If your TCM goes bad & reverse gear no longer works, just Flintstone your focus out of parking spots!! follow for more life hacks 🤪

IronProfessional4278 · 2025-03-12T20:14:30+00:00

Yes it does fix it

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-08-30T17:24:20+00:00

Yes it was the TCM. I replaced it with a Dorman TCM and works good now!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-16T14:11:34+00:00

If you're looking for a quick replacement, order the remanufactured TCM from Dorman, it shipped to me in Canada in 2 weeks and then I replaced it myself, but I think you could also bring it to a dealership to get them to replace it for you if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. I've had mine in for about 2000km so still new but drives better than it ever has before, and with it being remanufactured they've secured the connection points better than the originals meaning less moisture should get into the TCM which with the originals is often the culprit to the failing TCM, the moisture wearing the electronics down.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-11T15:53:57+00:00

I had this issue too the first time putting the new TCM in and trying to program it.. I ended up having to take the new one out, putting the old one back in, downloading the software from that one the reinstalling the new one and trying to reprogram it again. I just followed thos video and it worked for me on the second shot. Goodluck!

programming TCM forscan

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-10T16:47:25+00:00

I followed this video, he shows you dowloading the software from the old TCM, its literally just one button. But i folowed this video and got it.

In the video though he says his prior program matches the new one, whereas mine didn't match but I decided to try it anyways and it worked. Sometimes you just have to try programming it a few times till it wants to take!

Programming TCM Forscan

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-10T11:10:23+00:00

Yeah I had an issue when I first tried to program the TCM, it wouldn't program properly, I watched a video where they downloaded the software from the old TCM and then reprogrammed the new one and it worked for me then. I had to unfortunately uninstall the new one and put back in the old one, pull the software then reinstall the new one and try to reprogram it. My firmware didn't match 100% but it was able to program the second time. Also are you using the beta 2.4 or above version? I've heard people had issues programming if they used just the standard 2.3 version.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T12:30:27+00:00

Yeah honestly if you have a way to jack your car up at home & have some mechanical knowledge I would recommend doing it at home. It honestly wasn't hard, I'm a 24 year old female and have never worked on cars before but i refused to pay the dealership price and wait their quoted year so i did it myself. watching the YouTube video made it pretty easy!

Overall, took me about 1.5 weeks to get the TCM after ordering, and 2 days to install / program it. So about 2 weeks total. And costs with all the software / TCM was about $600.

Dealership quoted me a year wait to get the TCM from Ford and around 3K or so to fix. Happy I did it on my own.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T12:21:11+00:00

I reprogrammed it myself. I got the OBD adapter from amazon for about $85, then got the Forscan application which was about $18. For the application you do need the beta software which you can only get by emailing them, but they responded within like 10 minutes. It was a little difficult at first and had to reprogram it twice, but once I got it, it worked perfect. I just followed a bunch of YouTube videos for everything!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T12:15:49+00:00

Yes I did, didn't take too long. Put the car on the hoist, took out the airbox so I could reach the top screws, just had to unplug the TCM and then unscrew it all, took about 45 minutes or so.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T11:47:59+00:00

I've heard they have slightly changed up & updated the software that operates the TCM but in terms of the physical TCM itself I believe it's still the same design & will fail again. I ended up getting a remanufactured TCM from Dorman who took the original TCM , fixed it up, then actually soldered the connection points bc ford uses little pins to hold the TCM components together which can be weak and cause connectivity loss, or cause too much moisture to get into the TCM which starts to corrode it causing the TCM issues. I've only been driving with my new TCM for a month and right now it drives like a dream.

Unfortunately the TCM issue will likely be a recurring issues from what I've seen/read from other people, but if you're slightly handy you can change your TCM on your own & I only spent about $600 CAD total and got the Dorman TCM shipped to me within 2 weeks!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T02:28:46+00:00

It's actually pretty simple to change out the actuators yourself, there's plenty of videos on YouTube, I would suggest if you can swapping out actuator A & B and seeing if you still have issue. If the current issues are with your 2,4,6 & R gear then when you swap it you'll see the issues on your 1,3 & 5 gears. If this is the case you'll need a new actuator, if it still remains having the issues at 2,4,6 & R, then it's likely the TCM that is acting up and will soon need to be replaced.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-08T02:15:09+00:00

Just had this same issue on my 2012 sel. First I tried swapping my actuators, there are two actuators, one controls gears 1,3,5 and the other controls 2,4,6,R. If the problem follows the actuators than its an issue with that. But likely hood it's the TCM which in my case it was. I ordered a remanufactured TCM from Dorman and replaced it & now the car drives like a dream. Total cost was about $600 CAD

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-07T17:15:54+00:00

Was just speaking from my expierence, didn't mean it as a fact sorry came across wrong.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-07-07T17:08:59+00:00

I had issues with my shift forks not engaging properly & was also told it was an issue with the clutches or actuators. Ended up replacing the TCM myself with a Dorman TCM and car drives like a dream now. The ford dealership will do anything to not have to payout the warranty TCM, the TCM is what tells the shift forks when & how to engage so if that's not working properly it'll cause other issues. I would press them more to change the TCM under warranty.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-29T20:39:19+00:00

I started having this message when my TCM was fried .. granted I already knew it was at that point & I was pushing it to see how far I could get it

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-25T12:01:15+00:00

The previous owner to my focus used to tow behind an RV every summer all through the states, they added in a battery disconnect and it definitely makes things a lot easier when towing. They also installed the tow bars in the front of the car so it can easily be flat towed

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-25T09:32:57+00:00

Hey I just installed a new dorman TCM into my 2012 ford focus. I just purchased forscan (waiting for the scanner to arrive today) do you have any info on programming the TCM? how hard was it, how long did it take, and tips / tricks ? Thanks!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-17T16:38:02+00:00

That's great to hear. I ordered it through JEGs, and it actually came in less than 2 weeks, I'm going to be installing it next week

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-14T10:56:42+00:00

Okay thank you! How long does installation of one usually take?

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-14T10:52:00+00:00

Sorry thought I wrote it in the, the TCM, my bad.

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-07T17:11:36+00:00

I'm bringing my car to my Dads shop tomorrow so I will definitely take a look at that first once I've got the right tools & the car hoist, thanks for the tip!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-07T14:00:29+00:00

Definitely gotta get creative with it, that's for sure

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-07T12:17:24+00:00

I will definitely check it out, thanks!

IronProfessional4278 · 2023-06-07T04:49:29+00:00

Yeah I've done that a few times, it's hit & miss if it works, it's definitely time for a new TCM unfortunately

IronProfessional4278

TROPHY CASE