Ford Falcon 2009 Problems

Tyre wear is an issue for many people with many different makes and models. Basically it comes down to the geometry used by carmakers today to make their cars handle well, and the way they're driven.

The tyre pressures are best set to the manufacturer’s recommended pressures, bearing in mind that you need to adjust your pressures according to the load you’re carrying in your ute. You can run the pressures a little higher than recommended, if you like, and generally you will reduce your fuel consumption, and improve your handling and braking, but at the cost of ride comfort. But running them at 40 psi as the tyre retailer has recommended is too high, you’d want to know a good dentist if you ran them that high. As for the wear, check your alignment and make sure that is correct.

I'm not surprised Ford fobbed you off. You asked a question they would not be prepared to answer. Power steering pump whine is quite common, as the dealer told you and you discovered for yourself by replacing the noisy pump on your BA. The only way to fix it is to replace the pump, as you did on your earlier car.

Let’s hope we hear from other readers about their experiences with the sat-nav system in their Fords. Clearly you have been given the runaround, and to give the dealer credit they would seem to have been given the runaround by Ford. It’s obviously a design or component fault and must be fixed by Ford.  I would consult the consumer affairs people and ask them to assist you in resolving the problem.

The FG automatic is rated to tow up to 2300 kg when fitted with the Ford-approved heavy-duty tow bar and load leveling kit. That should be sufficient to handle your pop-top caravan.

You need to have a paint specialist inspect it for an opinion on whether it’s a problem from the factory or not. Phone Graeme Cuthbert on 0422 444 335.

Ford had some problems with one colour in the BF, but we haven’t had any reports of problems with the FG. If it is a problem from the factory I would think it should covered by the warranty, but make sure it isn’t a result of a shoddy crash repair before you blame Ford. It would also be worth having a paint specialist, such as Graham Cuthbert (0422 444 335), inspect it and give you an opinion and report, so you have some solid evidence to give Ford if you go down that route.

It's not unusual to hear of tyres wearing out at such low kays on heavy cars like the Falcon. Tyre specialists strongly recommend that you balance and rotate tyres every 6000 km or so on a car like the G6 to get decent tyre life.

The police change the gearbox fluid regularly because the cars are subject to heavy use, rapid accelerations and high speed etc. I would suggest you take it to an auto trans specialist and have it serviced, that’s good policy in any case, and have them investigate the shifting issue.

You would have to think there is a problem with the control module, one that’s more widespread than we so far know about. Perhaps other readers could tell us about their experience.