Clutch or gearbox?

jase1

I have a 2007 Focus (1.6 petrol with a little under 100,000 miles) with a transmission fault, and I'm unsure if it's the box or the clutch.

The fault is intermittent; essentially every so often it will crunch (not baulk, just crunch) into gear. It goes straight in, and doesn't jump out.

This is *not* due to my gearchanges. I have been very careful to push the pedal all the way to the end-stop, leave it there for half a second, and gently change gear, but every so often (maybe one in 100 gearchanges) it crunches.

The box is also notchy, especially when cold, but I have not had any baulking that happened when a previous car's clutch was dragging when warmed up. This happens in first, second and third gear, and (curiously) only when changing up, not down (except when changing down to first when the car is going <5mph).

If it's weak synchros I'll just leave it until it gets worse, but obviously it's a different story if the clutch is to blame as all this crunching will eventually damage the transmission as well.

Anyone have any ideas?

mikey72

Has it lost any oil at any time?

jase1

mikey72 wrote: »

Has it lost any oil at any time?

Not to the best of my knowledge whilst I have owned the car (and I have not noticed any fluid leaks), but I'e only owned it for around 30,000 miles. So you're thinking weakened box due to oil starvation now or in the past?

mikey72

Just thinking it could be low, or even needing changing. 100,000 miles is a lot, and the synchros don't like dirty oil.
Maybe it's causing a bit of drag, and sometimes not letting them spin up properly.

jase1

Thanks. I will see about getting an oil change at the earliest opportunity. Certainly can't hurt.

mikey72

I changed our 106 at about the same mileage. The oil was near enough silver when it came out.
Certainly improved the cold changes.
It's important to use the right grade though, don't be tempted to go for a thinner synthetic, that affects the synchro operation.

Strider590

Could just be the gear stick adjustment, my car was having trouble getting into 1st until I carried out the reset procedure.

Premier_2

jase1 wrote: »

Thanks. I will see about getting an oil change at the earliest opportunity. Certainly can't hurt.

There is no need to ever change the oil on a Ford (manual) gearbox (under normal circumstances), and indeed no facility incorporated to do so.

The gearbox oil level should be regularly checked and topped up if necessary.

Notmyrealname

Premier wrote: »

There is no need to ever change the oil on a Ford (manual) gearbox (under normal circumstances), and indeed no facility incorporated to do so.

Wrong. There are filler and drain plugs on the gearboxes. I changed the oil in mine at just over 100,000 miles and judging by the colour of what came out compared to what went in, it was a good move. At 165k there are still no leaks and it changes gear fine.

They need a specific gearbox oil though, not the regular EP80/90 stuff. Halfords sell it.

mikey72

Premier wrote: »

There is no need to ever change the oil on a Ford (manual) gearbox (under normal circumstances), and indeed no facility incorporated to do so.

The gearbox oil level should be regularly checked and topped up if necessary.

That's not the same thing.

Most cars have no facility now, but certainly they still have the need.
Mine you drop the gearbox sump plate, and refill through the reversing switch.
The oil is no greatly different to that of 10 years ago, and neither are the gearboxes.

100,000 miles is more than enough time for a change.

scooby088

It could be gear linkage problems i had the problem when changing gears, but my car is a corsa. i couldn't get first or second gears and could only engage 3rd and 4th gears. Changing the linkages solved the problem.