Ford Problems

It is actually quite hard to buy a "bad" car these days, but quite easy to buy a "bad car for purpose". Ford's Escape is one of several light SUVs on the market that would suit many suburban Aussie families to a tee. That is to say, doing a little light four-wheel-driving, taking the kids camping, or eating up thousands of kilometres on a road trip. If you're wanting a tar-burning performance machines, or something to tackle the local black diamond-rated 4x4 course, buy something else.

Both the 1.5L and 2L Ford Escapes are rated to tow up to 750kg of unbraked trailer, or 1500kg braked. The only Escape I'd try to tow with would be the 2L diesel, which boats 400Nm of torque. Still, the Escape isn't really a good choice for towing a boat as even many small boat and trailer combos will weigh over 1500kg (combined), which is over the Escape's maximum potential tow rating.

There are many ways to personalise your Ford Ranger, including kits to lower or lift your suspension, fit large off-road wheels and tyres, change the bumpers and grille for aftermarket (or F150 Raptor-style parts), vinyl wrap over the paint, and more. It all comes down to personal style and what budget you have, so have a look around Google for modified Ford Rangers as there are as many possibilities as there are grains of sand on Bondi beach.

Not all cars with the Powershift have been affected, but many have and it’s impossible to say yours won’t be at some time. If the deal with your dad is a good one, and it seems as though it is, then it’s probably worth taking the risk. If you can feel any shuddering when you drive it then it’s likely you could have a problem; if you don’t then you could be in the clear. It’s not really dangerous to drive it, but it is annoying.

Ford manufacture their Escape SUV in Spain, China, Russia and the USA. The Ford Escape, called the Kuga in Europe, actually started off in 2000 as part of a partnership between Mazda and Ford, going on to become a sales hit for both manufacturers. The new-generation Escape is expected to be on-sale in 2020.

A conventional automatic transmission is the one that we have been used to in cars dating back to the 1940s.

Holden introduced its first automatic in 1961 with the EK model. A conventional transmission is one with a torque convertor between the engine and transmission so provide smooth easy drivaways. It basically disconnects just above idle speed so the engine can idle, but engages again when you accelerate away.

The transmission uses fluid to operate the various clutches inside the transmission for smooth shifting. The conventional transmission has proven to be very reliable over the years, but it isn’t the most efficient in terms of fuel consumption, particularly when compared to a manual gearbox. Engineers have been trying for years to make a more efficient transmission that has the smoothness of operation and the efficiency of a manual gearbox.

The two most successful have been the CVT “Continuously Variable Transmission) and the dual-clutch transmission, such as VW’s DSG and Ford’s Powershift. The CVT is designed to keep the engine revving at its most fuel-efficient speed by continuously varying the gearing.

To do that it uses a system of pulleys and a belt. It seems odd when driving it because the engine sounds like it’s revving its head off at a constant speed instead of climbing and dropping as it would normally do. The CVT was first used on a small DAF car in the 1970s, and picked up by Volvo when it took over DAF. It took a long time to develop the transmission, particularly the drive belt, to be used on anything other than a very small engine. Those problems have largely been fixed, but you’re correct that Nissan, and also Honda, had troubles when they first used the CVT.

The dual-clutch transmission is really a manual gearbox with two clutches that operate in synch with each other, one releasing one gear while the other engaging another gear. VW, Ford and Holden have had a lot of trouble with it, mostly related to the clutch packs, and the electronics.

It should be noted that both the CVT and the dual-clutch auto are more fuel-efficient that the conventional automatic, and both now seem to be largely trouble free.

You could look at a later Falcon if that’s what you like. Try an FG model. If you want reliability then look at a Toyota Camry, or perhaps a smaller car like a Toyota Corolla or a Mazda3.

Ford Rangers are a workhorse commercial utility vehicle first and foremost, popular with Aussies for their ability to take a tonne of payload in the back, and pull tonnes of tow loads with ease. This heavy duty capability comes at the cost of ride and handling compared to conventional cars and 4x4s, as the suspension is set-up to handle heavy loads, not take corners and ride smoothly. Any work done to make a Ranger ride smoother, like replacing shock absorbers, changing to passenger car-style tyres, or replacing springs with softer rates, will reduce the Ranger's ability to handle loads. You should also check any parts are legal to use on the Ranger before fitting them so you don't void your warranty or are defected by police.

The easiest and cheapest way to improve the mileage from your Ford Ranger is to concentrate on driving with peak efficiency in mind. Avoiding stop/start traffic, maintaining a constant cruising speed on the freeway, and driving as smoothly as possible will all pay dividends to your fuel consumption. Diesel models also benefit from an improved intercooler, intake and exhaust package in conjunction with a retune of the factory ECU.

Ford Escapes will last a long time if they are serviced regularly and driven sympathetically. The most common fault listed for the Escape is ignition coils breaking down over time, leading to a miss or hesitation under acceleration. This is a simple problem to fix and not limited to this particular model or manufacturer, so I'd consider the Ford Escape to be reliable - so long as you look after them by servicing them regularly!