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Subject Topic: Ford Powershift Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonC_hadwin
14/11/2021 at 7:57pm
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Hello I am looking at changing my tow car and have been looking at Ford Mondeo, SMAX and Galaxy I always buy manual but alot of these cars are powershift. I just wondered if any of you have a Ford with the powershift gearbox? if so how do you find it to tow and also reliability?

thanks


PersonRob and Tina
14/11/2021 at 8:41pm
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I'm on my second Galaxy with a Powershift box. I like the system, it seems to work well and has been fine for towing. Most of the problems with the gearbox occur due to lack of maintenance as the box should be flushed and refilled every 3 or 4 years and depending on mileage covered but many workshops seem to be unaware of this and claim the box is sealed for life. My current Galaxy is now 4 years old and has only covered 25000 miles but I'm getting the gearbox flushed soon as I look at it as being cheaper than turning a blind eye to the possible future problems. Volvo use a similar gearbox in a lot of their cars and also claim the unit is sealed for live.


Rob


PersonC_hadwin
14/11/2021 at 8:49pm
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thanks for that.


Personiank01
15/11/2021 at 8:33am
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We had the Mondeo with the powershift box and eventually rejected the vehicle due to the box being unsuitable. ford acknowledged there was an issue and suggested that I leave it in Sport mode to compensate?
The big issue was if you drove like a gentleman most of the time the car would adapt to that style of driving and gearbox became lazy. For example, you approach a round about or Yield sign and start slowing down, you see that the vehicle to your right is still a safe distance away for you to enter the round about and cross over safely if you accelerate gently.
You accelerate gently but the car does not react as expected and seems to hesitate deciding which gear to select. By this time the vehicle to the right is no longer in your "safe" zone and you hit the pedal harder to get out the way. Car wakes up and takes off like a scalded cat.
This was a common issue on Fords including the Volvo. Otherwise it was a great car for towing and fairly comfortable. Our issue was a couple of years ago so the Powershift may have improved since.


Persondaveyjp
15/11/2021 at 8:34am
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There are enough cases of this box failing for it to be avoided. Although as mentioned a proper oil, filter and possibly screen filter change should be undertaken as soon as you buy one to give some chance of it lasting more than a few years.

Ford did however drop it for a reason. It proved expensive paying fines and doing gearbox changes under warranty.


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PersonPaul and Nikki
via mobile 15/11/2021 at 3:19pm
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I had a Kuga with the power shift gearbox, around 35000 miles it started crunching gears (2nd to 3rd I think) so got rid of it, I believe that the maintenance free claim is not necessarily true and that gearbox should be flushed around 30,000 miles


Personsaxo1
15/11/2021 at 3:43pm
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there have been class actions in the USA and Australia and Ford lost, personally I wouldn't entertain one.
saxo1


PersonC_hadwin
15/11/2021 at 7:08pm
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Has anyone had the SMAX? Manual or Auto?


PersonSmedmorDCH
16/11/2021 at 10:38am
 Location: Gillingham KENT
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I have a Galaxy 2.0 ltr Diesel Manual, and when I was looking, quite a few people strongly advised against either the Auto or powershift, as previously stated, they are not up to the job. But I also spoke to a number of transmission engineers, they pointed out that the oils now used in modern gearbox's is so very fine and should be changed every 2 yrs or 20,000 to 25000 miles, I have mine changed every 2 yrs, the cost of this is the knowledge that my gearbox will last.
Just have a ask about how much a replacement G/box or even a rebuild, and the cost of regular oil change.

Best regards David


PersonBroadside
via mobile 17/11/2021 at 11:49am
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I bought a used Galaxy with Powershift, it had about 40,000 miles on the clock. After a week of ownership I rejected the vehicle due to crunching gears and the revs hunting up and down while motorway cruising. It required a new gearbox at understandably very high cost. My local taxi driver also has one and says it’s great but he’s on his second gearbox [insert crying with laughter emoji here].

I know of some other people with them but they have all been owned from new and sold on in under 2 years. I wouldn’t buy another one and in fact went for a manual Galaxy which was great.


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PersonColin21
17/11/2021 at 2:37pm
 Location: East Herts
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In my opinion you can't beat a conventional automatic, I wouldn't have anything else. I've had nothing else for decades.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Personbessie500
17/11/2021 at 4:31pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Quote: Originally posted by C_hadwin on 15/11/2021
Has anyone had the SMAX? Manual or Auto?


i had one of the 1st Smax's mine was a 07 reg which i had from new, when i ordered it i couldn't actually look at the car because it wasn't in the showrooms then.

i had the 2ltr 150BHP manual version and it was brilliant in every way, i had mine for 4 years and towed a 1500kg van with it no problem.
when the contract was up i tried to order another one but it dropped off my company car list.

apart from the car i have now it was the best all round car i ever had.

bessie





Personskipp66
18/11/2021 at 8:23pm
 Location: Essex
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Saxo beat me too it !
If you Google ford power shift you will see a huge number of issues, Im sure i read that in Australia Ford lost badly in the courts.
I would personaly try and find a vehicle with a proper old school tourque converter auto box. Yes i know they , are not as good on fuel but a friend of mine has a Volvo V70 diesel auto 2006 which he tows with regualrly, and has done 300K on the original engine and gearbox, with nothing else apart from regular fluid and filter changes.


PersonColin21
18/11/2021 at 10:00pm
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Quote: Originally posted by skipp66 on 18/11/2021
I would personaly try and find a vehicle with a proper old school tourque converter auto box. Yes i know they , are not as good on fuel but a friend of mine has a Volvo V70 diesel auto 2006 which he tows with regualrly, and has done 300K on the original engine and gearbox, with nothing else apart from regular fluid and filter changes.


I couldn't agree more! I had a year 2000 Volvo V70 2.5 diesel with a conventional auto box and it was great. An excellent tow-car. I sold it 2 years ago mainly because I wanted something with a higher driving position after owning it for 9 years. It is still going strong with 215,000 miles on the clock, and its current owner has just taxed it again for another year.

Actually conventional autos are not that much worse on fuel than a manual as they once were. Early autos weren't so good as there was always a degree of controlled-slip, even at speed, but later ones had a torque converter lock-up clutch which eliminates that slip when the car is up to speed. My Volvo had a lock-up clutch even 21 years ago.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin



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