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[teebone]

:( Is any one else experiencing clunks and thumps in their auto drive line under normal driving? There is much info on manuals but from my experience the problem might be the diff and prop-shaft.

Sometimes feels like there is something heavy in the boot moving around (I checked, there isn't!) and that the back end is having difficulty keeping up with the transmission (too much play/backlash).

Don't seem to experience it when in the manual mode, except for the 2nd to 1st downshift at low speed, where there is often a quite severe thump/clunk- anyone else experience this? Not sure if the problems are related. Ive got nothing to compare against (except the odd awfull taxi ride) as Ive never had a Ford before and my last RWD auto was a 1974 Triumph Stag (BW35), circa late 80's - feels like nothings improved in this dept!

It's driving me nuts and (since getting the brakes sorted) ruining the experience.

[CJF077]

I never have.. ahhh then again I have noticed it the other day, though had a heavy box in the boot. I wasnt sure it was the box or the car.. Will let you know...

[aniken]

  teebone said:

except for the 2nd to 1st downshift at low speed, where there is often a quite severe thump/clunk- anyone else experience this?

Yes, definitely experienced this.

So far, I have put it down to me not changing down gears at the optimal revs - if you let the car do it, even in performance mode, no clunk at all.

I have also sometimes thought there was something moving around in the boot. Thought it might be something to do with the spare tyre moving around, but all seems secure whenever I check .

Oh, and

[mercturbo]

20'000k's now and driveline/auto is as smooth and tight as new, I never thrash my car though, just occasionally hit it hard at the lights and overtaking.

[AMoffat]

I may have an idea of what you mean, but then again...

What I have noticed in the following circumstances is this:

When doing say 110 on the highway and seeing an oportunity to overtake - the auto is in drive - you depress the throttle, not floor it but take it to say 3/4's of it's travel. Then there is a lack of response that I then automatically give more throttle position to. This is while the turbo moves into action from 2,200 revs to steadily climb up the tacho with vengence.

So the drivetrain suddenly gets all this power, the LSD then seems to go "clunk" both audibly and with a noticable lurch. And then it takes off.

All this happens in about a second.

Bit coming back down the coast today ( a six hour trip) it happened twice.

It doesn't happen if you have the forthought to move the stick to the left, into performance mode, which moves the revs from say 2,200 to 3,000 into the meat of the turbo's power before you over take.

There is then no lag and a great feeling of responsiveness. No harsh clunks or bangs.

Just need to adjust my driving style.

Is this what you meant? If not sorry for wasting your time.

[Mondie]

Seems to me you guys are talking about the second biggest problem with the BA, driveline shunt. It was bad in our departed XR6T and now we bloody have it in the GT too Ford insist in cutting corners in the diff spec to save money and this is what you get.

l am determined to get some action this time around and will go from one FPV dealer to the next until l get the problem sorted.

[ktford]

I'm touching myself on the head as there's no other wood available, no noises to date 21,000k's most of it in a moronic fashion. I'm now using my SSS lots more with my exede install & it's quiet as a mouse.

Scotty

[Ninka]

Ford diffs are SH*T!!!

Had severe backlash in my AU V8 Fairmont Ghia, and the XR6T is not much better.

To make things worse, it is also noisy, with a whine between 90 and 100 kph.

Ford has been made aware of the problem AGES AGO, and initially changed the diff to one that was worse, and since then nothing but "we are working on the problem" absolutely shocking (lack of) commitment to their customers.

[ZMAN]

Yeah I have noticed it as well when using it in auto mode. Can be quite annoying at times...that's why I tend to drive it manual mode most of the time..

[rjn]

Yep, sounds simillar to what I get also. Going round a corner which is slightly up hill, big clunk halfway round the corner as if it's changed gear from 2nd to 1st, but pretty sure it hasn't........

Am going to drive a friends T ute to see if it happens there but he says nothing like that happens??

It is reproducible nearly 100% of the time and has got worse, another visit to the service dept.