Manual transmission scraping noise / grinding sound

[Bmadda]

We’ll never get more confidence in the fix if everyone is hesitant to go in and get it done. The issue is already non-terminal as far as we know.

I was in the “wait around and don’t let a tech open my transmission” camp originally too, but came around when I realized nothing will change unless most of us get this work done and put the ball back in Ford’s court. If the TSB somehow resolves the issue for good then hell yeah. If not, then waiting around will do nothing but harm you in the end as you wait for your warranty to expire. At which point, Ford will play you the smallest violin even if your transmission decides to explode.

Take it from me — I’m about to replace my own Focus RS head gasket at just under 50,000 miles and 6 years of ownership because my dealership did it wrong when that TSB originally came out the earlier you demand they do the job, and do it correctly, the better off we all are.

I agree w/this. Mine, at this point, is not super loud, and goes away pretty quickly after warmup. I don't want the dealership to get the idea that I'm like some whiny customers out there who cry about every little thing...if I bring them a warranty issue it's gonna be something legit. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna have to take it to them at some point, but hopefully the real loud ones get done 1st so the problem is better understood

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[huey]

I agree w/this. Mine, at this point, is not super loud, and goes away pretty quickly after warmup. I don't want the dealership to get the idea that I'm like some whiny customers out there who cry about every little thing...if I bring them a warranty issue it's gonna be something legit. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna have to take it to them at some point, but hopefully the real loud ones get done 1st so the problem is better understood

another good point & another reason why mine won't go in yet. The problem has started, but just, hell I only have 198 miles on it. No drivability issues and after warmup it disappears.

 

[UM_Ftown]

I am wondering also. I'm not excited about the techs at the dealership monkeying around in the transmission. I'm waiting on a real answer from Ford like this:

But why? It’s their job, from the sounds of it the people that have had the TSB done have not had the sound come back.

I’d rather them try to correctly fix the problem per TSB then just put in another transmission with bad synchros.

 

[I3lackRose]

But why? It’s their job, from the sounds of it the people that have had the TSB done have not had the sound come back.

I’d rather them try to correctly fix the problem per TSB then just put in another transmission with bad synchros.

Some people who complain theirs isnt loud I get the feeling they aren't in sub 30* weather. I'm in Cleveland. We get 4 season in a single week. It can be 70 middle of December and then a week later 20 below zero. Anything under 40 it's noticable anything under 30 it's undeniable. But as you approach 50 and up it's less and less heard on warmup and during driving. So what I'm saying is it may only get so bad and thats based on temp pretty heavily. Even the TSB references at certain temps. So if you hear it at all the damage is done.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Some people who complain theirs isnt loud I get the feeling they aren't in sub 30* weather. I'm in Cleveland. We get 4 season in a single week. It can be 70 middle of December and then a week later 20 below zero. Anything under 40 it's noticable anything under 30 it's undeniable. But as you approach 50 and up it's less and less heard on warmup and during driving. So what I'm saying is it may only get so bad and thats based on temp pretty heavily. Even the TSB references at certain temps. So if you hear it at all the damage is done.

Agreed — in Northern California, and most mornings I can hear scraping if I let off the clutch in neutral but it’s not loud. Probably between 40-50 most times.

When I’m in Tahoe where it gets down into the teens at night? It takes many minutes of much louder scraping sound for it to warm up and go away. It’s almost certainly the same level of issue as the rest of you, just not as noticeable when it’s not colder.

 

[I3lackRose]

Agreed — in Northern California, and most mornings I can hear scraping if I let off the clutch in neutral but it’s not loud. Probably between 40-50 most times.

When I’m in Tahoe where it gets down into the teens at night? It takes many minutes of much louder scraping sound for it to warm up and go away. It’s almost certainly the same level of issue as the rest of you, just not as noticeable when it’s not colder.

