Frustrated With The Service From Ford

[SecaBoy]

Hi

I'm in need of some help please. I'm seriously at my wits end with my car/ford/dealers and need some advice.

I have an FG Falcon XR6T which has only done 13,000kms. I bought it brand new, so I know the history of the car.

These are the current problems and have existed since about 5-6,000kms:

- Stereo screen wont show the MP3 off the iPod sometimes. It just goes blank.

- A/C condensation leaks into the drivers footwell

- Oil leaking from the turbo into the intake pipe. (the joins of the I/C piping is wet with oil)

- Cold start idle is rough. I'm talking ROUGH. It's like I have a massive cam in an old school v8. Without any exaggeration, the whole car shakes on idle. *BRUP BRUP BRUP*

- Traction control. What traction control? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. I'm not saying that I dont enjoy the odd tail happy drive here and there, but if I want to do that, I do it in a safe spot with traction control off. Not at 5am going to work around a roundabout when I'm half asleep. :(

- Backfiring. After a short spirited drive, if I back off after a gear change its quite common for it to backfire. (no, I'm not talking about the ZF box doing its three little pops during a gear change, I'm talking about a full on POP)

Now, here comes the point where I need your help.

Does anyone know a Ford dealership around brisbane that will FIX the problems and not treat me like a numpty and say "oh, that's all completely normal sir, and there is nothing we can do to fix your problems".

I've been to two different dealerships and received the run around from both of them. I'm sick of their $h!t and need someone who actually gives a damn to look and diagnose my problems! :(

I'm open to suggestions... I need help...

If it goes on any longer, I'm likely to wrap it around a pole, because as it is, the car is a COMPLETE piece of $h!t and I dont want it anymore. :(

Thanks in advance.

Ash.

[Rusty XR6T]

that doesnt sound good at all mate, most of us have had these issues at some point or another.

- Stereo screen wont show the MP3 off the iPod sometimes. It just goes blank. - sounds like you have an old ipod module in the car, the newer module should solve this and should be upgraded under warranty

- A/C condensation leaks into the drivers footwell - probably due to the known faulty HIM module, again completely covered under warranty

- Oil leaking from the turbo into the intake pipe. (the joins of the I/C piping is wet with oil) - the oil isnt coming from the turbo, its getting sucked in from the oil breather out of the rocker cover and dribbles down the piping, a little bit of oil is acceptable but a mechanic would have to tell you if its normal or not

- Cold start idle is rough. I'm talking ROUGH. It's like I have a massive cam in an old school v8. Without any exaggeration, the whole car shakes on idle. *BRUP BRUP BRUP* - no idea

- Traction control. What traction control? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. I'm not saying that I dont enjoy the odd tail happy drive here and there, but if I want to do that, I do it in a safe spot with traction control off. Not at 5am going to work around a roundabout when I'm half asleep. :( - I experience this as well, but on the whole seems to work ok, it seems to have trouble in damp conditions, dry and wet it seems to be ok

- Backfiring. After a short spirited drive, if I back off after a gear change its quite common for it to backfire. (no, I'm not talking about the ZF box doing its three little pops during a gear change, I'm talking about a full on POP) - is your car completely stock? is it little burps or full on backfires?

[SecaBoy]

Hi,

thanks for your response. greatly appreciated.

my responses are below....

I might try the dealership near my parents house... hopefully they will be helpful...

right now I'm seriously regretting selling my TRD Aurion. it was a much better car in every possible way. :(

- Stereo screen wont show the MP3 off the iPod sometimes. It just goes blank.

sounds like you have an old ipod module in the car, the newer module should solve this and should be upgraded under warranty

okay, I'll try with them for the third time. wish me luck! :lol:

- A/C condensation leaks into the drivers footwell

probably due to the known faulty HIM module, again completely covered under warranty

okay, I'll try with them for the third time. wish me luck! :lol:

- Oil leaking from the turbo into the intake pipe. (the joins of the I/C piping is wet with oil)

the oil isnt coming from the turbo, its getting sucked in from the oil breather out of the rocker cover and dribbles down the piping, a little bit of oil is acceptable but a mechanic would have to tell you if its normal or not

just for clarification purposes, the oil is on the hot side of the turbo. and there is that much oil that when you run your finger along the joint, its covered in oil. I've owned/worked on a few turbo cars and never once seen this much oil come out of the turbo. to me its not "normal" at all.

- Cold start idle is rough. I'm talking ROUGH. It's like I have a massive cam in an old school v8. Without any exaggeration, the whole car shakes on idle. *BRUP BRUP BRUP*

no idea

that makes three of us. you, me and ford.:lol:

- Traction control. What traction control? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. I'm not saying that I dont enjoy the odd tail happy drive here and there, but if I want to do that, I do it in a safe spot with traction control off. Not at 5am going to work around a roundabout when I'm half asleep. :(

I experience this as well, but on the whole seems to work ok, it seems to have trouble in damp conditions, dry and wet it seems to be ok

now that you mention it and I think about it, you're right. it's only ever happened on damp road conditions... sheesh, I'd hate to drive this car in snow/ice..

- Backfiring. After a short spirited drive, if I back off after a gear change its quite common for it to backfire. (no, I'm not talking about the ZF box doing its three little pops during a gear change, I'm talking about a full on POP)

is your car completely stock? is it little burps or full on backfires?

the only things is has is a rapid systems replacement intake pipe. the one that removes the 'cone' section. its full on backfires. to the point where a mate that was following me actually commented and said "was it you that backfired back there?"

[Rusty XR6T]

no way a TRD Aurion. oh no

See how you go with the warranty stuff, I can recommend a fantastic dealer but they are down here in Vic.

