Transmission

[rfuilrez]

Alright. I have a 2001 Base model Focus. No fancy nothing, with the Automatic Transmission.

After beating on it, the power bands are stretched, and the tranny is going pretty bad.

Anyone have any idea on how much work it would be to rip out the tranny, and put in a 5 spd? I've done tranny swaps before, but on older cars (late 60's mustang etc...) which was easy. But I fear with all the electronics and stuff, it might not be worth it.

Would I have to replace the ECU? I'm fairly certain it's an Electronic controlled Automatic transmission, but I could be wrong.

Also, any ideas on how much a used 5 speed would cost?

Thanks

-rFu-

[landyacht]

If you've screwed up the tranny, your best bet would be to have a transmission place pull it out and put in the 5 spd for you.

Unless you're a licensed technician, all the electronic stuff will just screw you up when swapping them out. It's not as easy as a '60s Mustang would be.

In my opinion, if the tranny is done, i suggest you sell the thing and just get an all new one. Real base Focus SE in '01 only retails (on my lot) for about 8995. The tranny job is gonna cost 1600 for the new tranny, probably 3-4 hundred bucks to pull the old one, and another 3-400 bucks to install the new one.

Not to mention taxes and such...minimum 2500 bucks for a new tranny. Not worth it to me.

[rfuilrez]

Well, I'm not a Licensed Technician, but I am going to school for Automotive.

Have never pulled a FWD transmission before so I figured I would come ask on here. I can, and am willing to, do all the work myself, with the help of a friend or 2.

The tranny isn't SHOT completely, but it is going. It shifts high, and between 2nd and 3rd is drops into neutral before up-shifting. Basically all the stuff you would expect from neutral drops, and a teenager behind the wheel.

I probably would get a used tranny, if a Junkyard around here has one available, and rebuild it myself. I need the experience as I'm going into the Mechanics field.

Also, as I asked in the first post, would I need to replace the ECU?

Also, the car isn't mine, it's my father's. I think he wants to keep the car at least another year or 2 so when my younger brother gets his license he has a car to drive. It's the family kid's car so to speak.