[LeeHabbers]

Hello there.

I'm in abit of a pickle. I've owned the Mk3.5 ST for 10 days now and the first few days it kept popping out of 4th which I put down to me just getting used to the car and the short throw. But on the 3rd/4th day I kept an eye on my shifts and made sure it was in but it kept popping out (only when releasing the clutch though). I contacted the company who I bought it off and after getting it confirmed by a Ford garage that there is a problem, they said they'd take it back to have a look and repair. Thing is, since the day it kept popping out it hasn't done it since and it's been almost a week. Now do I still send it back for them to say there's no problem and then send it back with the possibility of it getting worse in the future. Or do I tell them to fix it or else I want a full refund or do I just not bother sending it back at all and tell them I'll get back to them if it gets worse? I know the Ford garage confirmed it but I know what they're like, you say there's a problem and they'll confirm it even though there isn't just to make some £££s. There is also a very slight transmission whine in low gear/low speed but not sure if that's normal for the gearbox or I have some pitted bearings, maybe someone on here can say if that's normal or not, only noticed cause the radio and climate control was off.

Thanks

 

[Alb]

Nothing normal about it jumping out of gear.
You mention short throw - Is there a short shifter fitted?

 

[LeeHabbers]

Nah, don't think so. Is it not normal for the short throw? Thought it was just how the gearbox is. Surely if there was a synchro problem it'll pop up most of the time and when power is put through the gear. From past synchro problems with previous cars once it popped out once it progresses very quickly to pop out all the time and not only when the clutch is released but when the throttle is pressed. Just know what dealers are like. They will try their hardest not to fork out wedge on warranty repairs so they'll say that nothing is wrong.

 

[NickFST3]

The gear stick 'throw' on the mk3's is quite long - certainly on my FL. Hence one of the first things I did was fit a short shifter on mine! It is easy to check though by looking under the airbox intake onto the top of the gearbox as unlike the short shifter set ups on the Mk2's which change everything at the gear stick end on the mk3's the short shifter sits on top of the gearbox. In short if you can see something like this under your airbox you have a short shifter installed.

Either way jumping out of gear or a whiny box is not normal & I would get it checked out asap.

 

[LeeHabbers]

I have a silver one which looks like the black one. To me it looks like a stock shifter though. It hasn't popped out of gear for over a week now, even when trying to recreate it. I'm starting to think maybe it was just me getting used to it. But it is weird that it was doing it when focusing on it. Maybe not disengaging the clutch fully, don't know. I will send it back for them to have a look still. Even if they put a box full of fresh oil in I reckon that'll sort the slight whine out. Just the thought of being without a car for a few weeks makes me sad 😭😭😭 haha.

 

[sttwoton]

Just send it back, or get your money back, there’s plenty of these about.

 

[LeeHabbers]

I'll chase them up today, haven't heard since they said they'll arrange a truck to pick it up, almost a week now. If I end up getting a refund, it'll be hard to find one for the year and milage. Don't get many for sale Kent for some reason, loads up North though.

 

[283629]

be going right back, prob px with the issue....will more than likely have an issue getting a refund

 

[Bigayal]

I'll chase them up today, haven't heard since they said they'll arrange a truck to pick it up, almost a week now. If I end up getting a refund, it'll be hard to find one for the year and milage. Don't get many for sale Kent for some reason, loads up North though.

I use shiply to collect and deliver bikes and cars quite cheap and no hassle 👌

 

[carl100]

Sorry for bringing an old post up. Did anything ever come of this? I bought a focus st tdci 2015 68k about 2 weeks ago, all felt fine on the test drive. Couple of days after I purchased it popped out of 4th on releasing the clutch and I thought I'd just not put the clutch fully down originally (I've come from an automatic car for the last 18 months) so thought nothing of it. The Mrs drove it at the weekend and same has happened again for her and myself driving to work this morning.

I've phoned the dealer back (was bought at a Nissan dealer) but there in Stoke and I'm Doncaster so contacted a local gearbox specialist as well and he's not heard of 4th popping out but 2nd gear is common on focus's. Is this something that sounds an easy fix or probably a gear box out job?
Thanks

 

[LeeHabbers]

Sorry for bringing an old post up. Did anything ever come of this? I bought a focus st tdci 2015 68k about 2 weeks ago, all felt fine on the test drive. Couple of days after I purchased it popped out of 4th on releasing the clutch and I thought I'd just not put the clutch fully down originally (I've come from an automatic car for the last 18 months) so thought nothing of it. The Mrs drove it at the weekend and same has happened again for her and myself driving to work this morning.

I've phoned the dealer back (was bought at a Nissan dealer) but there in Stoke and I'm Doncaster so contacted a local gearbox specialist as well and he's not heard of 4th popping out but 2nd gear is common on focus's. Is this something that sounds an easy fix or probably a gear box out job?
Thanks

It ended up being 4th gear synchro, doing research etc it seems that 4th aswell as other gears, I think 2nd is quite common in failing. Luckily I got it repaired under warranty, if you've only had the car for a few weeks you sould get this repaired under warranty, if not get a full refund. Word of advice, when you get them to check and repair, make sure they do it quickly as they'll probably try and string it out so it goes passed the 30 days (I think) before they're not legally obliged to repair.

 

[carl100]

It ended up being 4th gear synchro, doing research etc it seems that 4th aswell as other gears, I think 2nd is quite common in failing. Luckily I got it repaired under warranty, if you've only had the car for a few weeks you sould get this repaired under warranty, if not get a full refund. Word of advice, when you get them to check and repair, make sure they do it quickly as they'll probably try and string it out so it goes passed the 30 days (I think) before they're not legally obliged to repair.

Ah thank you for replying! The dealer is calling me back tomorrow so hopefully get some info out of them and get the car in as soon as possible. I'm hoping for it to go into a specialist closer to home to be seen but I guess that'll be up to the dealer. Luckily it's 3 months warranty but no doubt they'll try and wriggle out of the bill haha