Overhauling a Ford Focus TCM - Part 1: Dismantling the TCM

After a history of ongoing issues, my original Ford Focus TCM failed leaving the car unable to drive or even start. I've since recieved a Dorman rebuilt unit through JEGS that I've installed and the car is running without issues. I am taking the original one apart to see if I can find the fault and maybe fix it for a spare.

[@DesiAnanth]

i have the same car. i got shuddering and bad shifting followed by codes for shift fork and actuators. Sometimes the car would not even move until I reset the codes. To fix the issues I first sanded the factory paint from all 3 contact points of the ground cables and installed a separate ground cable from battery -ve to the tcm, engine, transmission. This car is not grounded properly from factory which makes electronic things spoiled. my previous owner had replaced alternator already Then I drilled 2 holes in the bell housing top and bottom. tap and thread the holes and put bolt in the bottom. emptied 2 cans of brake clean from the top hole and started the car let ti clean the clutch and forks from the inside. Then i drained out the brake clean and did it again this time with wd40. So much black stuff came out. I think the clutch produces dust while rotating and then it clog the forks and actuators. Let the car sit overnight so that bell housing inside dries up Closed both holes with very small bolts that wont rub the clutch. Rotated to reset and cleaned the actuators again with wd40. Reset everything again and test drive. Been 7000 miles since I did it and i think its permanently fixed Car runs smooth like butter shifts like butter

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

That sounds like the best way to clean the clutch dust out of the actuators without having to remove the clutches.

[@jasonashley9853]

Should have made a video on it man. Amazing that you were able to do all that.

[@DesiAnanth]

@@jasonashley9853 it's very simple compared to removing the entire clutch. I'll definitely make a video later on. Honestly i wouldn't even advise anyone to buy this car. The only reason I did is cos i was a point in life where i really had no other choice. I really wanted a Toyota Corolla or Honda civic but i just couldn't get one Paid 5k for the one i bought had just 60k miles on it. the previous owner was very honest with me. He once left it in drive with the handbrake on for like half an hour

[@jasonashley9853]

@@DesiAnanth well, right, but unfortunately I already own one. It's not been a bad car but I'm also not in an ideal position to buy another car. I've had mine almost 6 years now. At 140k now. And I do want a Corolla as my next car as well. Something reliable.

[@DesiAnanth]

@@jasonashley9853 are you having issues with your car right now? On my drive today I actually noticed very slight shudder coming again from 1st to 2nd. So i think the clutch cleaning must be done every 2nd oil change. It's still way too cold here in Canada and i don't have a garage to work so I'll probably make that video in a month or so and send you the link here.

[@jasonashley9853]

Waiting for the part 2. Is the non-Dorman TCM a K04 or K05?

[@arsinoeivlostprincess4228]

I watched someone fix a Fiesta trans just by taking it out and apart and blowing the clutch dust out. There was enough dust to impeded the motion of the clutches.

[@Nickster8074]

Hi Crey, was the Dorman unit good right out of the box? No programming required? I know it needs adaptive learning, but I thought Dorman said it would need programming as well.

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

I didn't have to do any reprogramming on mine. It just needed the adaptive learning.

[@sly2392]

what these damn manufactures put us through as car owners. the more i work on my own vehicles and the newer these vehicles get. the more i see the stupidity and design flaws the car companies do to keep us from working on them ourselves never seizes to amaze me. i have a 2009 chrysler town and country and it has gone into limp mode and will not shift to the higher gears. when i disconnect the negative battery terminal it shifts just fine for a couple of blocks, then drops back into limp mode. throws code PO76A shift solenoid H malfunction. chrysler put the TCM inside the wheel well where water and whatever can get into the connectors of an electronic device such as the TCM. WHAT IDIOTS.

[@mikekellum6238]

So am I understanding you installed the Dorman TCM and only conducted an adaptive learning procedure in order to have the TCM function correctly? Thanks

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

That is correct. I installed the Dorman TCM and ran the FORScan adaptive learning on it. I don't think it would have functioned correctly without running the learning first.

[@SucksTeamMx]

This TCM is to much complex MOSFET, capacitors, micro soldering could be a lot of "worm" electrical issues. I fix 3 Focus complete overhauling transmission and I recommend get a Dorman TCM unit remanufactured.

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

I tried using electric conductive silvering adhesive instead of soldering. I just have to install the TCM to see if it worked. The Dorman is working fine so I'm hesitant to mess with a perfectly running car.

[@KevinoParteanez-fe2nd]

Hey do you think you can get the little metal prongs that connect the tcm I have to broke prongs and want to fix the one I have

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

I saw another video recently where somebody twisted the prongs to get them to release. It's a lot of prongs to twist.

[@michaelm4725]

I was laughing when you began trying to take the thing apart, having just separated one, myself. I used WD 40. It took at least 20 minutes.

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

Did you see what went bad in yours or get it to work afterwards?

[@scientist100]

@@breakingandfixingstuff professional people recommend reflowing all contact points. Unfortunate it is not possible to separate the two boards because they are soldered down really well and you cannot reflow those inner pin contacts.

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

@@scientist100 The whole problem with these is that they're not soldered down. The reason it doesn't come apart is that the pins in these TCMs are twisted to clamp the contacts down (I saw a more recent video on how to take the boards apart that showed this). The Dorman rebuilds are all soldered down. When my Dorman TCM dies I make another video to confirm it, but I've got a three year warranty on it, so it might be awhile.

[@scientist100]

@@breakingandfixingstuff 😅 I forgot about those twisted pins. You are right. I still have a TCM that is bad and needs fixed. I can still play with those as needed.

[@samuelizuelu2120]

Good day bro pls 🙏🙏 I need ur help, I'm in Africa n I use a 2002 ford focus n I had issues with the transmission Sometime ago I was traveling a mile of abt 400km n I noticed transmission oil leak so I decided to manage till I get some oil to replace it but I didn't till I got to my destination, I noticed as I was driving after the oil leak the gears do hard changing I recently replaced the solenoid but still having issues with it, the problem with it now is that when start the car it's drives alright but the car heat up then I start experiencing hard shift, very low speed If I park n the engine is cool then it's move normal when it heat up it repeat the same problem, pls help

[@zx300ttt]

Great work it could be many things lol

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

Thanks. It's all soldered up now. I just need to put it in and test it.

[@TheBoosteddub]

Where is part 2?

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

I got the TCM back together. I just need to put it in the car to see if it works. Then I'll have enough to upload a Part 2.

[@michaelprideaux333]

Any luck?

[@breakingandfixingstuff]

I'll try putting it in as soon as I get some decent weather to work on it.

[@01mustang05]

Folks, that is really bad information mislabeling. And it's super easy to check clutch fork B and A is not so bad either.

[@Idontlikethisever]

Ford 😂😂