[Stevec]

My wife picked up her new Titanium Auto a few weeks ago and so far most things have been to her liking except for the Auto box - would be interested to hear from other Auto owners their opinions.


The issue she is having is that the box seems to want to change from 1 to 2 at around 3000 RPM, as a result the engine is making its self quiet vocal by that point, in fact this happens when changing from 2 to 3, you can get round this by being very gentle with the throttle but progress is very slow.


Have any other auto owners noticed this or is there a fault somewhere?


Thanks

 

[freddyford]

To be frank I had not noticed this behaviour on our Titanium Auto. I am sure I would have noticed if it was behaving as yours. I would add that for the first 1000 miles or so, it was a bit notchy. One has to be careful about other peoples driving habits but is your Wife a sedate driver or get up and go? I have noticed that when emerging from car parks into a fairly busy road, giving the throttle a bit of welly, not only does the car get a move on but it hangs onto first. I compare the Ford box with the Japco box ( used in Jaguars, Porche and a few others) fitted to our V6 Rover and although I have read some criticism of the Ford box I am more than happy with it.
My suggestion is get a few miles on the clock and if you are still unhappy, take it back to the dealer. It could after all be a case of tweaking the software.
My Wife and I were very anti Ford but this Ecosport has sure changed our minds.
Good motoring.

 

[Stevec]

Thanks for the reply, yes my wife is more sedate than eager shall we say!


Her previous car was a Fiesta Auto with same engine and this behaviour never seemed to happen, As you have not encountered this I`m thinking there maybe a software fault so I will leave it until 1000 miles are completed and return to dealer to investigate.


It`s spoiling an otherwise very good car.

 

[freddyford]

Yesterday we had to use the car and so I took particular note of gear changes and the revs at which they occurred. On leaving home, it appeared to change from 1st to 2nd at just below 3000 revs. When the engine had warmed up, on slopes and the flat from stationary changing from 1st to 2nd appeared to do so at just over 2000 revs. This was over some 12 miles of both country and town driving. Hope this helps. Unfortunately being deaf I cannot help on engine noise inside the car, all I can say is it appears to be no noisier than our old Rover and certainly quieter than the Honda Jazz EX ( top range) which had an Ishift transmission. Electronic clutch and gear change.( manual clutch and manual gearbox) with no clutch pedal. After this the Ford box is superb.

It might be after a few miles, all settle down. Our car has now done a tad under 4000 miles.

As you say a very good car.

 

[Stevec]

Thanks Freddyford, that was very useful information, ours changes from 1st to 2nd at 3000rpm whether the engine is cold or warm.


I think we will leave it until its done 1000 miles and see if its settled down, otherwise a trip to the dealer it is!

 

[Stevec]

Quick update as we've been back to dealers, spoke to a technician who said several other owners had reported the same issue, the upshot was that's how they all drive!


Seems pretty poor to me, can`t believe Ford signed off a car that has driveability issues. As it was purchased with privilege we will have to wait 9 months to change it, going to try an auto Fiesta hoping that drives better.


So no one else on here has an auto then?

 

[colinJYD]

I only buy manual boxes now. This problem of an auto box deciding on when to gear shift was the reason I went back to manual boxes as the human brain can make better and far smoother change than an auto box.

Ok, we has some people disabled on here, who have to have an auto box obviously, but after my carry on with a 4 speed Suzuki Vitara auto box, I never bought one again. It was hunting on the motorway from 3rd to 4th all the time on the flat for absolutely no reason. I eventually traded it in for a manual box Vitara at a big loss in cash, as it was the days before you could reject a duff car.

In your case, if the Ecosport has a manual + and - shift, I would drive it on this manual mode, as you should be able to get from 1st to 2nd in less than 3000 rpm, as the human brain can work out the changes far better than any computer.

Also what finished it for me with a true auto box is that you have to brake a lot more to get the autobox to go down the gears to a stop. This meant new brake pads far more often than a manual box car.

So there are advantages (no clutch pedal) and disadvantages with an auto box, and a lot is to due with subjectivity whether you think the gears are changing at the right time, and its why I do not like an autobox, and prefer a manual change.

PS...is there no way Ford can program the autobox to change into 2nd quicker to avoid 3000 rpm?

 

[Stevec]

I think the problems with this auto box (In the Ecosport) are due to the relatively low torque produced probably higher up the rev range & apparently Ford changed the box as it`s now fitted with a torque converter.


