I have a 2000 focus LX with 2.0 SPI engine, manual shift, and ever since I got it, there's a wierd problem with it. The car vibrates like hell @ 5th gear ~ 2500 RPM - 3500 RPM. I would say the vibration is from engine or transmission, but I am not sure about that. I tried 3000 RPM @ 4th gear and it was just fine, 2000 RPM and 4000 RPM @ 5th gear also works almost perfectly. I had mechanics inspected the motor mounts and tranny mounts, and they said they were OK. So, now I am very confused... Can anybody give me a hand? Thanks in advance.
I would bring the car to get your wheels spined and balanced. Sounds like that's your issue. I would guess it has to do more with the speed then the RPM's. I had a similar problem spin and balance fixed the issue.
Yep tires, balancing, end links could all have somtihng to do with it.
FYI, a stumbeling in any gear at that RMP range could most likely be the DPFE sensor. Probably not the problem this time but when you mentioned the MRP range I thought of the DPFE instantly. But the DPFE dosen't cause severe stumbeling. It will cause lack of power and really bad gas milage.
fx3 wrote: Yep tires, balancing, end links could all have somtihng to do with it.
FYI, a stumbeling in any gear at that RMP range could most likely be the DPFE sensor. Probably not the problem this time but when you mentioned the MRP range I thought of the DPFE instantly. But the DPFE dosen't cause severe stumbeling. It will cause lack of power and really bad gas milage.
Didn't even notice this was the SPI section and read he has a SPI but nothing clicked in my brain.
I am not sure if the SPI's have a DPFE but I beleve they do because you need VCT or VVT to eliminate the DPFE... I think??? I know SVT does not have a DPFE.. But I do know the DPFE is a problem no matter what Ford it is in. Had a Ford tech tell me once that DPFE cars should be sold with a spare in the glove box.
Edit:
Did some quick research and it seems that the SPI does have a DPFE.
Fatwolf... You might have a problem with your fuel pump. The 2000 Focus hasa safety recall on the fuel pump, that also completly slipped my mind. It can give out on corners and it also causes other funny problems. Call your dealer and have them run the VIN to see if the recall was done or not.
It is a tranny problem? or you mean it could cause tranny problems?
Actually I have some problem with the shift stick as well, cuz it would pop out first gear. But it only happens when I fully stopped the car before I shift into first. Not sure if they are related...
Shaking/vibrating could be almost anything but the easiest and most likely causes are tires than rims than suspension components than front end parts than you might get into the tranny but if the tranny was going you would most likely see problems consistantly in one gear.. I think?..
Popping out of geat when coming to a stop dosent seem right. I do it on occasion when dosing off at the wheel, D&D, or just having a blond moment and the car just stalls out and makes me look like a retard. It dosen't pop out of gear.
The fuel pump may cause issues with power loss and stuttering. But I'm going to bet on the tires for the vibration. Plus if the vibration was due to the tranny I doubt you would only feel it at higher speeds. How many miles are on the car? Is this the origanal cluth.
The tires are new and all balanced and aligned, so I doubt if it's the tire... and also, if I drive ~70-90 @ 4th gear, there's no vibration. The car itself has about 78000 miles, but the clutch is brand new, has only ~1000 miles on it. I took it to pepboys yesterday, and they replaced my transmission mount. They also said I could have a bad flywheel/clutch, which caused the vibration. After the transmission mount was replaced, it feels much better, but there is still some abnormal vibration @ 5th gear 2500-3500 rpm. What I dont understand is the flywheel/clutch thing, since the clutch is practically new, I would assume it's the flywheel. But wouldn't it vibrate all the time instead of only @ 5th gear if it's the clutch/flywheel problem?
Not to beat a dead horse here, but was it you who had the tires mounted & balanced recently? However, you are right, if you're in 4th at the same speed and you're ok compared to 5th, I couldn't imagine that it wouldn't be something within the powertrain of the car somewhere. Where can you really feel it? Is it in the wheel or all over? can you tell if it is in front of you or to one side? sometimes you can't tell, but I've nearly become one with my car and can feel anything it wants to tell me about.
I highly recommend: 1 - Go to your dealer and have them run an Oasis report and let you have it...all of the information on that car and check for open recalls/TSB's on any suspension, fuel system, brake & powertrain issues. This should cost you nothing and if a Ford dealer tells you they can't do that for you, you're at the wrong dealer.
My next suggestion is to bring the speed down on that car...What is the rating on your tires? Stockers don't usually rate more than an S (typically less than 120mph)
I mentioned brakes as well because the focus, both SPI's & Zetecs have had problems with warped rotors. It's a notorious problem that I was plagued with on both of my foci so far and I have to change out my Rotors again after only 35k miles on them - I'm stepping them up to something a bit better than stock (nothing crazy like drilled or slotted) but better than the OEM crap the put on these. I debated with my dealer one time years ago re: my 2k2 and a warped rotor on her possibly causing me shake at hwy speeds. Sure enough, they changed those warped rotors out and the shake was gone.
Sorry there aren't more specific answers for you, but I would start at the least of the expensive items and move up.
Oh, while I was ending this I just thought...does your car have ABS? just as a note, the sensor could be gone and the breaks aren't completely letting go or some other stupid problem. Just a side note.
Good luck and if you find out what it is, let us know - I'd love to hear it!
Last edited on Fri Jul 14th, 2006 11:36 pm by Chelly03PZEV
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Chelly is right the roters would be my next check. But I would still look into the tires. When mine were vibrating it was after I took them out from being in stoarge I must have lost a weight somewhere. Because when I took them off there was nothing wrong but when they were put back on they started vibrating at higher speeds. Also under higher excelleration the vibration may back off a little. That may be why it's not to bad in forth gear. Try this, get the car up to the speed it's giving you problems and push in the clutch while it's shaking. See if it stops with the clutch push in.
Where exactly is it vibrating? Can you feel it in the steering wheel, the gear shift lever, dash board, floor? According to what you said this only happens in 5th gear. If your speed remaing the same, and you shift into 4th, the vibration goes away. Is this correct? If it is I would definitely suspect some kind of transmission, clutch of flywheel problem. is the car new to you? It's possible that when they replaced the clutch, that the flywheel was warped & they didn't reface or replace it. It could be a bent tranny shaft that only effects 5th gear. I'm just guessing here. If it were me, I'd take it to a trusted mechanic and get his/her opinion.
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This is actually pretty commom and since it happens between a certain speed im pretty certain what it is.
i went through this with my sedan.
have a mech put it on a lift. on the passenger side its actually 2 axles. its the one coming out of the tranny and has a carrier bearing on it that is mounted to the engine.
unbolt the bearing and pull the assy far enough away you can spin the bearing. turn it while holding it, it should be nice and smooth. no grittyness , stiffness, or anything. if you feel anythng while rotating it fully around, the bearing is bad and will cause the vibration.very annoying to find.
ford now has the bearing by itself (i was told) used to have to order the whole shaft.
I would be out of this country for a while, but I'll keep this post updated. BTW, firestone actually mentioned about my CV joint/axle stuff some time ago... Thanks a lot for all the suggestions.
It is a tranny problem? or you mean it could cause tranny problems?
