Ford Falcon Problems

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.

ALL are suitable for work, but it could come down to the type of work you do. None will work as hard as a Japanese one-tonner. If you don't need to carry heavy loads, the Falcon may well do the job. The XH will carry more than the XD and XF in its one-tonne guise, so that may be worth a look. XD and XF Falcons are getting long in the tooth and will be well past their use-by date. In utes you need to look for damage to the body. The condition of the inner tray is a giveaway to its previous life. Also, check early Falcon utes for rust.

THE size issue really comes down to your budget. Tyre dealers generally try to convince you to fit wider tyres, because they will increase the footprint of the tyre on the road and that will improve the braking and handling of your car. The downside is that wider tyres will cost more, and that is more dollars in the dealer's pocket. It is a good idea to fit wider tyres, but but only if you can afford them. It's worth looking around at various tyres, as some modern 205 tyres are actually wider then the older ones fitted to your car and you get some of the benefit of the wider tyre while fitting the original size. Tyre makers have been adding silica to the mix for some time now, it reduces the tyres' rolling resistance, which reduces fuel consumption. The question you need to ask is how much silica is added to the tyres. Some tyre makers use only a modest amount, others more. It is best to stick with a recognised brand and you should get the benefits.

I'M NOT aware of any major problem with the BA PCM, but your problem could be caused by a problem with the interface of the dual-fuel system and the Ford system. Normally, the two talk to each other in running the engine, but it's possible the dual-fuel computer isn't properly integrated to the BA's original system. The installer should be able to find the problem.

IF HIS priorities are reliability and costs, I would recommend a Toyota Hilux, either a diesel or a four-cylinder petrol. But I'm guessing he wants a little more zip. If he wants a Holden or Falcon ute, then the six-cylinder models are the way to go. They are equally reliable, but the Holden will be a little cheaper to run. Lowering the suspension would cost $500 to $1000, depending on what he wants done.

THOUGH the old air-valve systems work quite well, the newer injection systems are much better for fuel consumption, performance and general operation. Visit the LPG Australia website, www.lpgaustralia.com.au, which lists systems available for your car. Then talk to installers direct and get an installation quote. Expect to pay $3000-$3500 for an injection system. An air-valve system is less.

CONVERTERS make no internal changes to the engine when they convert it to dual-fuel, and plenty of cars out there are running on LPG with no problem, so I wouldn't be worried about engine wear, if that's your concern. The most popular -- and the best -- system is an air-valve system. Impco has a nicely developed kit that is easily installed for about $2200.

IF YOU'VE kept good records of your problems and can demonstrate that you highlighted the problems while the car was under warranty, you might be able to negotiate some help if these problems recur.

IT IS taking so long that you would have to suspect that they don't know the cause of the problem, or that it might require a radical solution, such as replacing the car. You should vigorously pursue Ford for answers, and maybe think about having them give you a new car if the answers aren't forthcoming.