Should've got a Jazz then, but I don't suppose 7 year old Jazz's are much better :-(
Maybe it's time to rethink about taking the full refund option ?.
Problem is the car's in great condition (had supagard and lux pack fitted), it's done 63k for and is under £3500 (knocked the dealer down a bit :-), I can't find anything remotely close in my area (cheap to run/tax), just a pity it's a Ford, fixed or repaired daily. My last ford, (5 years ago) was a mondeo hence my reason for going japanese, i really had hoped Ford's had improved, going on this a break down within 10 mins of ownership, it don't look like it.
Edited by Bigdaveg on 15/01/2010 at 19:50
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Almost any car at 7 years is going to present problems sooner or later, even japanese. The best thing is to get something at is fairly easy and straightforward to fix with good parts availability. Fords are not too bad really, but electrics could be better, especially on cars of this era.
We are VAg specialists (although probably do as much work on non-VAG as VAG). I am a bit biassed of course. VAG cars do break down and probably no mor reliable than Ford, but VCDS diagnostic tool is both wonderfully easy and comprehensive and cheap, and we get most parts quickly at good prices. Also they are usually straightforward to work on (with some exeptions) so its a case of least of many evils.
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So vag man :-) what's my best course of action, I really do like the car and it meets all my criteria, I don't wanna be think what's going wrong next ?.
I presume any diagnostic etc would be sorted out under warranty (i have a 3 month major parts warranty), but would hope the dealer would resolve the situation regardless.
If i keep the car (very likely unless a major fault) how can i "look after" the electrics ?.
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There's no real way to nursemaid the electrics.
I would give the dealer a chance, this is no doubt a fixable fault, but you dont want someone poking about in ignorance so encourage him to take it to a ford agent or an independent with expertise in Ford (theres enough of them about!). . In law (sale of goods) you should expect the car to not present any major problems for around 6 months - this is in addition to any warranty that the dealer gives.
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I'm hoping that it's a easily fixable problem, it's one of those annoying problems which has an infinite amount of possiblities (like simplying disconnecting the battery), thankfully the dealer's taking the car to a Ford mechanic (a friend that works in a ford dealership) on Monday, apparently any ford with a problem goes to this dealers mate, who works for ford. My concern is how do i know I ain't fobbed off and how do i know there's not a major underlying problem ?. Or am i just being paranoid ?.
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Before you get in too deep here with immoblisers stc,I would suggest start at the basics.Check the fuses in the cabin fuse box,behind the glove box.Pay special attention to those for the engine management/Efi systems.As for looking after the electrics,I would not be too concerned.Due to the complexity of modern car electronic systems all car makers from the cheapest to the most expensive suffer their fair share of electrical gremlins.The technology is the same for a £5k car or a £50k car.hth
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I would be knocking him up this Morning and getting my money back, Dave - while it`s still an option.
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Workshop Tech,
What`s you opinion on the current VW Fox and it`s engine options? - re your comment about VW`s above - please.
Durability - long term ownership & home servicing.
regards
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It's trying to find an alternative that's the problem, and very quickly.
I have no doubt the dealer is genuine & that it's "hopefully" just a simply corrected fault ?, I've spent a few weeks looking at cars (until i had the money to be able to actually do anything about it), and i was amazed at the lack of diesel fusions on Auto trader and exchange & mart etc within a 40 miles radius (more than 40 because the mileage is always much further), which tell me that regardless of ratings the car gets, owners keep hold of them, jazzes on the other hand are 2 a penny & i do ask myself why are so many 02 & 03 jazzes available ?.
I'd looked at the Hyundai Getz, petrol Jazz's (very nice but overpriced), fiesta, citroen c3's, fabia etc,etc and the conclusoion i came to is that the only car with low running costs (£35 tax, mpg, insurance), capable of transporting 4 adults plus luggage and with a huge main dealer / support network is the Fusion. My 7 years old civic has faultlessly been utterly reliable, but as i found when changing the cambelt, parts for a honda are exclusive and pricey, and as i found (with my Mazda) not every car workshop has a diagnostic machine for every car, but i bet 99% have got one for a Ford and Vauxhall.
