walkerstreet

As much as I hate the quality of service I've received in the past from Ford: I must give them this: the original transmission was a ZF German transmission. Obviously it had problems and maybe the Germans cut corners on quality too. Let's hope the new transmission not only looks different from under the car but is better quality. The Ford service guys were muttering about being invoiced from ZF and that "it wasn't our problem". Walker

Just got it back from Ford. The problem's fixed. They told me they replaced the transmission and the "oil cooler" (I didn't speak to the mechanic, so he wasn't more specific). I looked under the car, and panel under the transmission is completely different. The car seems to change down from third to second less in manual mode (which is a good thing). I suspect this problem has been creeping up for a while because I got the impression the car drives better than it ever did. Thanks for all your info, Walker

Thanks guys, It sounds like I don't need to get the radiator replaced, is that right (sorry I'm not much of a mechanic)? Walker

Hi everyone, My BFII XR6 Turbo's been at the dealer for over a week and a half now. They're waiting on a new automatic transmission to come from interstate. It had started to shudder and creak, rocking the whole cabin, at ordinary speeds (anywhere from 20km/hr up to highway speeds). If you changed gears, or accelerated, you'd feel the car rock through the leg that was planted on the throttle. Sometimes there was a crunching sound. I'm not mechanically minded, but is this what they call "driveline shunt"? The mechanics at Ford found water in the ZF 6 speed auto transmission, which had basically stuffed the internals of the transmission. It's been put down as a manufacturing fault (the car is just over a year old) and being fixed under warranty. A friend of mine had the exact same diagnosis for his car (at the same dealer). He has a BF Fairmont Ghia with a ZF 6speed transmission. I've heard of driveline shunt being a problem with BF's and the new FG. Is it the ZF that's at fault? Don't get me wrong, driving with the ZF is the best thing since sliced bread. But could there be a problem with a percentage of them? Penny for your thoughts guys? Thanks ..... Walker.

3 drained batteries later ... After 2 days in the Ford dealership, they can't find any problem. If it drains again, I'll get a new battery. If it that doesn't work, I'll leave it with a private auto-electrician. Maybe I'll end up trying a battery isolator... or maybe a special device advertised on the web that can start a car by plugging into the cigarette lighter (or is that risky for the car electrics?) And at a last resort ... sink the thing in the nearest river .... Seriously though I love that car! Any ideas?

Hi everyone, For 2 nights in a row, my XR6T's battery's drained overnight. The car is almost new (January 2007 build date). There are no lights left on and the NRMA guys reckon its something malfunctioning in the car's electrical system, not the battery. Has anyone had this happen to their XR6T and if so: what was causing it? My car is a BF MKII Jan 07 6 Speed auto. Cheers, Walker

Hi all, I'd like to do a quarter mile or go to a race track. You need an "approved helmet". Do you guys have any recommendations on a good helmet or a good brand? Cheers, Walker

Thanks for all your advice guys. I got an official reply from WSI Dragway which basically gives me the green light to enter my car! " The web site needs a major update and hopefully in the near future that will happen. The ownice is all on your shoulders in regards to you entering your leased car at any street meet held here at WSID. Although you must realize that if you have an incident on the racing surface no insurance policy will cover the cost of repairs. Although you sign an indemnity form as a competitor this is for you as a competitor only. " Good news!

The dragway wants an ANDRA license and logbook if I don't have a rego number (current registration).

Hi all, Has anyone tried entering a dragway or track with a leased vehicle registerd a state government agency? I pay my car's lease and have a 100% right to private use. However the car is registered as being owned by a state government department. I'd like to do a quarter mile at the Western Sydney International Dragway (WSID). However the WSID website says you need written permission to do it from the registered owner, specifying the date to be used. I think it would be a complex and laborious process to get permission from the department. Any tips or experiences with this? Cheers, Walker

Hi everyone, It sounds from the responses like my 'thud' is a normal feature of the car because everyone is getting it. The thud thud thud problem XF Falcon describes doesn't sound the same as my thud. My thud is a smooth sounding event with no scraping sound. I like the sound of the ABS pump theory over the climate control theory. Either way it's normal and no real hassle. Not worth taking to Ford by the sound of things. Cheers, Walker

Hi all, I have a 6 month old BF Mk II 6 speed ZF auto. It goes really well. I just wanted to ask you guys if its normal for a mild dull thud to occur coming from the front of the vehicle when slowly rolling the car forward a few metres after starting. It seems to occur shortly after turn right or left at full lock the most often. It sounds like an air vent (or valve) shutting. It is mild and I usually don't care much about it. It has zero effect on driving the car. My wife however got concerned. It might be coming from the left of the driver in front (somewhere near the engine or turbo or wheels?). Anyone hear of this. Is it normal? All the best, Walker

Blonk ...Was that thread you mentioned by F6 UTE posting "Quick Times ..." (in a manual)? He reckons you shouldn't upshift with the revs higher than 4500rpm to get the quickest time? Walker

Thanks again guys, I'll be the first to admit I'm new to the world of cars that can go fast. The only 3 cars I've ever owned and regularly driven were extremely sluggish at best, at that's what I'm used to: 1) Honda Civic 1973 1.2L 4 speed Semi-Automatic 50Kw 2) Ford Laser 1992 1.6L 4speed Auto 67Kw 3) Toyota Camry 1994 4 cylinder 2.2L 4speed auto 89Kw Now: XR6T BF MkII, ZF 6speed auto. When I first heard the straight six growl at somewhere over 3500rpm, I thought of Scotty from Star Trek, yelling "Cap’n... she canna take any more. She’s gonna blow!". Barry, I thought if I were going flat out, I'd best have it in performance (sports) auto mode. Doesn't the car shift a little later (I.e. higher rpms) in that mode so the shift points are closer to rev limit? Or is it that someone new to an XR6T like me should be shifting a little earlier than performance auto? Cheers, Walker

