DIFF CLUNK - Combined Approach

[ZAP]

People,

It has become apparent that there are many of us who have this Diff Clunk problem and are not satisfied with the response from our dealers and Ford.

It is also a subject that keeps raising its head in other topics and is hijacking threads and annoying other members who do not have this problem.

I thought that to solve the problem we should have our own thread to discuss the options and solutions that have been presented to us by members like Jetute and Dr.Z.

The only way we are going to get action is to combine our efforts as a united front as one voice carries not weight, but many voices are heard loud and clear.

We have many options available to us to get this problem solved This is an example of the order in which we can solve this problem.

1. Tell Ford to solve the problem properly or else it will go further

2. Contact the Department of Fair trading in our states

3. Contact Today Tonight or ACA as a group and get some public exposure of the problem.

4. Mount a class action and sue Ford for the out of pocket expenses some have occured and also the stress of buying anew car with problems.

I am hoping that if enough of us collectivley contact Ford on several levels it will not need to go beyond the 1st item on the list.

Ford are spending heaps on there "Ford Person" Blue jacket ads and also the release of the new Territory is a big deal for them, so bad PR is what they do not want at the moment.

It is easy for some of our fellow members to critisise our issue, but all I can say is that they are either to oblivious to hear the problem in their own car or they are lucky.

I believe there are about 15 of us who have noticed this problem, but I am sure there are more out there that are living in silence.

What we need is people who have service records or letters stating that this problem is "normal" or that they cannot fix the problem.

This is BIG ammo for our combined approach.

If we can first prove there is a problem then next prove that Ford are either not trying to fix it or cant fix it, we have a VERY strong case for action.

Please do not feel that I am trying to take the lead on this issue on the forum, I just think that we need to formalise the approach that others have already started.

I am going to my dealer today to show them a 3 day old car that clunks after 60km on the clock. I will ask them to put in writing anything they say or plan on doing. I am also going to see if there are any Ford service bullitens on this issue.

Dr.z and jetute, please feel free to take over.

[Mondie]

What we need is people who have service records or letters stating that this problem is "normal" or that they cannot fix the problem.

This is BIG ammo for our combined approach.

If we can first prove there is a problem then next prove that Ford are either not trying to fix it or cant fix it, we have a VERY strong case for action.

How's this;

"Road tested vehile driveline for noises, some driveline take up noises evident, but considered normal for make & model. Had Ford motor Co field representative check vehile, diagnosis was vehicle normal"

So there you go, what am l woriied about It all comes down to the definition of normal, Ford say it is but all 3 mechanics that have driven the car beleieve while its common, its also totally unacceptable.

l have exhausted option 1 and are now facing option 2. Dont know if l will bother though. Option 3 would be very effective if coordinated to happen the week immediately prior to the release of the Territory.

[silverchris]

If the clunk is coming from the diff then shouldn't this proposed action also include the 55 per cent of forum members who have a diff whine, many from their second and some from their third diff.

I support any action because I have BOTH the clunk and the whine. The clunk has just surfaced on my second diff (some 10000k after replacement). The whine started quietly about 7000k ago and gets lounder and is apparent over a broader speed range the more km I do.

Someone in the forum on another thread has suggested a petition to Ford for action and perhaps this should be included as part of the proposed Action 1.

Action need to to taken because there's too many people having issues and it's just not good enough for any vehicle, let alone one of this value.

[JB]

Well I am definately part of the Club! No offence guys but this is a club I do not want to be part of.

My situation is that I do have the problem but unfortunately I have to work through a couple of other issues before I can convince ford/dealer that the clunking is and a totally seperate issue. Their belief is that it is directly related to the unbalanced tailshaft and diff problem that I currently have. At this stage I have nothing in documented format from the dealer in relation to the clunking as they believe that it is associated with the diff in which my 3rd is still currently on order. Once they have fitted this and balanced the tailshaft I will be able to prove to them that they are full of and it is a totally seperate issue like first indicated. Also up for replacement or fix is my gearbox, so after having most of the driveline replaced I will be able to prove that I will still have the clunk as I know it is a seperate issue.

I have received comments from my dealer in relation to it being normal but nothing I can hold them to. I am in the process of swapping dealers so the old one is doing the diff, new ones doing the gearbox, new dealer is fantastic!!

The clunking I had just about given up on and put it down to usual poor quality Ford components, and place my diff and gearbox fix as a priority then I was going to settle for what I had, however now that things seem to be moving in relation to a fix I am happy to now fight for the diff clunking to be rectified as well. I would like to look at option 2 & 3.