Certainly my wifes previous car (Fiesta) never behaved like this albeit only had 100BHP against the 125 in the Ecosport which should have compensated for the extra bulk to lug around.


Lesson learnt, ALLWAYS have a test drive first, don`t assume it will drive as you might expect!

 

[colinJYD]

....Lesson learnt, ALLWAYS have a test drive first, don`t assume it will drive as you might expect!

Your right. In my case I had to order the Suzuki Vitara auto without driving one as it was a new car at the time, so there were no auto demonstrators. So I lost out big time getting rid of it in just four months.

As for the Ecosport well it is heavier than a car and with the small 1.0 engine, so the characteristics of moving with an autobox will be different. But I still think 3000 RPM rather excessive just to get to second gear.

If I was you, I would still want other Ecosport auto owners to come forward here or another Ford car forum website and state getting into 2nd gear needs these high rev's. Just to prove you have no fault.

Have you tried the car on manual mode as I stated, to see if you can get into second gear with lesser revs?

PS...When i am in my Wife's Smart car (Fortwo) it has an automated clutch, no clutch pedal, which can be run on auto mode or +/- manual shift mode. I only drive it in manual shift mode, as its smoother and can change into gear faster with less rev's. But my wife being lazy, just drivers it in auto mode, which to me is not smooth and has a noticeable power lag when changing gear by itself.

 

[Stevec]

If I was you, I would still want other Ecosport auto owners to come forward here or another Ford car forum website and state getting into 2nd gear needs these high rev's. Just to prove you have no fault..

I was hoping more owners would come forward, can`t believe there's so few auto box`s out there, maybe they are a little shy!

 

[freddyford]

Perhaps I am fortunate. Having now got some 5000 miles on the speedo, I have found the auto box to be pretty good. I have already reported what I have found and yesterday, I started the car after it's been standing for more than a week as well as it was a bit nippy and I have to admit to checking the rev counter as the engine seemed to be a bit noisy. No it was showing about 1400 revs which it has been all the time we have had it when staring from cold. It then settles to around 7/800 revs when hot.
Before the Jazz with it's dreaded I shift we had a Rover 45 with a V6 2litre engine and a Jatco auto box. This car was probably one of the best we have had but given the destruction of the company and spares for the 2litre with the auto box were not only expensive but getting difficult. I had the gearbox fluid changed by what was a Rover dealer and after that the box became unpredictable. Not changing or refusing to change. That was considered to be warning signs. The car was sold. Recently on a program named Wheeler Dealers they had a Porsche with a Jatco box ( the same as the Rover) that was playing up. The car was bought for a song and the gearbox problem was nothing more than a gearbox filter changed and the fluid which has to be a certain temperature and correct procedure followed. Suddenly a £5000 gearbox was OK. Now the Rover was probably scrapped because nobody could deal with them.Three timing belts had most garages running for the door. Until I had the gearbox fluid changed ( I followed the instructions over mileage) I now realise the car was fine. That gearbox engine configuration was excellent and the Ecosport is a pretty good follower. I really cannot understand how it is the driver. If I accelerate gently it changes smoothly and if I clog it and the revs mount it still changes smoothly.There is no clunk or lurch when engaging drive. As to the relative power/gearbox configuration I am not an engineer but as far as I am concerned the engine, yes runs out of a bit of puff ( not much) on steep hills but the gearbox compensates. I have driven a great many vehicles in my years and some legitimately at high speeds and personally I find this particular Ford to be fine.Surely the engine revs are a matter for the Engine management system and as such should be adjustable or programmable. Can you find another Ford dealer OR contact Ford themselves it seems such a pity that your opinion of the vehicle is marred by what should be simple adjustment OR replacement of the ECU an perhaps therein lies the problem.

 

[colinJYD]

Auto Gearbox oil has to be as original specification or it can change the characteristics, especially torque converter auto boxes. I assume Stevec having a new car it has the right oil, so no problem there.

Another factor that you do not think about with true auto boxes is that back pressure off the exhaust has a lot to do with it (again Stevec has a new factory fitted exhaust, no problem there) , but on my previous ;grey import' Honda Delsol CRX convertible, I had a true autobox, and when the exhaust back box blew, I could not find a replacement easy as the car was a 'grey import' and not the same as the UK car.

When I tried another similar sized back box, it could not get back pressure and the gear change was slow as though the car could not get any power, and had to go through four different backboxes, and thankfully I knew the exhaust company boss, and he did all these box changes without charge, til we got one that seemed ok, and power was restored.

That will teach me to buy imports with difficult to get parts