Starting to stutter in 1st and 2nd gear when on an incline 1500 - 2000 rpm.
When these clutch jobs were done, did they replace all the parts - clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bearing? Was the flywheel resurfaced? Who did the work, Ray Charles?
Done by Ford dealers. I don't know what all was done.
On the Focus it's just like a motorcycle, all inside of the a single assembly called the clutch pack.
It has everything inside of it, expect for the "shift forks" that engage / disengage the clutch corresponding to the input shaft that's connected to the desired gear.
(And another thing worth pointing out about the clutch pack, is that unlike the unrelated high-torque transmission also called "PowerShift" (known as "Wet PowerShift") that was used for high torque applications in Rally Race cars, Sports cars, Large Minivans, executive cars, luxury cars and SUVs, the "Dry PowerShift" 's clutch pack for the is not subject to rebuild, it should always be replaced)
Done by Ford dealers.
That was 1st mistake to bring to the dealership.
The Ford Focus has a 7 year / 100k mile clutch warranty - so It's just warranty work.
Despite a popular belief, dealerships have, arguably, the worst mechanics in the world working in their service departments. Never get your car worked on at a dealer unless it is a covered warranty issue. They obviously screwed up the job, twice now. Find a competent, independent mechanic for your repair needs.
The first two were under warranty before I owned it. Thinking I might just go ahead and sell it.
Almost anything is fixable if the job is done correctly. Before giving up on it, check to see if the clutch system is adjusted properly, ie, fluid level, bleed any air out of the system, linkage from the pedal to the master cylinder, etc.
I might just go ahead and sell it.
All for a new quality clutch kit?!
Starting to stutter in 1st and 2nd gear when on an incline 1500 - 2000 rpm
Typical failure for one of these.
It's either because of a worn clutch, a leaky input seal, or bad "shift motors" (aka Clutch Actuators).
Get in touch with the dealer and check what parts have been replaced - replacing shift motors is a must!
Also, when a dealership repeatedly fails - often it's a good idea to get the warranty service at a different one.
(Sometimes it's that dealership's techs that are too bad at their jobs to perform a successful repair).
third clutch 2018 Focus SEL
What's the milage between replacements?
The average is about 50k-75k miles.
Replace the current clutch and perform the well known tricks:
- Cleaning the grounds, the clutch is operated electrically and a corroded ground will cause a shudder.
- If shudder persists, try "Scuffing" the clutch - aka giving your car 3-4 open throttle accelerations.
- If shudder persists, Reset the TCM, stop, park, turn off, wait, put key in II, wait, shift to N, wait, turn on.
- Drive in a manner that suits the DCT, more gas, less creeping, less coasting, it can't adjust to any driver.
Thinking I might just go ahead and sell it.
After you replace another clutch (under the extended warranty!), that's the best possible solution.
Afterwards, just get a Mazda3 (naturally aspirated 2.0) or a Corolla (any powertrain) - both are cars that are less efficent and less powerful but are built to last, assuming they're in good shape when you buy them.
Is it better to drive in Sport mode, and will it give me higher mileage if I go easy on the gears?