Hi Craig, I had a similar issue with my 09 Focus TDCi. The throttle seemed to act weird and suddenly stopped working altogether (when pulling away and changing gear), only for a few seconds until it returned back to normal. With alot of arguing with the dealership, they replaced the potentiometer and all has been well since. Not sure if yours is the same issues, but thought it'd mention it!

Well, funny you say that Surfer. The Service Manager called earlier this afternoon to say that the Dealer Principal is unavailable today, however they have taken the car to a main Ford dealer for a second opinion. Funnily enough, Ford have backed me up and confirmed that there IS a fault (i would loved to have been there to see the blokes face from Evans Halshaw), parts are on order, the gearbox is coming out and the fix will be made shortly!! Me 1 - 0 EH

Cheers Ash, i'm writing a letter now. Just to clarify a few things though.. 1- Is it best to leave the car there? 2- Do i need to inform the finance company? How will this work if i reject the car, is there normally a sum payable by me to 'end' the agreement? EDIT - The Service Manager has just called explaining that the technicians have advised the gearbox rattle is normal (again) and when asked what happens it the DMF/gearbox fails after the three month warranty, he said 'all i can say is that the warranty is three months and non extentable'. He says that he's reluctant to start taking the gearbox out, change parts as this may not cure the fault. Therefore as far as he's concerned the car is ready to pick up and no further action will be taken and recommended that i collect the car and take it back in a month if i'm still not happy! After telling him how unhappy i am spending so much money, he's contacting the dealer principal for advice and will call me back.

Well i spoke to the garage twice yesterday to try and get hold of the Service Manager, as the email i have sent to him and the Dealer Principal seems to have been ignored. I was told the first time that the service manager was out, second time he was in a meeting and will call me back. With no great surprise, i had no contact. So, today i am ready for a 'fight'. I hope whoever reads this next will be able to back me up and say what i'm about to do is right.. but i rang them at 9 and give them till about 12 lunchtime to ring. If they don't, then that will be the end of the phone calls and i take this further. I think i'll collect it after work if they're adament nothing is wrong and it's normal for a gearbox to rattle and i'll take it to an independant and ask them to have a look and give me a report.

Well we're nearly at the end of the day, two promised phone calls later and no contact from the dealers. As this is technically the first time the garage have seen the car about this issue, am i too early for SoGA?

Thanks BankFodder! I've already got a list of dates written down and a brief summary of what happened alongside it. I've been given another bit of advice that is slightly worrying to me *this did NOT come from the dealers BTW*, but the failing of the DMF can come under 'wear and tear' and therefore is generally not covered by warranty. This i understand, but surely this can't apply in my situation as i've only had the car 4 weeks (three weeks when the fault was reported)? I'm still waiting for a reply from the Dealer Principle, so i'll update later if/when i hear anything EDIT - Is this alright BankFodder? ·17th June - Collected car from Evans Halshaw Middlesbrough (paint repair needed on front bumper, original repair was damaged when valeters cleaned car with 'a diesel powered jetwash' ·28th June - Knocking and sensitive throttle reported to Evans Halshaw Service department ·1st July – Called to update the dealers service department re: loss of throttle ·1st July – Dropped car off – fault last happened this morning on A1(M) ·2nd July - Call to dealers they saying no fault found and no repair will be made - spring replaced in brakes – I made them aware of warn drop link and that this needed replacing ·2nd July – I dispute ‘no fault found’ and email is sent to Pendragon ·3rd July - Called dealers to advise I’m working away and not available until Friday. They advised further part on order (unsure what this is) ·5th July - Car collected - spring replaced on rear brake callipers along with potentiometer - drop links not replaced ·11th July - Call to dealers to report knocking from rear was still present and that rattling noise had also appeared from gearbox area (also paint repair was needed as agreed upon delivery) ·13th July - Car dropped off ·15th July - Call from garage to say drop links were on order and no issue with gearbox, only noise present is engine noise ·15th July - Visited garage and was told that it 'may be the release bearing although sometimes these 'just rattle' or possibly DMF' - await phone call tomorrow after technician speaks to service manager ·16th July – Voicemail left to advise the car is ready for collection. Spoke to dealership who advised service manager has seen car and rattle is ‘normal’. Replied to Dealer Principle email regarding an earlier complaint advising of issues i'm now having and asking who would be liable if fault deteriorates after three months warranty expires (within a reasonable time) ·17th July – Tried calling Service Manager, no returned call/voicemail

