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forceflow2 10-09-2011 05:30 PM

Absurdly loud shaking upon unlocking the car?
This just happened to me and I sent an email to my dealer about it already, but I wanted to see if anyone might have some idea or have experienced it before. I'm just going to copy the email I sent as it's pretty detailed, but somewhat long. I'll had a tl;dr at the end though.


Originally Posted by My Email to dealership
Hi Ted,

I experienced my first non-cosmetic issue today when leaving for work. When I left my house I hit the unlock button on my key and I heard the door unlock as it should. Less than a second later, the car began giving off a loud rumbling noise and was shaking. On first hearing it, it sounded like the engine had cranked and was chewing something up, but I don't have remote start so that didn't make any sense.

I opened the door and realized that it was the speakers that were making the noise. The closest I could describe it is that the radio had come on (which shouldn't happen until I put the key in after the car being off) and the volume had turned itself up to maximum (at least I assume it was maximum, it was incredibly loud and caused my parents and some neighbors to come see what was happening) but there was no actual music playing, it seemed like it was just playing a rumbling static as loud as it could.

I put the key in the ignition and tried to turn the volume down on both the steering wheel and radio knob, but nothing changed. I pulled the key, got out of the car and was going to open the hood and pull the battery cable, but in the couple of minutes it took from the shaking beginning to thinking about the battery, the sound suddenly stopped. I put the key back in the ignition, cranked the engine, and it started without issue and the radio was at the volume I had left it at when I exited the car yesterday, the first tall mark on the screen, which I think is only about 1/5 or so of the maximum.

I know how difficult this would be to diagnose unless you have heard of it happening before so I don't expect much to be done, but I just wanted to make you aware of the issue and check to see if you might have any idea of what took place in case it happens again.

tl;dr: Unlocked the car, began making an extremely loud rumbling noise and shook. Opened the door and realized it was the speakers making the noise even though the radio wasn't on. It wasn't even playing music, it was just a rumbling static sound. Sound stopped by itself after a couple of minutes, after which the car cranked just fine.

Tony407 10-09-2011 05:44 PM

Wow. Now I've heard it all. I have no idea about this one. Keep us posted as to what the dealer says.


forceflow2 10-09-2011 05:46 PM


Originally Posted by Tony407 (Post 3852610)


Yeah, that's why I told my dealer I don't expect much. Never heard or seen anything even remotely close to this. I wasn't sure I should have driven it to work, but I didn't have much choice. I will try and remember to get a video with my phone if it ever happens again, it's just incredibly bizarre.

wilsonfocus86 10-09-2011 06:05 PM

White noise! Maybe it's the paranormal trying to contact you [doorpeek]

Keep us posted if it happens again or something done about it

mikebontoft 10-09-2011 06:27 PM

what is your MFT version assuming you have it?

forceflow2 10-09-2011 06:31 PM


Originally Posted by mikebontoft (Post 3852651)
what is your MFT version assuming you have it?

2.11. You think it might be MFT related? I guess it's possible, I honestly have no clue what happened.

EDIT: Here's what is listed on Syncmyride, don't know what the three other (patches?) are:

SYNC Version
Gen2 - V2.11

mikebontoft 10-09-2011 06:38 PM

I have seen others mention problems where their volume will go up all the way and wont turn off even if they shut their car off. I don't doubt its another issue. If I remember correctly, a lot of that stuff (keyless entry,lights,etc) body control may be controlled by the same module. I may be completely wrong, I don't know the new system but it wouldn't surprise me.

Elizabeth 10-09-2011 06:48 PM

From reading your incident, and others of a different type, I am beginning to think that so parts of the electroniccs are having ESD issues. Random but tiny stray voltage is making some of the 2012 Focus electronics go berserk.
It would account for a lot of the almost random strange going on.
Hard to diagnose, and impossible to repeat. The only common factor is they all come from issues in the electrical controllers.

FordBass 10-09-2011 08:27 PM

earthquake? :D

forceflow2 10-09-2011 09:35 PM


Originally Posted by FordBass (Post 3852814)
earthquake? :D

Honestly that was the first thing that went through my head when it did it, but it seemed odd that only my car was experiencing it [:p]
