Ford Problems

If it’s three years since it was installed it probably needs a service, the rough idle, stalling and popping and banging are symptomatic of an ignition problem. We ran your problem past the guys at Impco and they suggested fitting genuine Ford gas spark plugs as well as checking the ignition leads.

Unfortunately it is a common problem and your experience is in line with that of other Falcon owners. For a time there Ford was replacing diffs on cars that were out of warranty, but that seems to have stopped. If you had a dealer replace the second diff I would suggest you go back to Ford and ask for some compensation.

I would also like to have a new transmission, but I wouldn’t necessarily write off a rebuilt one, providing it is rebuilt correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Before settling for the rebuild ask for a report on the failure of the transmission and ask the dealer to justify why he thinks it will be ok when rebuilt. If you really want a new transmission, and I agree that it’s not too much to ask, you need to be persistent and keep the pressure up on Ford. Go all the way to the top if you feel strongly about it.

We've passed your comments on to Ford for a response, but in the meantime we would like other FG owners to tell us if their cars also have this vibration.

It's most unusual to be able to hear petrol sloshing around in the tank; most tanks have baffles to stop it, and yours should have. I would doubt very much, however, that sloshing petrol caused your spins. The most likely cause is a greasy road, low tyre tread, too much speed or too much throttle.

You’re certainly not being pedantic, it is not unreasonable to expect your car to perform as you expect it to, and if it doesn’t you are entitled to a reasonable explanation of why it doesn’t. I would guess that the reason you’re being fobbed off is that Ford doesn’t know how to fix the problem. Alternatively it could just be sticking its corporate head in the sand like it has with other Territory problems and hoping it will go away.

A little more analysis seems to be needed. Try and identify the conditions in which it happens. Like, does it happen when you drive over a bump or a pothole? Perhaps it only does it when you accelerate or decelerate? The suspension bushes were worth checking, as the dealer did, and I would persist with checking all of the bushes in the rear; also check the shock absorbers and their mounts, and also the exhaust system and its mountings to make sure it isn't hitting the underbody.

The Barina will run happily on E10 and I doubt the dealer's advice about the "emission light". Ford, on the other hand, recommends you use the higher octane rating premium fuel, hence the advice not to use E10. Your Focus will run on E10, probably without any trouble, but it will run better on premium unleaded.

Ford offered an option on the AU ute that would increase its towing capacity to 1600 kg; there were other dealer-fit options that would increase it to 2300 kg, so check with your local dealer to see if they could retrofit either option. Otherwise see a towing specialist, such as a Hayman-Reese dealer for tow packs they could fit.

That's the way every problem should be handled, unfortunately not everyone gets the same service.