and wobbles significantly around about 1200rpm - I feel like a jelly on a plate in there. There's also the same, drumming vibration that gets worse when the clutch is dipped, though not as bad as before. Garage is stumped as the new DMF is a warrantied LUK part, but I can't help but think it's a dodgy flywheel and is unbalanced somehow.
Does anybody know what's happening at this magic 1200rpm figure? It seems to crop up a fair bit on google search results as a vibration mode in diesel focus' with new flywheels. I'm happy to drive it and live with it as a peculiarity if there are likely no repercussions, but I can't help thinking that vibrating components inevitably work loose, or wear (or both) and subsequently fail.
Any advice would be massively appreciated as I'm on the verge of tearing my hair out!
Cheers, Neil
Pretty much immediately - I drove through the car wash, out the other side and parked. Popped into the shop, and when I returned 30s later and tried to drive away - BAM. There it was. Very loud banging from underneath, lots of vibration through the clutch pedal and a loud grinding/groaning noise on revving that intensified when the clutch was dipped.
Thanks guys..I had a feeling this wasn't a simple DMF failure. Hmm.
Oakdale - in response to your question, a bit of an original symptom is still there; the vibration/drumming sound you get when the clutch is dipped, especially at high revs. It's especially noticeable when changing up through the gears under moderate/high acceleration. However, it's not present when the car is being driven in-gear like it was initially.
neiljohnson - when the new DMF was put in a DMF-specific clutch was fitted, so we've covered that one.
Oakdale - in response to your question, a bit of an original symptom is still there; the vibration/drumming sound you get when the clutch is dipped, especially at high revs. It's especially noticeable when changing up through the gears under moderate/high acceleration. However, it's not present when the car is being driven in-gear like it was initially.
neiljohnson - when the new DMF was put in a DMF-specific clutch was fitted, so we've covered that one.
Just a thought regarding the previous suggestion of water ingress - how could the water have been inducted? A car wash is only really the equivalent of a heavy shower, and I didn't have the engine running whilst the wash took place. Plus, I've been through that particular wash many times before.
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