Ford Falcon Problems

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.

It's a problem that crops up occasionally on Falcons of that era, but your car is now eight years old, the warranty has run out, and you bought it secondhand, so the chance of getting any compensation is very slim. Because of the number of failures you have experienced you could try your luck under the consumer affairs laws, claiming that the vehicle was unfit for the purpose for which it was sold to you.

Your car has probably got worn lifters and the heavier oil helped shut them up, but being new Laurie's problem is likely to be something else, like piston slap.

It’s probably due to a connection getting wet while you’re washing it; I doubt it’s anything to be too concerned about.

It could well be that the discs are warping because the brakes are not fully releasing when you take your foot off the pedal. Check the vacuum booster, they are a known problem, and Ford used two different boosters with different rod lengths and it's important to get the one with the correct rod length for your car.

There should be an entry in your car’s service book indicating that the work has been done, and there could also be a sticker in the engine bay. If you can’t find any evidence the rear hoses have been replaced, and a hose has failed, you could contact Ford’s Customer Assistance people and have them check their records of cars that have been fixed.

Your car has probably got worn lifters and the heavier oil helped shut them up, but being new Laurie's problem is likely to be something else, like piston slap.

The pro is that you have the extra boot space, the cons are that you have to get a tyre man to clean the foam out of the punctured tyre before it can be repaired, and if the tyre is more severely damaged to the extent that the foam won’t seal the wound you’re stuck.

No, he’s not. You wouldn’t change the coils unless they were breaking down and causing the engine to misfire. You can change them at any time, not just when you change plugs.

No we haven't heard of this issue before, but it clearly sounds dangerous and the treatment you have received at both dealer and company level appears appalling. I would recommend you take command of the situation and demand that it be fixed. Leave the car with the dealer until they take whatever action is required to fix the problem. It is not acceptable for the dealer, or Ford, to say they can't fix it. If, indeed, they can't fix it they should take it back and give you a new car. You could also test the new national consumer laws on the basis that the product Ford has sold you is unfit for purpose.