Ford Falcon 2005 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2005 Ford Falcon? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2005 Ford Falcon issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2005 Ford Falcon in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

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Used Ford Falcon review:

By Graham Smith · 28 Jan 2006

That same car retailed at almost $40,000 when it was new.Now, my dealer mate added his profit to the price before he retailed it out of his yard at $20,500, but even then it was still just a tick over half the original sticker price.The BA Futura used here is just an example of the bargains out there in near-new cars, particularly the Falcons, Commodores, Magnas and Camrys.The BA Falcon was a make-or-break car for Ford. After the disastrous AU the BA had plenty of ground to make up if the company was going to be viable going into the future.Thankfully for all of us it turned out to be a pretty decent car, far and away better than its disappointing predecessor.Ford pumped lots of new features into the BA, far more than it really would have, had it been a normal upgrade.The 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine was given a major overhaul with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder with infinitely variable valve timing. In base form the Barra engine put out 182kW at 5000 revs and 380Nm at 3250 revs, more than sufficient to give the BA plenty of zip. There was the choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed auto, the latter having sports shift.The suspension was also revamped, particularly the rear suspension.The overhaul continued inside as well with an all-new layout focused around a central control console. Standard features in the base XT included airconditioning, CD sound, power driver's seat, power front windows, trip computer, cloth trim, dual front airbags, anti-skid brakes, 60/40 split-fold rear seat.In addition to that, the Futura had cruise control, power rear windows, 16-inch (40.64cm) alloy wheels, rear centre armrest, cup holders, grab handles and courtesy lamps.Make the next step up to the Fairmont and you also drove away with dual-zone airconditioning, velour trim, six-stack CD, woodgrain dash, leather-trimmed steering wheel, side airbags, and traction control.The last step, sporty XRs aside, was to the Fairmont Ghia which had the added features of a six-way driver's seat with memory for settings, adjustable pedals, 17-inch (43.1cm) alloys and fog lamps.With just 30,000km or so under its wheels there should be little that's gone wrong with the Falcon. To date there is none of the head gasket, radiator, power steering problems that were a regular occurrence on the AU. And rental car agencies say they're having a better run out of the BA Falcon than they are with the equivalent Commodore or Magna. In reliability terms they are rating it as high as the Camry.Mechanics working on roadside assistance are reporting an annoying BA problem.It seems they simply stop and can't be started again without being towed to a Ford dealer where the electronics can be checked.With decent handling from independent suspension front and rear and anti-skid brakes the Falcon delivers quite good primary safety.On the secondary level it has dual front airbags, and on the Fairmont, side airbags.There are lots of compelling reasons for buying used large cars, but saving money is the best one. At auction, BA Falcon XTs are being knocked down for as little as $14,500 on average. At retail prices, the same car will sell for $3000 more. The Futura sedan retails for about $18,500 and the equivalent wagons will cost about $18,500 and $19,500.

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Taxing horsepower

Answered by Graham Smith · 02 Dec 2005

TAXABLE horsepower does not reflect developed horsepower. It's a calculated figure based on engine bore size, number of cylinders and a presumption of engine efficiency. This measure was instituted by the Royal Automobile Club in Britain and used to denote the power. As new engines became more efficient, it was no longer a useful measure, but kept in use by UK regulations which used the rating for tax purposes.

All good to go

Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 13 Apr 2006

WE ASKED tyre expert Russell Stuckey for his opinion. The Dunlop SP9000, SP Sportmaxx and Goodyear GSD3 all deliver good road holding and are fitted as original equipment, which is a good guide to the quality of a tyre.

On the wagon

Answered by Graham Smith · 30 Nov 2007

I WOULDN'T buy the BA Falcon with the dedicated LPG system. It's old LPG technology and suffers stalling, stumbling, surging and lack of performance unless it's well maintained. A better alternative is to buy a regular BA wagon and have it converted to dual fuel using one of the latest gas-injection systems that have no drive-ability problems. I get too many complaints about the Falcon to recommend it. The VZ wagon was available with a dual-fuel LPG system developed by IMPCO and using a gas-injection system. That is a good way to go, but I wouldn't recommend buying a VZ wagon and having it converted, because there are said to be problems with the regular Alloytec engine when running on LPG. The Mazda6 is a good car with a good reputation for reliability, as is the Corolla, and I'd be happy to buy either.

My ute is greedy

Answered by Graham Smith · 19 Apr 2007

I HAVE heard Ford is having problems with the cylinder heads on the V8 and has been replacing them on problem cars. It seems it's related to the head on the left bank. I would press your dealer to check with Ford because your car clearly has a problem.

Economy car

Answered by CarsGuide team · 11 Aug 2005

RENAULT doesn't market a diesel engine here, so rule that out. You could consider a VW Golf diesel. Both the Peugeot and VW diesels are well built, reliable and economical so that would probably be the best overall option.

Sticky fuel problem

Answered by Graham Smith · 04 Aug 2005

FORD offered a dedicated LPG engine in AU, not a dual-fuel system, so it's likely yours was a dealer-fit system. The warranty in your case should be provided by the dealer or the company that did the installation. Go to them. The waxy build-up can be drained. Your dealer should be equipped to do it.

Going the distance

Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 17 Aug 2006

FORD modifies the six-cylinder engine to suit LPG. It uses hardened valves and valve seats, which are the main areas of concern with an LPG engine, and the heavier conrods from the XR6 Turbo engine. The LPG engine also has a higher compression, 10.7 to one compared with 9.7 for the petrol engine. Without the modifications, the experience in the field is that a normal petrol engine running a dual-fuel system from the aftermarket needs a head rebuild at about 100,000km.

Clunk rock

Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 05 Jul 2007

THE clunking is usually from the diff, which is a known problem on the XR6, but we've heard from another reader, Clyde Wolfenden, that Ford has a fix for this problem in the form of revised auto trans shift points. He reckons this fixed his car, so you might check with your dealer about having it done to yours.

I want to gas up

Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 11 Aug 2005

YOU can contact both companies through their customer assistance hot lines, but you've probably already registered your interest with this letter. Ford has told us there are no plans to have an LPG option on the Territory, but we have heard Holden is working on one for its V6 engine. Having spent some time in the E-Gas Falcon recently, I have to say I'm surprised at its slow sales. I couldn't fault the way it drove and the savings at the pump suggest you'd be in the black after a year.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

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