Automatic transmission – Why would shifter cable break? The car was transported from Florida to CT and was hardly driven.

ANSWER : Some towing companies will remove the shifter cable to the transmission to prevent anyone from stealing the vehicle on the rig when the rig is parked overnight. This includes removing the battery cables as well. It is not likely to have a broken shifter cable unless the driver purposely broke the wire. Look around the transmission shifter lever and look at the wire. Look to see if the wire was removed or damaged. If the wire was removed, simply reinstall the wire and hook up the battery cables and test drive the car. If you need further assistance with your engine not starting, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Hi There,
This is a known issue in this generation Ford Focus and some Fiestas with the "Power Shift" transmission and there have been numerous recalls and lawsuits. Although, it is would be difficult to determine how much longer your transmission will last given the fact that you have many new parts, I would not recommend junking the car as it may still provide some valuable life left for you. I would recommend taking it to the dealer to see if these parts may be covered under the recall.

ANSWER : This sounds like a faulty speed sensor problem. Most cars have two speed sensors (one monitors input shaft and one monitors output shaft) which tell the computer what the gear ratio is of the transmission while in use. If either of these are not working properly, they will cause the computer to shut the car off for safety reasons. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your stalling issuee and help you repair it.

ANSWER : Hi there – first task is to be sure the transmission fluid is at the proper level, and in good condition (more pink than black, and no burned smell). Low fluid, or dirty fluid, can cause lots of unexpected transmission behavior. The second task is to check for problem codes, whether the Check Engine light is illuminated or not. The possible problem we’re looking for here is a failing throttle position sensor – which interacts with the transmission controller and affects shifting behavior. I recommend a transmission inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle may be suffering from several different issues. There is most likely an issue with the charging system. This could mean that the battery, alternator, wiring, battery cables, or ground connection could be the issue. The first thing to do is a visual inspection and make sure the ground connection for the battery is clean, dry, and tight. Start by testing the battery or replacing it. This will insure you are not fooling around with a dead battery (or one that cant hold a charge). Then make sure the alternator is working. You can do this several ways, but the easiest is with a voltmeter. If both of these components pass their tests, you will need to dig further into the electrical connections. For more diagnostic work, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Usually a person describes such an experience as more force than usual is needed to stop the car. I am not exactly sure what you are experiencing here, so I will address a few things. Speed and weight of your vehicle will make braking less effective. All things being equal, if you are coming to a stop at the exact same speed and the exact same distance, your master cylinder could certainly be the issue. So could your anti-lock brake system. Your master cylinder can have internal leaks that will affect its ability to create enough pressure at your wheels. Your anti-lock breaks have the ability to do the same thing, but in much different ways.

It sounds as if someone has done a lot of work to your car already without experiencing your issue. This suggests you have an intermittent problem. Intermittent problems are inherently difficult to catch. In order to catch your problem, you will need to leave your car with someone for several days so they car do the best they can to recreate the problem. If stopping is still safe, I would recommend waiting until the problem becomes worse and is much easier to identify.

Usually if it is a anti-lock brake problem, there will be a anti-lock brake light on or the brake pedal will bounce when braking.

I recommend having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your brake system firsthand to help you figure this out.

Good luck!

ANSWER : I recommend keeping your transmission in your vehicle that it is designed for. If you plan on putting in a Twin Turbo setup, then the transmission will hold up to the changes. Automatic transmissions are designed to take more abuse than a manual transmission for they have more gear to gear contact and that they can adjust clutch pressure at a greater force. You may need to build your transmission with a heavier clutch pack material, but other than that, your automatic transmission will working just fine. If you need further assistance with determining if your transmission will hold up to a Twin Turbo Engine, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Hello. You will need to look under the vehicle where the shifter cable hooks to the transmission and look at the cable connector end for a worn out bushing. You may be able to push the shift lever on transmission into park so you can get it started. Make sure you have the wheels blocked and parking brake on so the vehicle does not roll. If you need help having this diagnosed, a certified technician from YourMechanic, can come to your car’s location to inspect the start problem and diagnose the shifting issue.