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Driving right after having new transmission installed


AudenHoggart
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Our dealer is currently replacing the transmission on our 2013 C-Max (with about 45,000 miles.)  I hadn't had any driving problems but heard a clicking noise as I slowed to a stop, with the clicking frequency decreasing as I slowed.

 

In any event, the dealer is currently installing a new transmission and I'll get it back later in the week.  Next Saturday we're leaving on a long driving trip.  Do you think I need to drive any differently in the break_in period of the new transmission?  Obviously, there's nothing else on the car that needs a break-in.

 

Thanks!

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I hate to say this, but if taking a different car is an option, I would recommend you do so.  I had two incidents (documented elsewhere in the forum) about a month after the transmission was replaced that required the vehicle to be towed to the dealer.  Note, the problems were rather easily fixed and were related to the replacement process not the new transmission.

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Our dealer is currently replacing the transmission on our 2013 C-Max (with about 45,000 miles.)  I hadn't had any driving problems but heard a clicking noise as I slowed to a stop, with the clicking frequency decreasing as I slowed.

 

In any event, the dealer is currently installing a new transmission and I'll get it back later in the week.  Next Saturday we're leaving on a long driving trip.  Do you think I need to drive any differently in the break_in period of the new transmission?  Obviously, there's nothing else on the car that needs a break-in.

 

Thanks!

 

I am curious what kind of driving has been done on the C-Max - high speed or stop and go urban ?  Knowing this would add to the trying to understand why 2013 trans fail and who can expect them.  45,000 miles seems to be on the low side for the failure.  Thanks.

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Our dealer is currently replacing the transmission on our 2013 C-Max (with about 45,000 miles.)  I hadn't had any driving problems but heard a clicking noise as I slowed to a stop, with the clicking frequency decreasing as I slowed.

 

In any event, the dealer is currently installing a new transmission and I'll get it back later in the week.  Next Saturday we're leaving on a long driving trip.  Do you think I need to drive any differently in the break_in period of the new transmission?  Obviously, there's nothing else on the car that needs a break-in.

 

Thanks!

I drove 1,300 HWY miles after picking up MADMAX after trans replacement and I drove it normally with no problems.  I didn't have a choice, car was fixed at RICH FORD in Albuquerque, NM and I live in the Atlanta Area, also I have 60K miles on it.  :)

 

Paul

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  • 3 weeks later...

... trying to understand why 2013 trans fail...

It's a bearing oil pressure issue. The stress mode was high speed driving on a cold engine. High mileage in 2012-2014 would be a warning sign. Mine only had 30K before 14E02 recall was applied. After that, start-up behavior changed. 

 

Control system firmware updates now prevent the ICE from delivering torque when cold. Floor it out of your driveway and you'll EV for the first ~15 seconds (haven't timed it) even though the ICE is running, albeit at low RPM. The end of this period is fairly obvious; engine speed rises, engine noise increases and all signs of EV disappear. 

 

HAve fun,

Frank, who's now at 55K 

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It's a bearing oil pressure issue. The stress mode was high speed driving on a cold engine. High mileage in 2012-2014 would be a warning sign. Mine only had 30K before 14E02 recall was applied. After that, start-up behavior changed. 

 

 

Could you expand on how you came to this ?  Or is this just likely.

 

I actually am hoping this is true.  That would mean I could have a choice to keep this car over 10 years, beings that I average less that 10K miles per year.

 

One other theory that someone posted to explain why the transmissions don't seem to be failing as often was that simply some of the bearings were problematic and some were not.

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The original service bulletin made note of the transmission problem in vehicles in taxi service (search the maintenance forum), so I doubt that high-speed driving was the cause.

 

As I understand it, the replacement transmission uses an upgraded bearing(s), and to my knowledge, there have been no similar problems with the replacement transmission.  If someone has had a problem with the replacement, please let the forum know.

 

 

Cheers.

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I have a 2013 - one of the first off the assembly line in 2012.  A few weeks after I bought the car I heard a very loud grinding noise one morning when pulling it out of the driveway.  I immediately drove it back into the driveway, parked it, and called the Ford dealership.  It was picked up by a tow truck that day.  The dealership called me later and told me they couldn't find anything wrong, returned the car, and I haven't heard the grinding since.  I found the whole episode odd, briefly questioned my sanity, but just moved forward since the car was working again.  I bet I had the transmission issue and they stealthily fixed it!  I have 100K on the car now and all is well; I have really loved the car these past 5 years.  Probably should have been a recall but given it was a new model they chose secrecy. All conjecture on my part of course ... no, I am not prone to conspiracy theories.  

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I bet it was a rock in the disk brake shield. It happened to my wife on her escape. Probably fell out on the tow truck ride.

This answer makes more sense, It would be hard for Trans to grind without bearings failing. :headscratch:  I believe the First Cab falure was in Phoenix and their are a lot of FWY's to go anywhere. 

 

Paul

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