Ford Focus gearbox replacement?

Montala

Montala

Montala

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A bit of a loose question I know, but it looks as if the (manual) gearbox has 'gone' on my son's 2006 1.6 Focus Titanium.

He has had it from new (Channel Island import) and done about 85,500 miles in it.

It happened on a motorway slip road this morning, as he was changing from first to second gear. He said there was a horrible loud noise from the gearbox and he 'lost' all gears, although the engine was still running. Apparently there was a pool of 'fluid' under the car, so it doesn't sound too good!

What sort of cost is he looking at for a Ford main dealer (where it is at the moment) to replace the box?

If it is not a cost effective job he is thinking of changing it for a year old Ford Kuga!
 
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It would be a fortune from a dealer if the box is the problem as they'll want to supply and fit a new one.

I'd expect you to be able to acquire a decent focus box for a couple of hundred, maybe somewhere in the region of 5 hours for it to be swapped. Would think you could get it done for 500 total.

From ford....complete guess but 3 times that
 
Montala said:
Thanks guys... my guess is that he will cut his losses though, and go for a Kuga!
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Cut his losses?

Selling the Focus as spares or repair will net him buttons compared to what it would fetch fully working, not to mention the Kuga will shed money in depreciation.

Assuming the Kuga is from a dealer, at least £500 would be the dealers mark up anyway!

Rather than cut his losses, IMO he's pouring money down the pan doing it that way!
 
What scania said^

Just go fix it. If he fancies a change then have a change, but don't think of it as a money saving exercise in any way, shape or form.
 
Thanks... but he is a bit of a traditional 'lad'... I say lad, but he is nearly 40 now... and tends to put his trust in Main Dealers, rather than independents... but that's sons for you!

Apparently the diff (or something like that!) 'blew' on the gearbox, which now has a big hole in the casting, so it is definitely down to a replacement, for which the dealer has quoted him £2,200 which does sound a bit steep.

What he is also concerned about if whether the failure might have put additional load or strain on other components such as transmission, clutch etc, and now that he has a wife and a young baby he is naturally worried about safety as well as reliability. He does needs a car quickly though to get to and from work each day!

He had actually been talking about changing it for the last few months anyway, and has always fancied a Kuga since he hired one on holiday recently.

Anyway, he is going down to have a chat with them on Saturday, and it just so happens that they have a nice Kuga sitting on their forecourt at the moment, on which I am sure some sort of deal could be done.

We shall see!
 
Sounds like he just needed an excuse to buy a "new" car and now has one!

Suspect from your post you know this already but on no planet is it cost effective not to just have the gearbox replaced with a known good one

Anyway the Kuga's are ok tbh, couldn't stomach the price of a new one but maybe at a year old it's a reasonable prospect
 
Still I imagine it would be more cost effective to stick a used box in it and trade it in, as opposed to trading it is as a non runner. They look to be worth about £2,500 private sale, but minus a gear box and as a trade in it wont be worth anywhere near that.
 
Montala said:
Thanks... but he is a bit of a traditional 'lad'... I say lad, but he is nearly 40 now... and tends to put his trust in Main Dealers, rather than independents... but that's sons for you!

Apparently the diff (or something like that!) 'blew' on the gearbox, which now has a big hole in the casting, so it is definitely down to a replacement, for which the dealer has quoted him £2,200 which does sound a bit steep.

What he is also concerned about if whether the failure might have put additional load or strain on other components such as transmission, clutch etc, and now that he has a wife and a young baby he is naturally worried about safety as well as reliability. He does needs a car quickly though to get to and from work each day!

He had actually been talking about changing it for the last few months anyway, and has always fancied a Kuga since he hired one on holiday recently.

Anyway, he is going down to have a chat with them on Saturday, and it just so happens that they have a nice Kuga sitting on their forecourt at the moment, on which I am sure some sort of deal could be done.

We shall see!
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Explain to him the dealer will be making a fair whack profit on the Kuga - quite rightly - not to mention the focus will be priced as part ex accordingly given it's got a knackered gearbox.

I appreciate your son is traditional as such, and quite understand him maybe not having confidence in the car after repair (although in practice, I'm sure he'd find it just fine!) I can't help thinking he's just throwing a fair bit of cash away, or at least toward the dealer!

Find out what deal can be done by all means, but, don't let him commit to it prior to finding out how much an independent garage will supply and fit a replacement 'box second hand, a quote for this shouldn't be difficult to obtain, and no where near £2200!

Compare the value of the Focus as given in the part ex, faulty, and it's value fixed taking into account the quote for the repair.

If the difference is big, I'd advise him to overcome his distrust of independents,fix the focus and sell it privately, then see what better deal the dealer offers without a part exchange.

As he drives a Focus, not a Ferrari, with the greatest of respect I'd imagine he hasn't got money to throw away and as such would far rather any possible saving in the family holiday fund rather than the dealers bank account.

Worth looking into at least IMO. :)
 
Just picked up the last few posts, and he just happens to have a good mate, who will fit a replacement box to the Focus and then sell it on for him in 'good running order'.... and lend him a car in the meantime, which is all good!

I have set up a really good deal for him with the owner of a local Ford Main Dealer for a new Kuga (which he seems to have set his heart on!) on PCP... with no part exchange, but am leaving the rest to him from now on!!

Dad's had enough! :)
 
A mate (the same one!) has just put him on to 'drivethedeal.com' which looks very interesting and should save him quite a bit of money!
 
Montala said:
A mate (the same one!) has just put him on to 'drivethedeal.com' which looks very interesting and should save him quite a bit of money!
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Good to hear, from your OP he seemed to be about to drop a lot of cash needlessly, pleased it's worked out better. :)
 
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