Clunking/Slipping/Neutral Transmission event

[markathome]

So, I know there have been some discussions on this issue. And I honestly thought one of the TSB's would have resolved this issue. But, I just got a call from my trusty ole Ford dealer who says there is nothing wrong and the TSB's don't apply. They performed the ohm test on the gear selector module, as outlined in the TSB 10-21-2 and it passed. They also searched other TSB's, but, found nothing.

Here's what happened this past Saturday: The car seemed to slip into neutral, gears clunked and would not move forward for a few seconds after entering an intersection upon green light. Car seemed confused as to what gear it was in as even the rear backup camera momentarily activated while rolling forward. Gear selector was in Drive and not adjusted at any time during the event. After a few seconds, it went on normally. No idiot lights, nothing on maintenance report, etc.

Anyone else have this issue and it 'not' be resolved or reoccurs? Granted, this particular gear issue has only happened once, but I have had the rear camera momentarily activate once before.

No big deal...yet...but, sure puts a hit in the confidence levels of pulling out in front of traffic while expecting that 365HP to giddy up and it can't...
:shakehead

 

[RedCandySHO]

Sounds like the transmission range sensor to me....I would take it to a different dealer.

 

[markathome]

Do you have a TSB for that? Or, is that all they need to know...?

 

[RedCandySHO]

Not sure if there is a TSB or not. When I first got my car it would do something similar. Took it to the dealer and they replaced that sensor. Fixed the problem, never had an issue since. It was a big job, they had to take the transmission apart.

 

[Retnavy]

TSB 10-9-9 also applies here. Let me state that it did "NOT" cure all the issue with the tranny, but they at least have been really far apart between events. The hesatation still happens, and it's mostly on rolling stops when it occurs. When mine really acted up prior to this repair, it went into a limp home mode, and I was able to get a safety report will all the errors, must be taken before you restart the car. The errors are not saved, so if you shut down and restart, they are gone.

 

[Showgun]

TSB 10-9-9 also applies here. Let me state that it did "NOT" cure all the issue with the tranny, but they at least have been really far apart between events. The hesatation still happens, and it's mostly on rolling stops when it occurs. When mine really acted up prior to this repair, it went into a limp home mode, and I was able to get a safety report will all the errors, must be taken before you restart the car. The errors are not saved, so if you shut down and restart, they are gone.

Bob, That safety report you mentioned: is it just as easy as scrolling thru a menu to find the right option for the report or is it something special that one has to do?
Cheers,

 

[markathome]

Thanks guys for your help. I ended up speaking with the owner of the dealership whom offered to take the car to one of his other Ford dealerships to have another set of eyes try to find the issue. He offered to let a tech drive the car (to which I'm not too keen), or hookup a data recorder. While he was driving it as a demo, this didn't happen to him either. Interestingly enough, he said he bought one for his mother in Alabama and she's had an odd issue with hers too. He said that hers actually turned off and she coasted to a stop. She restarted it and its been fine.
So for now I'm going to wait until this happens to me again, or see if it gets more troublesome or frequent. If it does, I'll take them up on the data recorder option.
The issue is noted, I filed a inquiry with Ford customer service, and I also filed a complaint with NHTSA, https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/. If you've experienced this issue, you should report it to NHTSA. There are about 10-15 related reports on the NHTSA site.
But, again, since this has happened only once in 6,000 miles, the maybe the odds of it happening again are low. Time will tell.

 

[Retnavy]

Bob, That safety report you mentioned: is it just as easy as scrolling thru a menu to find the right option for the report or is it something special that one has to do?
Cheers,

I wish I could find the post where this was all discussed. If you have sync, you should be able to run a report (anytime) via the phone menu and advanced menu. You need to also be registered on the Ford's Sync my ride forum (I believe). Then when you run the report, the site will send you an e-mail to view the report. If you don't have Sync, I don't have a clue. When my car went into limp home/wrench light on, and other errors, I pulled over and ran the report prior to turning the ignition off. As I stated, once I restarted the car, all the error indications were gone, car ran normally. If you don't get any error indications, then you "won't" get any errors on the report.

Syncmyride.com is the correct address. You'll need to create an account and register your VIN number.

 

[Showgun]

I wish I could find the post where this was all discussed. If you have sync, you should be able to run a report (anytime) via the phone menu and advanced menu. You need to also be registered on the Ford's Sync my ride forum (I believe). Then when you run the report, the site will send you an e-mail to view the report. If you don't have Sync, I don't have a clue. When my car went into limp home/wrench light on, and other errors, I pulled over and ran the report prior to turning the ignition off. As I stated, once I restarted the car, all the error indications were gone, car ran normally. If you don't get any error indications, then you "won't" get any errors on the report.

