PajamaGuy

I accidentally duplicated the symptom - My transmission is fine and has been after they rebuilt it - but when I got the symptom, for a minute I was worried. My tranny is the one with the 6-speed "SelectShift" and i was using manual to downshift as I came to a light. Some dork in a Charger gave me the eyeball so at the turn of green, I floored it. When it should have shifted to 2nd, it just went into neutral and the governor killed the RPMs. When that happened a few months ago, it was accompanied by a few hard clunks and if I reduced RPMs enough, it went to 2nd, etc. This time, it was my fault, I'd never moved the shifter to automatic! I'm telling you'all this because it was EXACTLY the same symptom when my tranny WAS slipping and needed new clutches and a rebuild (at 5,200 mi). With the shifter in automatic, it shifts fine (now), but before the rebuild, even with the shifter in auto, it acted like it was in manual. ...and at the next light, I dusted the Charger...

In theory, you guys are correct - however Ford was telling the dealer that at 5,000 miles, there was NO WAY the incorrect programming could have caused the valve to become damaged that soon. All of the Ford-directed tests and measurements indicated the valve was not faulty. And when they physically disconnected the wheel slippage sensors, the tranny acted perfect. I think both sides got hung up on my telling them I could induce the symptoms most rapidly by standing on the gas pedal through 2nd and 3rd gear, and the Ford guys thought "slippage" meant the wheels were spinning. When we got the 2nd tier engineers to understand it was the tranny that was slipping and the clutches were burned, they started rebuilding... - Whatever - it's fixed - it will again chirp the tires when it upshifts to 2nd, and it "feels" solid.

A happy ending - My dealer (A.C. Collins, Pasadena, TX) would not let FORD dismiss this one. They finally got someone with a sense of correctness to authorize rebuilding the transmission. (5,700 miles). They replaced a lot of parts, including 2 clutches, valves, pistons, and the case (the case was pitted where it should have been machined smooth???). It's feeling like brand new again. The dealer supplied me with a 2010 Taurus the whole time (2+ weeks) - and called me every 2 days to report status. Even one of the dealership owners got involved to make sure I was a satisfied customer. Because it's a lease, I am. If I'd purchased, or planned to keep the car, there would be a different story - however I really believe the dealer would have exchanged the car.

2009/08/14

I'm anticipating a happy ending! Authorized by FORD, the dealer is rebuilding my transmission, (case, clutches, pistons & valves). Yeah, I know - and my FIRST reaction was whoa...a 2010 with only 5,200 miles and they're rebuilding the tranny? Truth is - I don't care. It's a 36 month lease, otherwise I would care. So long as the car performs and operates as it did, and is supposed to do, they can do whatever they want to fix it. The proof will be if the tranny is truely fixed...we'll see....

Well, Contrary to your experience - in this case it's the dealer having to push Ford. I should be hearing any day about what's going to be done - I'll add detail then. PJ

This car is driven mostly by my wife - 60 yr-old School Teacher. We received the PCM re-programming recall notice and had about 4,800 miles on the car. (We love it!) - We planned to have the recall work done when we took the car in for the 5,000 mi service. One day, my wife picked me up from work and said, "The transmission is shifting funny." We switched seats and I drove. From about 5 mph, I used about 50-75% throttle and as the car upshifted from 1st to 2nd, it did feel like it slipped a bit. I slowed down to around 5 mph again, and mashed the gas pedal to the floor. When it upshifted from 1st to 2nd this time the slip was really noticable, then it thunked and went into 2nd. I called the dealer, and the next day took it in for service and for the recall reprogramming. (5,200 mi) I didn't do any "pedal-to-the-floor" accelerations, and the shifting did feel tighter. 2 days later, I took my wife to the airport. All expressway, 60-70 mph, and about 2 hours on the road. Exiting the last tollboth, in rush-hour traffic, I floored the gas to get up to merging speed. When the transmission started to shift from 1st to 2nd, it went into neutral (the transmission, not the selector), the engine raced, but there was NO power to the wheels. I backed off the gas and at some low RPM, the transmission caught and I was able to get moving. Yeah, I was scared. The "FAST" lane to my left was moving at about 75 MPH, and there were 3 "cash" lanes to my right - all merging into 2-lanes to go over a bridge. Since I was only 5 miles from the dealer, I headed there (it was on my way, anyhow). When I exited the expressway, I again "floored it", and was rewarded with the same upshift to neutral, 7,000 rpm, and then two hard bangs in the transmission before I was able to get my foot off the gas. Since then, I've found I can ALWAYS get it to start slipping with only 50% throttle if the transmission is up to temp, or if I do 1 or 2 sequences of slowing to 5 mph, then flooring it through 1st & 2nd. As of now, the dealer is working with me and FORD to isolate the cause - so I won't go into that detail. What I'd like to know is, "Is anyone else experiencing the problem?" Thanks!

Thank-you very much. Why hasn't Ford or MS posted sucha a list?

Well, I was wrong! The system does work, it just gives you a couple of minutes to get it buckled. My office is only .8 of a mile from home, and if you hit the lights just right - it takes less than 2 minutes. It appears that 2 minutes is the time delay programmed into the Belt-Minder. All systems are still "GO"! PJ

2010 Fusion SEL V6 - Belt-Minder is active, and works correctly upon startup, however it appears there's a bug or defect in the system: Wife leaves work, enters & starts car, buckles seatbelt, drives 1 mile to pick me up. Without shutting off the car, I get in passenger side and do NOT buckle-up. Belt-Minder does not activate and produces no warnings/reminders of any kind. Is that normal? PJ