Confidential Dealer Notice

[Goose]

11th April, 2003

Ford released a notice that ALL BA Falcons built up to April 7th, 2003 CANNOT be delivered until a check is completed to ensure the integrity of the Intermediate Steering Shaft.

AFFECTED VEHICLES

All BA Falcon models in dealer stock built from job# 1 until April 7th, inclusive.

BA Falcon models already delivered to customers are not included in this inspection.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

This inspection will take approximately 10 minutes per vehicle.

By the sounds of this if you vehicle was delivered before 7th April and was not in dealer stock at this date (11th April) they aren't going to tell you about the need for an inspection, and just wait till it comes in for a service or something.

Can any FORD Service technicians verify the need for this inspection??

I'm ganna call my Service department this arvo and ask about it.

[Guest IMTRBO]

what does this mean to those people who have cars on order and have not yet been built?

[Guest MavSS]

what does this mean to those people who have cars on order and have not yet been built?

I'd say these cars will be fine - they'll have the ISS built properly.

MavSS

[Guest Crusty]

I've just booked my XR6T into service tomorrow because of a steering problem.

It makes a clicking noise intermittently when turning the steering wheel when the car is stopped.

Its pretty loud and I've even noticed it catching peoples attention who are standing by.

Maybe related!

I picked my car up in Feb.

[Superoo]

I've just booked my XR6T into service tomorrow because of a steering problem.

It makes a clicking noise intermittently when turning the steering wheel when the car is stopped.

Its pretty loud and I've even noticed it catching peoples attention who are standing by.

Maybe related!

I picked my car up in Feb.

I know someone who had the same problem.

Vague on the technical details but the cause was a bolt that had not been tightened enough in the steering mechanism. Sounds worse than it is (apparently). If there was any safety issue, surely a full recall would have occured.

My car went into production on April 4 so looks like I just fit into the "required check".

[NT TURBO]

My car had this steering "creek" I believe all they did was grease the bolts securing the rack. So I bet it still moves I just dont hear the "creek" :(

[Dagabond]

Had my whole rack steering replaced last Monday, it was the same or similiar problem as crusty's by the sound of it.

I had it in the week before for a service asked them to check it out, they came back to me and was told it needed to be replaced they put it on order and could have done it Thursday of that week but i wanted a courtesy car so it threw it out to Monday.

[scooter]

Called mine in on Monday for noisey steering been happening for about 3 weeks - Like a ball joint problem - a noticable clunk when reversing and if I turned the steering from almost lock to lock a clunk was heard and felt. They said they loosened off the steering rack and retensioned it!!! - (reading into it I think something was loose) but alls well now. Seems to handle and turn abit more responsive now (maybe in my head).

Scoot B)

[DavoWA]

Hey guys, just a suggestion.

If you can remeber back to the days before powerful steering, how hard was it to turn the steering stick without the wheels rotating?

There is a huge amount of leverage applied to all the steering components when turning the steering without the wheels going anywhere, so I make a habit of making sure the car is moving before I crank on a heap of lock.

I've also got a Landcruiser that's even harder on the steering bits. Bigger tyres.

[HellionXR6T]

Goose,

This could be relevant..... This is what's happened with mine. I had the same symptoms.

Steering Rack has bit the bullet!!! Warranty replacement and they replace it with a "revised" unit so the problem shouldn't happen again.

Aparently according to my sales rep, Ben & BBF, he told me that he has seen the same problem with 5 out of a 100 cars.