Let me know what I need to do.

[ZAP]

I think that we could add the "Whiners" :lol: to the action as they are from the same component. Clunking is also a result of some members cars being fixed fro Whining.

Mondie, I know you have been banging your head against the wall on this issue and that you are fed up with the whole thing, but we will have to start at stage 1 as many voices will make the difference. Once Ford know we are getting a large group together on this issue, they will listen.

I bet that there are many lost sales on XR's from potential buyers reading this site and seeing the problems and the LACK OF RESPONSE OR SUPPORT FROM FORD on these issues they decide not to purchase this car.

It is impossible for a mass produced car to be perfect, but I think we expect that a problem such as we are having with the Diffs are not acceptable and should be rectified and not ignored.

[Cro]

Yeh, good luck with it.

I wish the diff clunk was my only problem, and Ford say it's normal.

I've given up on all my problems if they get fixed they get fixed, I just don't give a flying fluck anymore.

I figure it'll turn people off buying Fords when I drive past them and they hear the handbrake scraping, or the diff clunking.

[tab]

I am part of the "whiner" club with only 5k on the clock and the first replacement on order. Even if I wasn't experiencing any problems with my T, I would still be supportive of any actions that would benifit all ford drivers in general. It appears that is not the actual problem that is getting everyone agro, as we can accept that nothing is perfect, but just how ford deals with it that leaves the affected owners in a major state of frustration.

The issue reaches much wider than whining and clunking diffs, it is the whole "that's normal" approach that really gives out the aingst. For example I had the dealer inspect a noisy ventalation fan at my last service - it sounds like there is a cricket in there - but the response was that it was within spec. Short of jumping up and down in the hope that the dealer will get sick of your constant whinging and harrassment and actualy fix the problem, there apears nothing else to do other than fix the issue out of your own pocket.

Even though it is a fantastic car to own it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Unfortunately there are several car makers in the industry that have the same approach as Ford, and it seems that the only way around this culture is through public humiliation. It goes against my grain to participate in such actions as they are great cars, but I feel that enough is enough, and now maybe the time to make them sit up and listen to their customers for once.

Trent.

[Dr Z]

Well thought-out post Zap!

I was thinking more "evolution rather than revolution" by giving Ford and FPV representatives the opportunity to publicly respond to the quality and post-sales servicing issues. In essence, fitting this into Zap's sequence, our letter could be Step 0.

Zap's Step 1 is an ultimatum, and if enough people want to take this more aggressive line, go for it.

However, from a "game theory" point of view (much of my published research and consultancies involve real-life applications of "game theory"), first-step negotiation ultimatums may hinder the possibility of "win-win" outcomes. In short, from a greater good perspective, it is useful to give opportunities for parties in any negotiation to move towards "win-win" outcomes at every step of the negotiation process. Whether they choose to move towards "win-win" outcomes is their choice, though at least you give them that opportunity at every stage.

Safe and happy driving...Dr Z.

[Adam]

The problem I see for you Zap is that you've only just picked your car up (not even a week old I believe), I don't think you could launch legal action against Ford after such a short period of time. From where I sit it appears as though your fire is fueled by all the other cases of this shunt. Ford has hardly exhausted all options in your case. Have they even looked into one?

Please don't take this as an attack against you, I just feel that your jumping the gun a bit, maybe Ford can fix your car, maybe not, but at least give them the chance.

[ZAP]

Adam,

No offence taken.

I do not plan on unleashing my lawyers just yet.

As mentioned I am trying to get the group of people with this issue together to approach Ford on a united front and get the problem acknowlaged and solved.

I am hoping that Ford will see that as a group we speak in one very loud voice and that we will not be fobbed off by our dealers telling us that this is "normal" when we know it is not.

I am not pi$$ed off with my car, on the contrary, I LOVE IT, clunk and all, but that does not mean I will accept the car clunking.

While under consumer law I have to give the vendor ample opportunity to fix the problem, if Ford do not have a solution to the problem, I am not going to let them blindly change my diff, just to appear like they are doing something.

I will let them know that I am well aware of the problem with the Diffs and that IF Ford can fix it propperly first go then here is my car, but if they cannot fix it, then they either need to speed up the solution or prepare for the result of their poor service as the backlash ( :lol: ) from many XR owners will be unanomous.

I think that the days of keeping problems quiet are quickly disappearing thanks to forums like this telling other people of the same issues and not making them feel like they are the only ones with the problem.

We will spread the word to ALL ford forums and Ford will learn VERY quickly that bad quality products will not be tollerated anymore.