I'm gonna give the dealer a chance in the hope that it's a simply corrected fault, the car has a 3 month warranty so I've got some sort of assurance.
DFP is something I've never come across before (saw it in another topic) I presume my 1.4 is a french engine ?, if so what does that entail for the dfp ?.
Once again thanks in advance for any replies.
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Have you tried the spare key? Maybe there is a problem with the main key?
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Yep, both keys were tried.
*** Update ***
I just spoke to the dealer who was in the process of hooking the car up to take to a ford tech, by chance he tried the car and it started first time, and the rubber fuel valve/pipe by all accounts is rock hard, apparently the car starts first time everytime, the dealer has asked me to leave it until tomorrow morning, where he'll try the car again, if ok I can pick it up tomorrow.
Could it be so simple ?, apart from the obvious (don't let the fuel get so low) is there anything I can do to ensure another blockage does'nt occur ?. and is there a way quicker way i can clear a blockage (leaving the car seemed to clear it on this ocassion, but what if you don't have several hours) ?.
Edited by Bigdaveg on 16/01/2010 at 14:05
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Ford electrics arent that great (that will upset some people no doubt). At the end of theday its an 7 year old ford so entering its wear out phase. >>
Statistically more reliable than VAG electrics though.
Not a fan of Fusion's TBH, a Focus is a better bet if you need more room than a Fiesta can offer though to say a seven year old car is entering its wear out phase is tosh! Even it it has done 10k miles a year, 70k, it could be in perfect health and easily do the same mileage again before any signs of wear become apparent.
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I reckon it was what you thought in the first place, low fuel creating an air lock or whatever. Could have been vapour lock but would be rare in a diesel but not impossible.
If the car seems ok the next few weeks I would put it down to this.
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Might it be something in the tank causing an intermittent blockage?
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I suppose only time will tell, if it does it again in a few weeks I guess we'll know ?.
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Here's the full story as to why I got a Fusion:
For years the wife's had a company car (trooper, shogun, galaxy etc), which was great for her work duties and for taking her less than mobile parents on holiday etc, trips out in the weekend would see her company car being used (because of the space etc), I myself have always been boring with my cars, playing safe; mondeo, carisma, primera and currently honda civic cdti (best car I've ever owned), all sensible cars, because if the company car went we'd have a sensible back up.
Then all of a sudden the company car did go and a suitable "2nd" car had to be found quickly, that's as good for one as it is 4 passengers, and because of the inlaws access had to be a major concern, hence the reason for a mini style mpv, and becuase of the increased costs (tax, insurance etc), you can start to see why i went for the fusion, and basically in the end it boiled down to just 2 cars; the Fusion or a Jazz, having a car which i really love (53 plate Civic) and a history of hating Ford (due to a shed of a mondeo i had), you might ask did i choose wisely, and I suppose only time will tell, in a nut shell the car i was looking to get would be around 5-7 years old, to have sensible running costs and more importantly cost as little to repair as possible, the recent bad weather also demonstrated the beauty of a diesel; while others were struggling up hills I simply dropped to first and let the engine drag the car up the hill, slow but very effective, i doubt if i'd have been able to do that in a Jazz.
I looked at mini vauxhall mpv's, mini fiat mpvs, etc,etc,etc and could'nt find anything to "beat" my 2 short listed cars for everything i needed, cost and use wise.
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Not a fan of Fusion's TBH a Focus is a better bet if you need more room than a Fiesta can offer though to say a seven year old car is entering its wear out phase is tosh! Even it it has done 10k miles a year 70k it could be in perfect health and easily do the same mileage again before any signs of wear become apparent.
Oh well, 32 years in the motor trade this year, thats about 7000 working days, working with all sorts of cars. partner in business for 21 years this year (an doing MoTs since 1988). And apparently I still dont know much about cars and talk tosh??
Seven year old fords not in wear out phase? You should see some of the seven year old cars I see.
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So how do Fusions fare then ?. Is my problem (apparent fuel pipe blockage) a regular occurence & how can i a) prevent it and b) rectify it (any trade secrets saving a trip to a workshop ;-)
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