FORScan forum

Hey guys, I have a 2013 Focus SE with the DPS6 transmission. I got a clutch kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9W1RVV) with all of the things, replaced all of that, plus Clutch Actuator A and B (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9Q3CLZP?re ... title&th=1)

I had to update the TCM firmware, which went just fine, in order for the adaptive clutch programming to work, which it did, finally.

Driving it after all of that, it seemed like it was all fixed. It still seems to drive fine, actually. We have put several hundred miles on it since I finished.

However, just today, my wife got a "Transmission overheated" message on a route we always drive. She pulled over and let it cool, then came home. A couple hours later, I took it for the same drive and went 8 miles to pick up one of my kids from school, and on the way home it happened to me too. Same spot my wife got the message, about a mile from our freeway exit. It is a particularly flat stretch of road, so I can't imagine that it was under any extra load.

GROK tells me it is most likely clutch slip. But it is brand new and properly programmed. Running every test in ForScan shows no issues. There are also no DCT codes. So why would clutch slip be the issue? I don't get it.

GROK also tells me that there is no transmission temp sensor, but instead calculations are made based on other parameters, chiefly clutch slip to determine overheating.

So, I had my son record several transmission parameters. However I don't know what the normal values are and what are abnormal. In particular what should CLTC_A_SLIPMES, and CLTC_B_SLIPMES be? It looks like the engaged one is positive and the other negative. I asked GROK, but it seems to be confused with some other parameters, I think. Is there a chart somewhere? Or does someone know the normal/abnormal values?

And if clutch slip is the issue, what else can I do? Might other params shed light on the source of the issue that I could record?

That message is a calculation of how many time a clutch has engaged in a given time period.
The TCM assumes the clutch is overheating if it is applied X amount of times a minute.
There is no temp sensor.
Only time I have ever seen that message is in stop & go traffic

In basic terms when something overheats you either has excessive heat being created due to an issue, or there is a problem with cooling. If the trans was low on oil or had the incorrect oil in it, that could cause cooling issues. Trans fluid often but not always is run through a cooler somewhere external to the trans to assist cooling, if there was any issue with that it would cause the same problem.

I guess step one is to figure out if it's a too much friction/heat issue, or a cooling issue. Maybe start with checking the oil.

I'll check the oil level, but a friend of ours just told us they had a Focus of the same generation and after being fixed repeatedly, never really got fixed. If I liked the car enough, I might be tempted to swap to a manual transmission.

But back to my original question: is there anywhere online I can find normal values for items I can monitor in real-time? I mean, it does me no good to monitor anything, if I don't know what I'm looking at. Or if not online, is the service manual available? I keep just finding the owners manual.

rconstantine wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 7:21 am I'll check the oil level, but a friend of ours just told us they had a Focus of the same generation and after being fixed repeatedly, never really got fixed. If I liked the car enough, I might be tempted to swap to a manual transmission.

But back to my original question: is there anywhere online I can find normal values for items I can monitor in real-time? I mean, it does me no good to monitor anything, if I don't know what I'm looking at. Or if not online, is the service manual available? I keep just finding the owners manual.

I don't know of anywhere that you can find a list of expected values other than the factory or dealer manuals, which aren't always easy to get or find.
Generally mechanics learn through experience what the typical values are for most of the common sensors.

From your earlier post you mention the clutch slip pids and the fact it is overheating. With experience you don't necessarily need values to compare to. The measurement of clutch slip should be small if there is little, if the value is large then it's slipping a lot. Just viewing the data stream live whilst power braking or driving in a controlled environment will give you values. You might see one clutch slip a lot and the other much less, that would tell you clutch application isn't the same between them and one has an issue. If when you see high slip values the temp rises fast then you know where the heat is coming from. If there was no slip at all but it for too hot then check out the cooling system for the trans, remember the oil is its coolant as well as its lubricant.

Just have a play around and see what you can tell from what it shows you.

Thanks for the comments, guys. I have a sneaking suspicion the issue is with the clutch actuators (or whatever they are called). I mean, those are the parts that engage the clutches, and if there is slip, they aren't pushing hard enough - right? Upon install, you're supposed to use a tool to twist them so many times, which releases the clutches from their stored position. It could be I spun them the wrong way initially, before feeling the right way to go. Maybe I broke them and didn't realize it? And yet, they do engage, since the car drives. Could it be an issue with the TCM's program? I updated to the latest firmware, but how does Ford do their firmware? Are they tied to specific hardware versions? Like, could a newer TCM possibly accept newer, different firmware, thereby possibly working OK?

It's quite likely an actuator problem. The ecu learns the use of these to take any tolerances etc into account so it can use them correctly. If the mechanical side of the system and the wiring all works fine then the software should have no issue operating it.

If you weren't totally sure what you were doing when you were doing it then there would certainly be space there for a mistake to be made.

If that had been the case then no amount of computers or software will fix it im afraid. If you think that maybe it isn't assembled right then I would advise to check all of that first to rule it out.

To solve this you need a direction to go in that will lead to the answer whether it's a diagnostic that provides the answer or method of deduction because the first option isn't viable.

I thought I'd close the loop on this. What the issue ended up being was a pretty bad leak from the rear main seal cover. When I did the job originally, I replaced a mildly leaking OEM one with a Fel-Pro one. I'm certain I installed it with the included tool correctly, and torqued it right too. But oil was covering everything. So I cleaned everything, put in a Dorman one (it had a bit more seal material) because it was the only other one available that day and I was on a time limit, and it seems to be holding. Two weeks later, I detect no leak. Previously, there was a drip where trans mated to engine. What a hassle.

I have a new issue, however, but have yet to diagnose it. I'll start a new post about it. Thanks to those who commented.