The shifter on my Focus is sloppy, where it does not guide you during
shifting. It was challenging at first to shift from 2d to 3rd without a
noticeable gate to guide me, but with practice, it's fairly easy.

1st 3rd 5th

1st to 2nd, easy
2nd to 3rd, find it (trust the force, Lou)
3rd to 4th, straight back
4th to 5th, all the way over, up

Going from 2nd to 3rd is interesting, because I have to shift to about
where 3rd is and feel the slight gate that remains, then shift it all
the way in.

What isn't happening in the shifter?

Louis Ohland wrote:

Why not do what I advised in your thread about a failing VSS? Go Google!

Replacement of the gearlever centralising spring has been covered in this NG
a number of times in the past.

I won't go to the trouble of telling you how to fix this as I know that you
only break things when you attempt to work on Fords :-)

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

On Thu, 03 May 2007 17:46:28 GMT, Chris Whelan
<cawhelan (AT) prejudicentlworld (DOT) com> wrote:


Hmm, wonder if this topic relates to the shift on my 2001 Focus diesel
wagon [ estate? ].

That is when stationary, neutral into first has to be strong armed.
neutral into second always stiff.
At random, from time to time, any shift is sticky and sometimes hard
to locate.
PS. The clutch appears to be OK.


John Hewitt, Malaga, Spain

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

jhewitt (AT) arrakis (DOT) es wrote:

Nope, totally unrelated to the problem the OP has.

Sounds more like a hydraulic problem with the clutch release mechanism. Have
you tried bleeding it?

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:
It would be helpful if someone remembered what terminology was used in
the thread to make a shorter search.

Now I know what to search for. Thanks much.

I'm used to the magic touch, where I have dark powers forbidden to
mortals. Besides, I learned after both front and rear brakes went out on
my S-10 that having the wrecker drop it off at the local shop is MUCH
easier than trying to diddle it myself. Quicker, too.

As to Fords, my F-150 alternator was starting to pack it in, so I
checked if I could even start the mounting bolt. It was froze hard, so
off to the local mechanics. I got my money's worth. They didn't loose
too much blood... Busted a socket getting it out. But they got it out,
mounted the new alternator, and off I went again...

Advice to the world - after ten years, brake lines corrode. If one
goes, replace both.

Radiators can be cheap or good. Choose one.

Louis Ohland wrote:
The biggest lie since "I'll respect you in the morning" is the 100K
Mile service interval - bolts and screws have corroded and something
simple can turn rather ugly. I have my jar of anti-seize compound and
use it when I work.

Chris Whelan wrote:
From Focusowners.com:
"Went out to my car this morning at 11:45 to find my gearstick had gone
all floppy Confused

Worked it out that the gearlever return spring had sheared, phoned Sky
Ford who were shutting at 12, picked up the part at 11:55, done by
myself at 12:05, the total sum for the part £3.06 and a return to the
springy gearlever!

Does feel wierd when that spring breaks, was hard to find third gear"

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...Focus/GCS2.jpg

Chris, I searched the web and groups for "gearlever centralising spring"
and "gearlever return spring" bring very few hits. Are you sure this was
covered?

"

Re: flabby gear change
It sounds definately like the spring around the gear lever has
broken.Remove the gaiter from the housing (sprung plastic fit),unscew
the bolts holding the gear lever and lift it out. Remove the broken
spring and fit new one.That's when I started to have a bad day. I could
not figure out how it was fitted. When I finally did I felt rather
stupid because it is simplcity itself. Have fun. Tony Anderson."

http://forum.ffoc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4150

Is dead.

On May 3, 11:58 am, Louis Ohland <ohl... (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote:
Wow.

Brings a whole new meaning to sloppy 2nds.

(quickly ducks).

Louis Ohland wrote:

[...]
Absolutely sure! I've posted the information in this NG at least twice.

If you use Google Groups to find alt.autos.ford.focus, then search within
the group for "gear lever", the first hit it returns is this:

http://tinyurl.com/2ly2u4

HTH - Oh, don't break anything :-)

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:
Computers do what you tell them very fast. Unfortunately, they only do
what you ask, not what you meant. I'll print this out and give it to the
mechanic Tuesday.


It's been discussed here before, so information will be in Google Groups.

Basically, you do it all from inside the car. Remove the gear lever
knob, unclip and remove the gaiter from the centre console, undo the
screws that secure the centre console. (Hidden at the front under the
loose covers in the cupholders, and at the rear by a plastic plug.) Lift
the console out of the way and give to wife/girl friend/partner to clean
it :-)

You can now see the mechanism and spring. Note how the spring fits. It's
quite clever how the spring does more than one job; you will see what I
mean when the new spring is fitted and you waggle the lever about.

There are four large Posidriv screws holding the change mechanism to the
car. Undo these and the mechanism pulls apart just enough to get the
broken spring out, and fit the new one. It is not advisable, or
necessary, to pull the mechanism completely to bits.

Reassembly is the reverse etc, etc.

Spring is a fiver or less and is improved over original.

I did mine, having never seen how it fitted or read about it anywhere,
in around 15 minutes. Good luck.

Chris