Ford Problems

THEY are not the easiest cars to move. They were aimed at trendy young girls when new and that's really your target market now. Yes, $4500 is a little low, but I can understand why the dealer would offer you that; he probably doesn't want it. I would think you could get $5000-$5500 for it selling privately.

FORD has a responsibility under its warranty to fix the problem. You should let them do what they think is needed to correct it. I can understand that you might be worried about the steering locking while you're driving along. If you feel the car is unsafe, ask Ford to give you another car to drive while the problem is traced and fixed.

THE place to start is the ignition system and that's where your mechanics have started, but they perhaps haven't gone far enough. Backfiring is common and experienced mechanics replace the spark plugs, spark plug leads and even ignition coil packs if they are fitted. If the problem is with the coil pack, replacing the leads will improve the problem, but won't solve it. The coil will simply kill the new leads within days and the problem will come back. Replace all three components in the ignition system. If that doesn't fix it, look at the mixer because backfire can damage it.

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.

THE Falcon converts well to LPG so there won't be a problem with valve recession in the short or medium term, but remember that all cars suffer from valve recession, whether they run on leaded petrol, unleaded or LPG. It's only the rate of valve recession that changes, and the Falcon has shown over many years that it copes with LPG well in standard form. The only system available to you for the EL is a venturi-mixer system, which is old technology compared with the injection systems now being used on more modern cars. Sprint Gas actually uses Italian components, like just about every LPG manufacturer, but it develops the systems here in Australia. The company has been around for a long time and has a good reputation. When the installer says he will dyno-tune the car and start it from cold to make sure everything is working OK, every installer should do that. There will be some degradation in the way the car runs when fitted with LPG, but that's the price you pay for the cheaper fuel.

UNFORTUNATELY, you have the Falcon ute blues. The one-tonner Ford supplied for me to drive a few months ago had the vibration you complain about, but I think it's from the driveline, not the transmission. The transmission clunk you complain about is common and Ford's fix is to change the transmission. Unfortunately, the clunk usually returns. Many owners have had several transmissions in their Falcons. I don't believe Ford has a fix, it's just the way the cars are, but you can try maintaining your rage.

IT'S the last of the KQ model, which a dealer would try to sell for about $15,000 at full retail. To sell it privately, I would suggest you ask for about $12,000 to start with, but be prepared to come down if it doesn't attract any interest.

I WOULD think a dealer would give you about $7000 as a trade-in. As a private sale you might get a little more, say $10,000. It sounds a nice car that would be more appealing as a private sale.

LPG vehicles emit less greenhouse gas and other pollutants than petrol-powered equivalents. Typically, LPG has about 20 per cent less ozone-forming potential and 10-15 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions.

IF YOU buy the Ford E-Gas option, it will be covered by Ford's factory warranty, so there's no question if you make a claim. If you choose to fit an aftermarket system, you enter a grey area. Ford will not cover anything that has been modified on the car to fit the gas system. That cover has to be provided by the installer. When it comes to a claim you have to rely on the installer to be honest. I'm not a huge fan of the Ford E-Gas system. It's now old technology and there are better ones in the aftermarket, some even from Ford dealers. The newer gas injection systems are much better than the system Ford still uses.