Hi all, this is my second thread here and unfortunately things are getting no better with me and my 'new' 09 plate Focus. I reported last week that the car has developed a rattle which sounds like it's coming from the gearbox area. This happens when the car is at idle and outta gear, especially stood outside the car on the passenger side, it sounds like somethings rattling itself to bits! Anyway, long story short i had to visit the garage last night after work to point out the noise to one of their technicians. He came out saying that he couldn't hear anything, which soon changed into 'yes sir, i can hear that'. After an encounter on the forecourt with two technicians pondering over what the issue is, they mentioned the clutch release bearing or the DMF, but they would take another look today and get back to me. As promised the garage have called to say the car is ready for collections and that the Service Manager has seen the car and has said the metallic rattle coming from the flywheel/clutch/gearbox is normal, but when i asked where i stand if one of these fail after my initial three months warranty ran out the garage have gone silent. They promised me a call back but that was hours ago! A little twist to all of this though, is that i have just found an email from the dealer principle sent to me yesterday. This is in reply to my first complaint two weeks ago about the accelerator failing - i've emailed him back to say that issue has been resolved and explained what is now going on, asking the same question above regarding the warranty and what happens in regards to any failures after the warranty has expired - given that the problem was reported within the initial three month period! For all you lovely people out there though, any ideas where i would stand legally if the worst was to happen? Thanks Dean

Thanks for replying! I spoke to the finance company yesterday who advised that at this stage it's best if i try and deal with the dealer directly and once three attempts have been made to fix the issue, to contact them again. Afterwards i called the garage to find out when i can collect the car, as on Tuesday they advised that it was ready (minus repairs for the throttle issue). After a long wait they called back and advised that they have a part on order which they expect to be delivered and fitted today. I've got no idea what this part is and because i was at work i didnt really have the opportunity to question it any further.. So, i'm guessing that they will give me some sort of paperwork to show what work has been done. It just seems strange that suddenly another part has been ordered.. maybe this is something to do with the email i sent to Pendragon PLC on Tuesday night explaining the situation (although i've not personally heard anything from them)!

That's the thing blacknight, Ford have confirmed that the throttle position sensor wouldnt bring up a fault code.. So if i'm getting the fault and the garage can't replicate it and won't take my/Ford's advice, what can i do.

Anybody? The dealers are now wanting me to collect the car minus repairs for this fault. I've been in touch with the finance company yesterdat, but as of yet i've had no word from anyone..

Hi all, Dean here.. a newbie to the forum looking for a bit of advice/help! Two weeks ago i bought a 2009 Focus from Evans Halshaw and dropped it off last night to have a few issues looked at. The main been the throttle, in that it's sensitivity seems to vary with no apparent reason and that over the weekend i completely lost throttle response on three separate occasions. When i spoke to the garage yesterday, it was strongly advised that the car is towed in as if anything was to happen they could be held liable. here's where my problem begins. Today i get a phone call to say that there is nothing wrong with the throttle and the technicians can't find a fault. I explained that the car now spends 95% of it's time on motorways getting to work and back and i didn't feel safe with a car that seems to slowly but surely be loosing it's throttle functionality. I mentioned that i've spoken to someone who works at Ford and i've read online that the likely culprit is the throttle position sensor, but they're response to this was 'that doesn't matter, we need to diagnose the fault and as far as we're concerned there isn't one'. When i mentioned the safety aspect of me driving the car in and having to have it towed because they would be liable, apparently that advice 'came from their call center and not the dealership'. The car is now sat in their compound with me unwilling to pick it up and them unwilling to admit there is an issue. I understand that ideally they need to see the problem in action, but there is no particular circumstances to 'make' it happen. What if it does it again on the A1(M) in traffic while i'm trying to overtake in bad weather.. bit extreme i know but not unlikely. I've spoken to the finance company who are now going to get involved, but is there anything else i can do? Many thanks!!