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Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

420 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 5:58 AM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 43

#13 of 420 Re: CVT end in sight: [passat_2002] by buckwheat

Aug 01, 2006 (8:14 am)

Replying to: passat_2002 (Jul 31, 2006 4:32 pm)
Fords CVT is made here in the US in Batavia, Ohio. Production started about 3 yrs ago originally via joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen that goes back about 7+ yrs ago and which was bought out by Ford in late Feb. 2004.
That makes Ford the sole maker of the current CVT known as the CFT30 found in the Freestyle/Five Hundred/Montego. Multiple manufacturing delays caused the project to be delayed they originally intended to ship there first CVT in 2001. The problem with the CVT is as engines produce more HP and torque (primarily torque) that is where the problems arise. At present the 3.0L produces 207 lbs of torque. The 3.5L produces 250 lbs of torque. The current CVT can not handle an increase in torque and is made to operate under 258lbs. anything approaching that number would be operating at its max and therfore not conducive to longevity. Does that mean Ford can't make a CVT to handle the torque, from what I have read yes they can, but that brings on a whole slew of other considerations including additional expense, weight, the current CVT weighs about 7 lbs. more than an auto tranny. Ford has had some problems with the CVT and from what I have read they believe their new 6 speed Auto tranny joint venture with GM is the way forward. The Nissan Murano is probably one of the better known CVT operated but it also is not without problems.
 
The full Autmotive News article can be found here;
buckwheat, "What about the future of Ford Inc??" #1625, 31 Jul 2006 9:36 am

#14 of 420 Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by blue05

Aug 01, 2006 (9:12 am)

Replying to: buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 8:14 am)
You said that the CVT was made in the U.S. I'm wandering why my parts content information sheet on my 05 stated that the transmission was made in Germany . It also noted that part contents does not include final assembly . Are the 06 CVT's made in the U.S ?

#15 of 420 Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by buckwheat

Aug 01, 2006 (10:21 am)

Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 9:12 am)
It is possible that in the early days of the joint venture some parts made for the CFT30 by ZF Friedchshafen were made in Germany but ZF's contribution was mainly CVT technology & design. What I said is "Fords CVT is made here in the US." That particular joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen has been dissolved, but Ford maintains other ventures with them.. My uderstanding is Fords Batavia plant, which is scheduled to close in 2008, is the maker of current Ford CVT's.

#16 of 420 Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by passat_2002

Aug 01, 2006 (10:47 am)

Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 9:12 am)
As far as I know, all CVT transmissions for the Freestyle/500 since day one have been assembled in Batavia, Ohio. Some of it's parts, however, come from Germany. The stainless steel belt (by far the most expensive single part) comes from Germany . If 51% of the content cost comes from Germany.. then they gotta say it's from Germany. But it's made in the Buckeye state.

#17 of 420 transmission trouble by jackij

Aug 14, 2006 (8:43 pm)

We recently bought a brand new 05 Freestyle. Soon after, the "wrench light" indicating a problem with the transmission started coming on sporadically. When it comes on, you get no acceleration. We have taken it back to the dealership 4 times, each time they say it's fixed, but each time the same thing happens. They even tried to blame it on a cell phone or garage door opener signal interfering with the car's computer. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

#18 of 420 Re: transmission trouble [jackij] by stmss

Aug 15, 2006 (6:01 am)

Replying to: jackij (Aug 14, 2006 8:43 pm)
The light has come on a number of times on my 06. Usually when accelerating (moderately hard) to merge. Sometimes you get a lurch from the car. Only once at a stop light did I get a momentary loss of acceleration. Light does not come back on after I restart the car.
 
They diagnosed it (after 2nd visit) as a faulty mechatronic unit (code 2765-20, if that means anything). It is being replaced next week.

#19 of 420 Re: transmission trouble [stmss] by bruneau1

Aug 15, 2006 (2:58 pm)

Replying to: stmss (Aug 15, 2006 6:01 am)
Regarding the CVT transmission, my service advisor told me that they replaced a transmission on Freestyle and the warranty bill to Ford was $5,200. Of course, I have no way of knowing if that is true.

#20 of 420 Re: transmission trouble [jackij] by vicenac

Aug 16, 2006 (11:01 am)

Replying to: jackij (Aug 14, 2006 8:43 pm)
Get rid of it! I f they had four times to fix it and the problem it's still there, then your car is a lemon.
Also the problem seems to be a bad oil pump in the transmission. To be properly diagnosed they have to have it when it does not work.

#21 of 420 Re: transmission trouble [vicenac] by jessealan

Sep 18, 2006 (8:49 am)

Replying to: vicenac (Aug 16, 2006 11:01 am)
My dealer said ford is still going to be using the cvt in the freestyle. DOes he know what he is talking about.

#22 of 420 Re: transmission trouble [jessealan] by passat_2002

Sep 19, 2006 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: jessealan (Sep 18, 2006 8:49 am)
Wanna have some fun then? Why don't you ask your dealer where Ford is going to get the CVT tranny's from after they shut down the factory that makes them next year.
 
Dealerships are clueless about this sort of thing. All they know for sure is that they have a lot of product on the lot and they'll say absolutely anything in order to move it.

Messages Page 3 of 43

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