Schmooth

Yeah, Ben said something about a half-shaft CV joint. All I know is Ford are putting a new diff in my car, but I'm not convinced that it will solve the problem.

Nah, while I'm no mechanic, I had a good scrounge around everything with a torch (also had some portable spotlights doing duty - damn they were hot to work under in the garage) and couldn't see anything else amiss (no guarantees). Drove the car today, and exhaust leak noise still there, but some minor boost returned, so not completely hopeless getting around town (and retightening bolts had some effect). Complained to service manager today and he bought the booking forward a day. Not much, but I'll take it. At least they made some effort.

Yeah, I eventually found them (turbo manifold bolts). Only one was slightly loose. However, all the lower exhaust manifold bolts were loose to some degree. As was the upper front most (although tightened this morning by Ford mechanic) and rear most bolts - both of these latter two were quite loose. Well, I have good news and bad news. Good news is that I tightened all bolts and got it back together. Bad news is that the leak is exactly the same as when I started. Guess I'll have to go back to the public service. Given that this problem came on suddenly, and that tightening the bolts achieved little (slight improvement this morning with tightening 5 of the upper bolts), I'm guessing (with ALL my experience) that it is a blown exhaust gasket. And Ford won't touch it for another 8 days! I'm also guessing that I shouldn't be driving it in the meantime????

Thanks Ian and PhantomFox6. I refuse to pay for something that should have been part of the service already paid for!Got the heat shielding mostly off.... dumb me can't shift the front half of it from behind the turbo fluid lines.... all the bolts are out but.... I've been using a 13mm socket (yeah I know, but I don't have a 13mm ring spanner! I'm a public servant, not a mechanic!) not 14mm........??? Apparently Ford charge 90 minutes labour for this particular part of the service..... So if a good mechanic can do it in half an hour, and Ford in 90 mins, then I should be finished around midnight!

Wife rings me yesterday: "Car ('03 SSS T) making a noise like a blown gasket." (bless her cotton socks, she actually knows something about mechanicals). And she's right. Swing past Ford here in Canberra. "Yup, loose exhaust manifold bolts. But can't book you in, way too busy (all the dealers are, so I find out)." Anyway, mechanic is good enough to test the tension with a ring spanner, but only on the bolts on the upper side of the manifold. The forward most bolt is really loose. It improves things (bit less noise and not so much power lost) but he explains that nasty job to do the lower bolts!! And then the crunch: "Try not to drive it too much." I laugh, we do 500kms a week as it is the only car and none of the Ford dealers can fit me in the next week. Thing is, car has 81k on it and was serviced at 75k. Should the bolts have been checked at that point? Is this a job that can be done in the backyard by someone with limited mechanical experience? If so, any pointers before I give it a go tonight? Tell you what, won't be buying another Ford. That new Aurion or VE Late model camira looking pretty sweet about now. Current list of warranty items repaired/replaced include (for completely stock car): - radiator (replaced) - water pump (replaced) - LHS engine mount (replaced) - planetary gear set in auto (replaced) - ICC (premium unit) (replaced) - front brake rotors (machine once and replaced) - diff (on order to replace) - leaking power steering unit (next Wed for assessment) - morebangs and rattles than you can shake a stick at - and car damaged twice by dealer during service I tell you, if it wasn't under lease with restrictive service options....

New diff on order...... which really scares me as the car doesn't get driven hard and and has already had the planetary gears replaced. I can only imagine the outcome if the car had been modified/edited!

I've had my T damaged twice in visits to Ford. Fuel consumption always increases. And brake shudder arose from their 'test drive'. Not impressed, but lease has certain restrictions.

Good on ya Ben! I'll talk to the service manager when I drop the car off next week and see if I can get it sorted once and for all.... it's driving my missus mad (her car - I got the bike). I'll post here when I pick it up.

Ben, Are you saying that the half CV joints are what is causing the noise in the back of my car when reversing around the corner? (and sometimes while driving forwards around the coner!) Or simply for the driveline shunt (or are they one and the same)? If so, how do you diagnose? (I want to get this sorted once and for all).

Yeah, it's a shunt as well. That's been getting steadily worse over the last 11 months.... engaging Drive or coming off a closed throttle when coasting is when it is worst... but the 'clunk....clunk...clunk...' when reversing around a corner is what is really concerning me.

Thanks guys. And Rob, yeah, would love to hear what the end story is.... particularly as I'm about to run out of warranty..... I like Simon's approach (and would try it in a car without warranty) but would be concerned that it would only be enough to get me over the warranty threshhold and then let go!

Nasty intermittent sound that I can't reliably replicate for mechanics, and they can't find it (it's under warranty). BA MkI auto turbo. Most often rears its head when reversing to the left (coming out of the driveway). It's a mechanical noise from the rear (diff?) of the car that is associated with wheel rotation speed. The only way I can describe it is to liken it to a solid wheel with a flat spot rolling on a hard surface. You can feel the vibration through the car as the 'flat spot' or 'slippage' (whatever the hell it is) and can feel the car shift slightly as it happens. It sometimes occurs when in forward gear if moving slowly and turning a corner (the turning part is what made me think of the diff). The problem has been steadily getting more pronounced all year. I haven't got a clue if it is diff/axle/suspension bushes/diff carrier etc. Any ideas that I can throw at the Ford mechanics?

I thought it was 3 times. I must have got lucky. BA MkI auto with 79,000km and front discs machined once already (at 50,000km?) due to shudder (after they drove it hard at a service, mind you). Complained again of shudder at 79,000km (brakes not used hard at all). They measured and said they were under thickness and that discs would be replaced under warranty, although I had to pay for new pads (which was fair enough as they were mostly worn anyway, being the original set). Now have shocking brake dust issue - more dust accumulated on front wheels in one week with new pads/discs than in 6-months with the old set!

Humph! I'm glad you know what hypoid oil smells like! I'd be lucky to be able to tell you the colour, let alone what sort of oil it was....

How do figure out that they used the wrong oil? Do they write it down on the worksheet or something stupid like that?