What type of gearbox, Ford Cmax??

knightstyle

So we recently purchased a 13 plate Cmax automatic. I really like the gearbox, it is better than the MMR in our Auris and the "slush box" in our Juke.
When I asked I was told there are two gearboxes, one does 1,3,5 and the other 2,4,6. So what is this system called and is there still a fluid flywheel?

facade

It is what they call "dual clutch" or "dual shaft"

Depending on how they are set up they can give a very fast change, as the "spare" shaft is already in the next gear. Works quite well one way, if you slow down when it thinks you were speeding up it has to swap gears though.

They are alright as long as you don't expect it to crawl in traffic like a torque converter auto would, there is no torque multiplication, and they have to slip the clutch.

The clutches are like motorbike ones, might be running in oil or they might be dry plates, I've no idea.

arcon5

The fluid flywheel you refer to is a torque converter bolted to a flex plate

facade

Has the Cmax got one though?
The biggest problem I see with these new fangled autos is the inability to crawl along on the torque converter, I'd pay a bit more attention if I knew they had them.

AdrianC

Ford call it "PowerShift", and - yes - it's a VW DSG-style dual-clutch.

There is no torque converter - as they've said, it's basically two three-speed manual gearboxes sellotaped together with Metal Mickey doing all the lever-wiggling-and-pedal-pushing.

This link gives a good overview of how it works, with the added bonus of a video of a Meccano one that some loony built...
https://www.selmec.org.uk/article_0004_computer_controlled_dsg_transmission.aspx

bod1467

AdrianC wrote: »

This link gives a good overview of how it works, with the added bonus of a video of a Meccano one that some loony built...
https://www.selmec.org.uk/article_0004_computer_controlled_dsg_transmission.aspx

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The resource you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

AdrianC

bod1467 wrote: »

404 - File or directory not found.
The resource you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

Take the space(s) out before the full stop.

I've just gone to edit my post, and there is no space in it in edit mode. Very odd.

RichardD1970

facade wrote: »

They are alright as long as you don't expect it to crawl in traffic like a torque converter auto would, there is no torque multiplication, and they have to slip the clutch.

facade wrote: »

Has the Cmax got one though?
The biggest problem I see with these new fangled autos is the inability to crawl along on the torque converter, I'd pay a bit more attention if I knew they had them.

We are looking at a Grand C-Max with the "Powershift" gearbox.

On looking at the user manual it does actually say under the Automatic Gearbox heading,

Note: A cold engine has a higher idle speed. This will increase the tendency for your vehicle to creep when you have selected a drive gear.

Although I agree, I wouldn't expect any creep, the one in my C4 certainly doesn't.

Probably just a generic paragraph left in, but could cause a bit of confusion.

knightstyle

Thanks for the answers. Just to add we really like the gearbox, seamless changes up and down plus tows well, I put it in auto mode to start then on long stretches put it in manual, 5th or 6th depending on speed and it purrs along. This avoids the constant changing between gears whilst towing in auto mode which happens in all autos.
There is a slight creep forward when at rest, just like a "normal" auto and it does not roll back on hill starts.
Just to add it is the 2.0 diesel, ex-motability. I don't think they do that any more.

AdrianC

knightstyle wrote: »

There is a slight creep forward when at rest, just like a "normal" auto

Much more like a manual gearbox with the driver slipping the clutch. Because, well, that's exactly what it is.

Richard53

My wife had a C-Max with the Powershift box. I thought it was brilliant, to be honest. Up changes were quick and seamless, as you would expect, but the best bit was on downhill gradients, where it would select and hold a lower gear just like you would in a manual. For a lump of metal, it seemed pretty intelligent.