Hey Scotty, I recently bought a used 2015 Ford Focus with 60,000 miles. Every so often when I start the car and drive the transmission doesn't shift and I have to turn it off and on again. What's wrong?
I’m assuming your car is equipped with the Powershift dual clutch transmission (6DCT250)
Ford has extended the warranty of the Focus’ Transmission Control Module on all cars with the Powershift DCT. It might be a troublesome TCM but I doubt it.
Another possibility, would be faulty ground wiring. The Powershift transmission consumes a lot of electrical energy and is operated by very complex electronics.
But Ford used the same ground wiring setup as you’d see on a typical conventional Automatic car, so I’d recommend inspecting the electrical connections to ground (1 bolt on the strut tower, 2 additional connections under the air filter box and there also should be a big cable going under the car)
Also I’d consider doing the “ground mod” (at your own risk) - I plan on doing it on my own 2014 Ford Focus 1.6L Powershift because it feels like it’s not properly pressing in the clutch.
Another possibly, but it’s quite unlikely is that your shifter is having issues with its sensor.
Please record what your display shows on the shift indicator (and tag me @Dan) for further diagnosis.
Also I recommend getting it scanned with a scan tool to see if there are any codes, and to check if the shifter is transmitting the correct gear.
reminds me of this great video where a Ford Fiesta with the same Powershift tranny wouldn’t start. (It’s an extreme case, but the cause might be similar just similarly - less extreme)
This is an extreme case, usually the wire gets internally damaged and doesn’t just shear off.
* in the video by pine hollow note how the PRNDS indicator isn’t lit up when there is no ground connection on the TCM.
as soon as there’s ground; the PRNDS indicator shows the correct position of the shifter.
*If your car is a conventional automatic, (6F15 / 6F35) then I’d guess it’s the shifter.
Check it using a high level scan tool.