Ford Clutch Repair

Ford Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 by Henry Ford and has been in the Ford family since the beginning. In 1956 Ford Motor Company stock was made public but the majority voting rights are still maintained by the Ford family. Over the decades, Ford has manufactured its own line of vehicles in addition to purchasing and selling several other auto lines. The most recent product line includes passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles such as the TransitTransit Connect line of cargo vehicles replacing the Econoline.

Ford Transmission Technology

Ford has been very active in research and development with regards to hybrid engine technology, electric engines, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. In addition, Ford has developed new transmission technology including the PowerShift automatic transmission and Constantly Variable Transmissions (CVTs). The PowerShift automatic is similar to the Volkswagen Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) and BMW Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Although the PowerShift is classified as an automatic transmission it is more similar to a manual transmission. The PowerShift was only available in the Focus (2012-2016) and the Fiesta (2011-2016). Ford has discontinued the PowerShift at this point due to major flaws and complaints. When originally marketed Ford classified the PowerShift as an automatic transmission but did not educate customers on the difference between this and traditional automatic transmissions. As a result of this marketing/educational oversight, many customers filed complaints regarding the transmission performance and Ford Motor Company has been working to resolve the issues. There have been extensions to the warranty and reimbursement of time and expenses for many customers.

Ford Automatic Transmissions

A traditional automatic transmission has clutch frictions for each gear and planetary gear sets consisting of a sun gear, pinions, and ring gear to make ratio changes that define each gear. A traditional automatic transmission also has a torque converter, which is a fluid clutch that transmits power from the engine through the turbine to the input shaft of the transmission. The transmission determines the appropriate gear based on engine demand and vehicle speed to transmit power to the driveshaft and wheels. In newer computer-controlled transmissions the computer uses a band or clutches to select a fixed ratio depending on engine demand and road speed. The computer also uses pulse width modulation and accumulators to control shift feel.

Originally, automatic transmissions used hydraulics to shift gears. In the 1980s manufacturers started using computers to control torque converter lockup in addition to hydraulic controlled shifting. As computer technology evolved it was used to control lockup, shifting, line pressure, and eventually shift quality through pulse width modulation and electromagnetic solenoids.

Unfortunately, all of the systems that create a smooth, comfortable ride rob horsepower and fuel economy. As a result, manufacturers continue to develop new technology that will maximize horsepower, comfort, lower emissions, and fuel economy.

Ford Motor Companies PowerShift Transmissions

The theory of operation for the PowerShift transmission is different than a traditional automatic transmission which results in a very different feel for the driver.

The PowerShift is a manual transmission with computer-controlled dual-clutch assemblies that release and apply based on the gear selected eliminating a clutch pedal assembly. Internally, the transmission has 2 shafts that the gears ride on. The first shaft contains the even-numbered gears and the second shaft contains the odd-numbered gears. The computer reads data from sensors located on the shift fork of each shaft inside the transmission. The information from these sensors along with data from other modules such as engine demand and road speed is used by the transmission control module to determine gear selection and position. Many of the initial customer complaints on the PowerShift were related to the programming in the transmission control module. Ford Motor Company rolled out several updates to dealerships the changed the programming parameters to address these complaints. While these programming updates helped they did not change the “feel” of the shifting to the extent it felt like a traditional automatic transmission. At this point, Ford Motor Company is not producing any US passenger cars, trucks, or SUVs with the PowerShift transmission.

Another alternative transmission Ford Motor Company offers is the Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT). Several manufacturers have CVTs and each is slightly different. The main component is a metal chain style belt with pulleys and internal sensors that communicate with a transmission control module to target specific engine/speed ratios to maximize fuel economy and horsepower by constantly operating within the ideal engine powerband. There is no “shift” feel because the system is not limited to a set number of gears. Repairs on these transmissions can be very costly and time-consuming due to limited replacement part availability.

Experts in Ford Transmission Repair

If you have a transmission problem with your Ford, there may be a broad range of possibilities causing the problem. Each type of transmission can exhibit symptoms very different from unit to unit. It is important to have your vehicle inspected by a professional transmission shop that is familiar with Ford vehicles and the various models and transmissions in each model. The facility should also have the latest equipment and experience to diagnose your vehicle properly. At Precision Transmission Center we continually train on the latest transmission technology and have the modern equipment necessary to diagnose and repair late-model Ford vehicles. Our technicians are Ford factory-trained, ASE certified, ATRA certified and our rebuild facility is AAA certified and BBB accredited.

Call today to schedule your appointment!

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Ford Transmission Repair in Daytona Beach FL

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