My dealer originally said they checked out the transmission noise complaint and heard nothing. I'm like it's unmistakable. Definitely there while driving. So I did a drive with tech and said ..... Ssshhhh..... Listen... 1st scrape, scrape scrape. 2nd scrape scrape scrape. ... I assume I don't need to drive much further? Also showed him how if I'm moving at 30 and throw it in 1st with clutch pressed you hear all kinds of scraping and spinning. Example would be coming to a light know you won't stop fully or long so you plan to sit with foot on clutch and then you are already in 1st to take off. Well that early into 1st makes tons of noise. We drove back in shop and they said they were gunna order parts but the update when I called 2 weeks later is back ordered pins waiting on Ford expidite approval and now we are at 3 weeks no new update on parts?

 

[Chippewa-Pin]

I have an appointment Tuesday and the dealer suggested dropping it off the night before since the overnight temps will be mid 30s so they can confirm what I'm hearing.

 

[I3lackRose]

I have an appointment Tuesday and the dealer suggested dropping it off the night before since the overnight temps will be mid 30s so they can confirm what I'm hearing.

if you can drop it night before i would. Mine of course only made the noise driving slow and not while idling at the dealer due to the 15 minute drive over there. after sitting in garage and having oil changed i couldnt get it to make the noise on warm up there, however it still did make it and could be heard during low speeds. 5-10mph. seems a good 3-4hour cold soak is required to get the nosie to reappear on warmup if its been driven a bit.

 

[Tricky Dick]

people that have had the TSB done have not had the sound come back.

Isn't it too early to tell? Looks like it took 5-10k to start the first time for some of us.

 

[I3lackRose]

Isn't it too early to tell? Looks like it took 5-10k to start the first time for some of us.

yea, we have 1 confirmed TSB being performed 2 weeks ago. Most of us drove 500-1000 miles before the issue cropped up or was noticeable enough.

 

[Mustbeheresomewhere]

But why? It’s their job, from the sounds of it the people that have had the TSB done have not had the sound come back.

I’d rather them try to correctly fix the problem per TSB then just put in another transmission with bad synchros.

From what I know about the TSB, which I admit isn't everything, they are just going to replace parts on the 5th and 6th gears. Are these redesigned parts? It doesn't make sense to replace them with the same thing. Mine started making noise at less than 3K miles. Thats not a lot of miles for a problem like this to manifest.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Isn't it too early to tell? Looks like it took 5-10k to start the first time for some of us.

The anecdotal data we have so far is:

• New vehicles can start exhibiting the issue at any time, mostly weather dependent -- once the issue starts, it doesn't always go away even when weather warms up
• Owners who got full transmission replacements before the TSB came out had the sound come back, sometimes immediately after (a few hundred miles)
• Owners who've gotten the TSB work done have not yet reported the noise coming back -- I thought there was one example of a TSB not fixing it, but I was wrong. We don't yet have any examples of TSB-fixed units having the noise return.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

From what I know about the TSB, which I admit isn't everything, they are just going to replace parts on the 5th and 6th gears. Are these redesigned parts? It doesn't make sense to replace them with the same thing. Mine started making noise at less than 3K miles. Thats not a lot of miles for a problem like this to manifest.

There's a variety of theories we've been talking about that would result in the TSB actually resolving the issue for good. From low fluid fill at factory causing this issue to start (and once it starts it never goes away), to synchro tolerances being all over the place; there are definite reasons why draining the fluid, cracking open the gearbox, replacing the synchros, and putting it all back together again would actually fix it.

 

[bcool2525]

The anecdotal data we have so far is:

• New vehicles can start exhibiting the issue at any time, mostly weather dependent -- once the issue starts, it doesn't always go away even when weather warms up
• Owners who got full transmission replacements before the TSB came out had the sound come back, sometimes immediately after (a few hundred miles)
• Owners who've gotten the TSB work done have not yet reported the noise coming back -- I thought there was one example of a TSB not fixing it, but I was wrong. We don't yet have any examples of TSB-fixed units having the noise return.

I am too lazy to read through the treads, but glad you did the legwork for me! Sounds good, so basically if no one reports an issue with the TSB fix in the next month or so then we are in the clear.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Isn't it too early to tell? Looks like it took 5-10k to start the first time for some of us.

By the way -- welcome to the club, Dick you may not be happy to be here, but we're happy to have you!

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