Ford Problems

AT THE moment the Europeans lead the way with diesels, driven on by European countries that provide concessions to car buyers to go diesel and reduce the dependence on oil. Though local makers are all looking at diesels, there are no plans to introduce them. Probably the most interesting new diesel model to arrive here is the VW Caddy Life, a Golf-based people mover. All cars sold here with diesel engines have the latest technology. There's little to pick between them.

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.

YOUR aunt's MGB is a classic treasured by many people around the world and some people know they can make money from supplying parts to repair and restore them. Unfortunately, your Capri isn't yet regarded that way and parts are more difficult to find. Car companies generally hold spares for about 10 years, but might then sell the remaining stock and tooling to parts suppliers that continue to make and supply parts. Try the Capri car clubs and see if members can help you. eBay often has hard-to-find car parts for sale.

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.