Yer the oil thing doesn't sound right, I had a bit of oil seepage on the intake pipes (I have the rapid pipe as well) and noticed some of it got into the hot side piping as well, not enough to pool but enough to make me fit a catch can to the rocker cover breather.

The traction control normally works quite well, it can sometimes be a little hesitant in the inbetween conditions, I've had the car in snow and it worked perfectly.

The backfiring is certainly a strange one, I have removed my center muffler and get plenty of gurgles and burps, but sounds tough, doesnt sound like bad backfiring.

When I hit the twisties and slam into second (manual trans) from 90km to make a 30km corner I can get some quite loud pops but that's about it.

Rough idle, mixed with oil on hot side pipes and backfiring might mean theres a problem

good luck with everything mate, let us know how you go.

[dazza1981]

- A/C condensation leaks into the drivers footwell

probably due to the known faulty HIM module, again completely covered under warranty

okay, I'll try with them for the third time. wish me luck! :lol:

This would be more due to a blocked drain off the evaporator, loose drain or lack of/missing insulation on the suction pipe of the evaporator. - Warranty

I would suggest going to see Colin or if not Phil at Southside Ford Wooloongabba,I always get amazing service, they are always flexible to my hectic work schedule & always fix every tiny little issue without a quibble, occasionally they need the car for a second crack at it,(lets face it this can happen) have never needed to return for a third crack on anything, this has been over the last 4 years first with the BA, now my FG, My advice with any service centre is always give them enough time to do the job, dont push to have the car back within half a day if they say it is a full day job, pay the 30 bucks for the loan car and give them the time to do the job properley.

Seriously try Southside Ford, the list of complaints I have had we 4 times longer than yours and they are all fixed, everytime I get the car back from there it feels like a new car.

[tab]

right now I'm seriously regretting selling my TRD Aurion. it was a much better car in every possible way. :(

I think we've had a similar discussion before but

Seriously though where have you tried? Just don't want to recommend someone that may have already failed and end up with egg on my face!

I've always used Metro (same mob as Southside) and although there's been a bit of unnecessary attitude from one of the arrogant little service advisors everything usually gets done/fixed with minimum fuss. There's also Torque Ford at Strathpine which are pretty good but from memory you're on the southside so that'd be a bit of a treck.

[SecaBoy]

tab:

yeah, we've had this conversation before, but right now, the trd was a dream compared to this pos... lol

not sure if I'm allowed to say who I've been to... some forums dont like it...

if you think its out of line, just ******** the name of the company for me please. (wasnt sure if you meant for me to PM you or not)

first time was the ford dealership in ipswich (about 2mins from my work)... and then second time I took it back to the place I bought the car from, Denmac at Darra...

their pre-sales service was outstanding, so I thought I'd take it back to them even though its outta my way...

I might have to just suck it up and take it to the one at the gabba...

has anyone heard anything about the one up at North Lakes? that's right near my parents house, so I can take it there and then pinch my mum's car for a day or two if need be.

rusty:

I'd love it if it made those gurgles and burps... but this is a proper "I have a 70s unserviced pos car that doesnt run right" type of backfire... :lol:

dazza:

thanks, I'll see if I can get to the gabba one... hopefully it wont be a waste of time... :(

I doubt it if it'll happen before the new year though... I'll give them a call and see if they're open during the silly season..

[Cobba_Dan]

+1 for southside ford at the Gabba

Ive only had good experiences there and was quite surprised.

The guy ive dealt with each time ive been there has been top notch.

His name is Michael.

Hope you get it sorted

[Rancidpunx]

If your up towards North Lakes go to Torque Ford in Brendale/Strathpine and ask for Micheal. He actually gives a sh*t. He is a lot older and set in his ways but will help you out and make you feel like your car is in good hands.

For your problems heres my thoughts

The MPS sometimes dont show up on the screen. Its all to do with the quality of file your trying to play. I have a bunch of MP3s on a CD that all play fine but some dont have the file names show up. Id say your unit is fine and its more how the MP3s are being coded.

The leaky drivers footwell is not the HIM module. It is a foam seal around some part of the unit. There is a fix kit available and FORD know about it. (There is a update on their service TechTalk) I had this problem which is now fixed and not nearly as intrusive as the HIM module.

The turbo oil sounds excessive. I took my pipes off at 15K to clean them (as stated in your manual) and there was next to nothing in there. There was a fella about either here or on AFF that had the same issue and had the turbo replaced so I would be pushing for that.

The Traction Control is fine on the ute and fairly predictable although in the wet will allow the wheels to spin in 3/4 around 100kph. I think that's just how they are. Rear wheel drive with 530nm of torque is quite a bit for the traction control to take a hold of once the turbo winds up.

As for the rough idle and the backfiring I cant help. They all idle fairly rough anyway. Have them look at the idler pulley and the belt tensioner. I had a noticeable vibration that cycled through the car. After awhile I also noticed something rattling like a bearing on a pulley at the front of the block. After a few trips to Ford they replaced these items and the vibration is no longer there. Something to think about.

[SecaBoy]

As for the rough idle and the backfiring I cant help. They all idle fairly rough anyway. Have them look at the idler pulley and the belt tensioner. I had a noticeable vibration that cycled through the car. After awhile I also noticed something rattling like a bearing on a pulley at the front of the block. After a few trips to Ford they replaced these items and the vibration is no longer there. Something to think about.

oh thanks for that... you just reminded me of another issue...

I've got a noisy/rattling belt tensioner...

not to mention a lot of 'belt dust' (not sure if that's the right terminology)... its like a sh*tload of black dust from the belt..