Focus gearbox

[crankedup]

I have heard/read somewhere that the Focus gearbox in the 1.8 engined car has an inherrent problem. Something about bearings collapse? is this true and is the 1.8 DTCI also affected? Your views appreciated.

[Jon GT2]

Must admit i havent really seen any pattern to that.

[crankedup]

Thanks Jon, just needed to seperate fact from fiction as the Focus (used) is one of the cars I am considering to replace our current daily runner.

[plfrench]

You sure it's not the spring breaking thing??

That is a problem, where the lever return spring snaps and the lever won't automatically spring back to the middle when in neutral.

Not a massive problem, as the car is still driveable and it's only a matter of pence to get a new spring and change yourself. (I was quoted £80 at a dealers for this job!!)

[igiveup]

plfrench said:

You sure it's not the spring breaking thing??

That is a problem, where the lever return spring snaps and the lever won't automatically spring back to the middle when in neutral.

Not a massive problem, as the car is still driveable and it's only a matter of pence to get a new spring and change yourself. (I was quoted £80 at a dealers for this job!!)

Which is criminal as the part only costs £3.22 including VAT and takes no less than 20mins to do yourself.

[paul3178]

Hi, my wifes 1.6 zetec has this problem is it easy to replace the spring - its a pain in the arse driving it when you arn't used to it

[igiveup]

You need part FINIS CODE F1142069 £2.82 (inc VAT £3.31).

Remove top of gearstick, just twist it like a bottle top.

remove surround, just push up from handbrake end and lift. There is NO need to remove cup holders etc..

Push of gear linkages with a flat head screw driver

Move linkages out the way as much as possible and unscrew the holding screw for gear stick

This gets a bit fiddly, may take you up to an hour to figure out how to put new spring on. It did me.

Not easy to describe in full. I did take pictures for FFOC but since they charge on there now I no longer go on there.

Put back together in reverse order.

[plfrench]

paul3178 said:

Hi, my wifes 1.6 zetec has this problem is it easy to replace the spring - its a pain in the arse driving it when you arn't used to it

I managed it so it must be easy

You need to remove the centre console part with the cupholders in. (The trickiest part I remember is separating the handbrake gaiter!!) Then it is pretty obvious which bit has broken, and how it should fit together. FFOC.co.uk used to have a step by step guide with pics, so it might be worth a look on there.

[igiveup]

plfrench said:

FFOC.co.uk used to have a step by step guide with pics, so it might be worth a look on there.

Yep Its was my picture's and write up. Since they went into a pay membership scheme, You can no longer see this part of the Forum, so I pulled my Pictures.

Edited by igiveup on Wednesday 12th December 15:13

[paul3178]

Cheers guys,

thats now a job for over the christmas holidays to stop me getting too bored!!!

it really is annoying trying to change down when not thinking, i even managed to put it into first instead of 3rd changing down from 5th.....luckily only started to release the clutch when i realised

[plfrench]

Sorry, I started to reply, and then had to do some work (how inconvenient!!) so by the time I'd clicked submit, your post had gone up!!

[crankedup]

Safe to assume then that this spring has now been uprated, or is the linkage spring of slightly poor design.

[plfrench]

The MK2 Focus is different, and I'm pretty sure they modified the spring during the life of the mk1, so should be ok on later ones.

[igiveup]

crankedup said:

Safe to assume then that this spring has now been uprated, or is the linkage spring of slightly poor design.

Well I have a 2000 (W) model and I changed my spring at 30,000 still going strong at 70,000!