Boom: I just wanted some advice on driving the car. How old are you? Mildman: It sounds like you can take it up to 180km/h in 3rd. Barry: I'll try performance auto mode when I get a chance. Thanks guys. Walker

Thanks Brian. That's exactly the kind of info I was wondering about re: gear speeds in real life and theoretically on the drag strip. I was wondering about perhaps using 3rd on the freeway to overtake as I seem to be able to get 140km/h on my T in 3rd while only hitting just over 4,500 revs. Would you endorse it for overtaking in some situations? Thanks Dags for the well deserved mockery of me ( ), Interesting about F6's blonck. Cheers, Walker

Hi everyone, I've been driving my XR6 Turbo ZF 6 speed in manual mode since I got it in February. I've generally been abiding by the following lack-lustre recommendations from the Ford Manual: Maximum Speeds in each gear: 1st - 50 km/h 2nd - 75 3rd - 115 4th - 160 5th & 6th - Nil specified The tacho never budged much beyond 3,500 rpm using these guidelines, and I think I was using the car often below any boost from the turbo (I.e. below 2,000-2,500 rpm). I note that the above guidelines in the Ford Manual are intended for every Falcon using the ZF (I.e. normally aspirated, turbo and XR8 all). Then .... I discovered the wonders of 3rd! This gear can rocket you up to 140 km/h (up a hill) with the tacho at only about 4,750! It's nowhere near the redline but way above the Ford Manual's recommended maxiumum speed in 3rd (115 km/h). Is there anything wrong (for my gearbox and engine) with breaking the guidelines in the Ford Manual on maximum speed, especially by using 3rd to its potential? Am I going to break my engine if use 3rd around town and on the freeway (at mostly between 3,000 and 4,500 rpm)? I'm referring to everyday spirited driving. Out of interest, for maximum performance (I.e. dragway type conditions not every-day conditions) from a standing start, what speed do you guys shift at with the ZF 6 speed auto in manual mode? 1st to 2nd? ...... km/h 2nd to 3rd? ...... 3rd to 4th? ...... (will 4th take you to your top speed in a ZF?) 4th to 5th? ...... (if ever) 5th to 6th? ...... (if ever) I'd be really grateful for your thoughts .... Walker BF MkII XR6T sedan 6 speed ZF auto Ego, Luxury Interior Pack, Reverse Sensors, MP3 input

Hi, The Ford Service guys kept my T overnight on a very cold night and said that the way it behaved in the morning was normal. I don't know if they tightened anything, but it doesn't seem to lurch nearly as much (if at all) anymore. I'm also letting it idle in P (it's a 6 speed auto) for about 20-30 seconds before putting it into D and driving off. I don't need to rev it. Anyway it still drives great. Walker.

Yes, I've decided to wait at least 30 seconds to let the engine warm up (unless I find out this is something that needs fixing).

Can't hurt to put it in to the dealer. Sounds like theres a 50:50 set of opinions on whether this is normal or not. Thanks for all the info and advice. I don't think from memory that it occurs (much at all) when I'm applying throttle first thing in the morning. It's when I'm letting the car edge out of my garage that it gets the wobblies. I think I'll ask the dealer to: •Consider keeping it overnight and testing it first thing in the morning •Put it in the shade if you are going to test it in the afternoon. I can always reproduce this when the car has spent 5 or 6 hours in the shade on a day when it's about 10 degrees. Under hotter conditions, the surging is barely noticeable. •Keep it on the flat or pointing it down hill (not down hill) to give the best chance of reproducing it. I think it's less likely to occur if the car is facing up hill I'll put it in on Tuesday morning.

I like my ego XR6T so much. I'd happily live with this if it's normal. Still, can't hurt having the dealer look at it. W

I'll book it in tomorrow. Anyone else had similar problems?

Dear forum, I've noticed something since I bought my BF2 6 sp auto XR6T in early February this year. It is completely stock. There is a surging up and down in engine power (lurching the car forward) as a I drive away after each cold start. This goes on for the first few seconds while I let the engine take the car forward (or backward) without applying throttle. After applying throttle, the car drives beautifully. I naturally don't apply throttle immediately when rolling the car forward down my driveway or from stationary in a car park and it is in these situations that I've noticed this. Back in February when it was warm, it was barely noticeable each morning I used the car. I thought maybe that's something every turbo does. However, it's now really cold in Canberra and the surging is annoyingly noticeable. I feel like I'm being shaken within the car. The car idles fine. It drives fine. The problem does not occur when starting if the engine is warmer. Apart from this I'm completely rapped with my car. I'll take it into Ford. However, I know they won't have a problem driving the car after I've warmed it up. They'll have to leave it for a good few hours. Has anyone else found this and anyone got any advice (please)? All the best, Walker

The article contains 2 errors relating to XR6T specifications. I've filled in the website's feedback form: 8 April 2007 Email feedback to webwombat.com.au I read your article on the Ford XR6Turbo versus the Commocore Bogan special that came out recently (5 April 07): (http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/holden-commodore-ss-v-vs-ford-falcon-xr6-turbo-review.htm) I just wanted to point out two errors: 1) The Ford XR6Turbo has Dynamic Stability Control as standard (which is equivalent to ESP). Lack of ESP should not be listed as a Con for the Ford in the comparison table. 2) In the article you say that the Ford brakes are the "Performance upgrade brakes". In fact Performance brakes are are the standard brakes for the Turbo and XR8. You might want to publish these corrections which may make the Ford an even clearer winner. All the best, W

Hi Guys, This has recently gone up on the web: http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_...urbo-review.htm The XR6T won! Hows that for an aging beast? W