Syncmyride.com is the correct address. You'll need to create an account and register your VIN number.

Excellent info. Thanks. I'll register now.
C.

 

[zeus268]

Excellent info. Thanks. I'll register now.
C.

You may have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Canadians can access the vehicle health report or other features that U.S. vehicles can.....

 

[Showgun]

You may have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Canadians can access the vehicle health report or other features that U.S. vehicles can.....

Hey Andrew, Not sure yet because I don't have all the necessary info to submit but it allowed me to register and had facility for our Canadian addresses etc so I'm assuming that we can.....I'll have to see once the car arrives. In the meantime I can explore that website again for more info.

C.

 

[Showgun]

Just checked in the FAQ section of My Sync and you are correct Andrew, no vehicle health report but we do have 911 assist.:

All 2011 and 2010, and select 2009 SYNC-equipped vehicles in the United States only come with the Vehicle Health Report service available for activation. All 2011 and 2010, and select 2009 SYNC-equipped vehicles in the United States and Canada only come with 911 Assist. All 2008 and 2009 SYNC-equipped vehicles (except Mustang) are able to be upgraded to include these features. The upgrade is a software installation performed by dealers, and eligible customers are responsible for dealer installation charges, which may vary.

 

[southman_70]

Sounds like the transmission range sensor to me....I would take it to a different dealer.

I agree I had the same issue and that was the problem. Call Ford and explain to them the problem and let me get involved. It worked for me and I got the problem fixed.

 

[nynd]

Back up camera coming on is the key - that is the range sensor. You need to have it changed under warranty.

 

[markathome]

Update:
Well....the dealer and Ford Cust Serv really don't know what to do about this issue. So, the game plan for now is to wait until/if it happens again. They said not to worry about it because I have a lot of time and a lot of mileage left on warranty. The game plan is that if it happens again, call them and we'll go from there. Hum...
Guess I have to be careful in pulling out in front of those semi's, or squeezing those lemons in the intersections. Ha..


But...I still love my SHO!

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Do they replace your SHO if you crash?????

 

[mjhpadi]

You may have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Canadians can access the vehicle health report or other features that U.S. vehicles can.....

Don't feel bad, I have registered and I still can't do the health report because it says that my cell phone carrier won't support it....and it is a PITA to get it to work, so at this point I have said the heck with it.

 

[Showgun]

Update:
Well....the dealer and Ford Cust Serv really don't know what to do about this issue. So, the game plan for now is to wait until/if it happens again. They said not to worry about it because I have a lot of time and a lot of mileage left on warranty. The game plan is that if it happens again, call them and we'll go from there. Hum...
Guess I have to be careful in pulling out in front of those semi's, or squeezing those lemons in the intersections. Ha..

Man, I understand your worry.
But...I still love my SHO!

Mark,
Did they offer to take the car and test it themselves to try to get it to duplicate the issue?????? --and I don't mean for a test drive. I mean for a few days or a week or however long it takes to diagnose the issue.
I'd be a little worried about driving that car. I can tell that you're worried too.
If it were me, Mark, I'd tell them that their suggestion to "wait for it to happen again and bring it in" just isn't good enough.

I'd also be worried about the legal implications in the event of an accident -- with you, Ford, and the dealer knowing that there is a safety issue. FFT.

See EcoBrick Bob's question below and add this: What if someone is hurt or killed and that includes you mate....

Do they replace your SHO if you crash?????

.. good point Bob, and I've added a worse scenario above.

Don't feel bad, I have registered and I still can't do the health report because it says that my cell phone carrier won't support it....and it is a PITA to get it to work, so at this point I have said the heck with it.

Mark, you mean I have 'company in my misery'?

You're right: we Canucks can't access health reports. The system isn't set up for us yet. I expect it will be eventually, but not yet.
God knows why. I guess they don't know which buttons to push yet.

C.

 

[RedCandySHO]

Mine did this yesterday. Slowing to come to a stop, clunk. It accelerated fine when the light changed, but it was a loud clunk. The bad news is, mine has already had the range sensor replaced.

 

[Showgun]

Mine did this yesterday. Slowing to come to a stop, clunk. It accelerated fine when the light changed, but it was a loud clunk. The bad news is, mine has already had the range sensor replaced.

That's weird...let us know what the dealer has to say, RCS