Zf Issues - Anyone Had/got These?

[Pete A]

Guys. The surging issue is a common problem and probably will never be fixed if it hasn't been already (just IMO). BTW I sent an email to ZF questioning them on the issue - no reply! The cold idle issue where the engine runs REAL BAD for the first 10 secs from cold is a known issue with some Turbos (I've mentioned in another thread) I have agreed with the dealer to wait for the cold idle problem fix from Ford before we look at the surging problem. FWIW, the surging problem seems to be less obvious. It has not been nearly as noticable in the last few weeks. I'm wondering if it's because the weather is getting cooler?????

[Pete A]

Mine is doing the same thing. Fg xr turbo 30000 mms. Had to leave it at Peter Warren for a week. Wrote them clear instructions on the problem and how it occured ie: when it is cold. After a week and a total waste of my time they said that the computer was not showing faults and they could not find any issues. F&$kwits. The car experienced the same issue when leaving the dealership.

I am sick of the car. New diff at 1200kms. New Turbo at 2500kms and now the gearbox is f*#ked. Should have bought a hilux.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Early failures in the FG are not common that I've heard. My BAII XR8 had 2 news trannys, driveshaft and diff in the first 2 years I had it. After that it was perfect. I loved the XR8 so much that I stayed with Henry. My FG apart from this idle problem has been spot-on and the surging problem is a common issue and to be honest, you get used to it. As long as it's not damaging the drivechain is the important point. I'm still going to persue it once the idle is fixed,but I'm not expecting too much. I just wonder how bad yours is. The one comment I make to Ford about this is OK, if the ZF operation (surging) is normal, explain why it didn't do it when new and has only developed since about 10,000K's? Hmmmmmm, no explanation. Secondly, they never admit that the ZF has a surging issue even when you refer to all the posts on the web from Jag and BMW etc. They just do not acknoledge that there's a problem. This must be a deal with ZF I would say so there is no liability.

[F6_Tornado]

Just change the oil to Castrol TransmaxZ and it will fix it. so simple really.

[FGXR6T10]

I requested that Peter warren change the oil at 30000Kms and they did. They told me that the original oil charge was approx 200mL short and this should fix the problem. It didn't. Yesterday I was driving down pennant hills rd at approx 70km/h when the car decided it would rather select 1st than 5th nearly went through the steering wheel.

I don't know whether mine is doing what the other guys are explaining, but I'll try to explain this as simple as I can. When the car is cold and I stop or slow down at lights/giveway etc the car doesn't seem to shift back into second/first. Rather it stays in the higher gear. When I accelerate the car reacts as though it is a manual and the clutch is being fanned. This may happen for up to 200 meters until it realises that it is labouring and decides to change into second gear. It does this process very smoothly with no clunk from the drivetrain.

I also experience problems if I am travelling up hill and come to a speed bump. I naturally slow down to avoid leaving the bottom of the car on the pavment, when the car comes to the bump it just doen't know what gear it sould be in. This pause may take upto 3-4 second at which time I have rolled back approx 1 meter without taking my foot off the accelerator. BUT DON'T WORRY SAYS FORD. THE COMPUTER TELLS US EVERYTHING IS NORMAL.

I previously owned an BA Mk11 XR8 with no problems whatsoever from new. I have been a Frod man for longer than I can remember, but when the car is purchased for the operation of a business, the lost time running back and forth to dealers adds up pretty quickly. Regrettably I think this will be my last Ford purchase.

Hope this clarifys the problem. Maybe it is the same as some of the others. I agree with other people though. If it is to be expected why doen't this problem occur from the day you drive it out the door?

[Tim]

I have the cold start rough idle problem. I only have done 15,000kms. Ford checked the fluid level which was fine. They did say there is a new tune available soon, which should be ready now. The dealer had the paperwork for the update which said it was for "idle instability" and was specifically for the turbo sedan, he just didnt have the tune yet. Hopefully will get it done soon.

[riptide]

I'm still getting the "lurch" as SteveR posted in this thread and have found I have an error code P0701 (http://www.permoveo.ltd.uk/tabid/122/OBD-Error-Code/P0701/Diagnostics/Smart/Default.aspx). Main symptom is when slowing to almost a stop the trans is in second and doesn't drop into first until I accelerate and then it lurches as it hits first.

Is there no spark cut on gear shift in the BF2?

Was there ever a fix for this lurch problem?

Cheers

Chris

[Dillz]

No spark cut, can you explain what happens a bit better if you can?

ZF is known to feel a bit rough dropping into 1st. But if you pull to a stop and there is a noticeable (I mean really obvious) lurch forward into first you may have a problem.

On second thought what you said sound's normal, the dreaded "milkshake" lurch is when slowing down to a complete stop it noticeably jolts forward into first.

[riptide]

My trans is air cooled now but not over-heating. Just had it serviced but not a full flush (found out after it was booked). 180,000k's.

In the odd gear it drops down a bit chunky sometimes and can also do it changing up when I button off quickly from firm acceleration.

It's like a spark cut on change would fix it sometimes. What is the next model back that had spark cut? I might insert it if I can.

[1600dave]

Just out of curiosity, have you monitored the trans temp now its air cooled, and how hot does it get?

[broke]

ive gotten a little bit of lurch varying in severity since I've owned the car (approx 3mths.) and havent yet had the trans looked at. when cold the trans behaves quite nicely it's once up to temp that it starts lurching. it's noticeable but nothing that I havent learned to drive through at the moment. ive had the take off hesitation only 3 times in all my time with the car and everytime it happend when coming to a stop but then hitting the gas before it dropped, it feels like there's no power there at all for a moment then it comes off. kind of like taking off in 3rd or something.

new symptom though :( is the rev needle "wiggles" very slightly whether driving or even idling, only moves a max of 1mm each way. doesnt do it constantly but it'll come and go maybe 10-12 times in the 6km drive I take to work. the engine doesnt sound like it's reving just the needle doesnt stay dead still very long at all. doesnt matter when either, it can be cold start up or after ive been driving a lot. getting the oil flushed asap (next week with any luck.) may have to put off the air cooler for now and just get a new heat exchanger from Ford.

love the car but the ZF has me worried.