From your description it sounds like it was the turbo to intercooler pipe that was loose.
On some of the Ford diesels, you have to remove the pipes to get to service items (oil filter etc.). It sounds like the fitter may have not tightened the clips back up.
Definately worth a mention to the service manager.
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Mention no way. HUGE rollocking, yes. Incompetent youngsters in the main now easily distracted by the emptiness that pervades their lives.
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HUGE rollocking yes. Incompetent youngsters in the main now easily distracted by the emptiness that pervades their lives.
>>
Sorry, Martin - must disagree. Youngsters are distracted not by emptiness but the opposite. Life has never been fuller of distractions of varying degrees of sophistication compared with most of human existence when there was little more to do after cleaning the plough than play with a twig in a puddle. [recreational sex was only re-invented in the 1960s...:-) ]
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...you have to remove the pipes to get to service items...
I'm trying not to jump to the 'numpty dealer' conclusion.
But I agree with the replies so far.
Everything points to the dealer undoing the clip and failing to tighten it again.
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Is there a "Test Drive" box to tick on the service sheet ? It should have been picked up at that point. I had the bizzare experience of seeing my own car being driven past me as I walked back to the dealer the last time I had it serviced. Most odd....but the box was ticked !
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...Is there a "Test Drive" box to tick on the service sheet ?...
I checked the mileage at the time and the car was not test driven.
Obviously not part of the service.
I'm beginning to wonder what is. :)
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I'm beginning to wonder what is. :)
"Service item No 1 - Open Bonnet undo turbo pipe - close bonnet*
Service item No 2 - er...that's it.
*Owner will think we've done something then "
Have you dipped the oil to check they've changed it ?
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If they're really thorough...Service item 3.......
Wipe all visible surfaces, including oil filter, with a paraffin soaked rag....I heard a fitter bragging about it to another when I booked a recovery in...main dealer too !
Ted
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Bought a new Polo home after its first service. Oil was dripping on the drive way. Sump plug was only inserted by a few threads. Rang the service manager who seemed sceptical that such a thing could happen. Tightened it up with a spanner and took it back. Received a vague apology IIRC.
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...Have you dipped the oil to check they've changed it ?...
Yes, and it's black, but I've come across instances before where fresh oil in a diesel turns black straight away.
It was near minimum on the dipstick when I took it in, and is now at the top level, so at the very least it's been topped up, with something, probably washer fluid.
And they did swap the wheels front to back.
I know this because I have a steel valve key dustcap on one wheel and its changed position.
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Yes and it's black but I've come across instances before where fresh oil in a diesel turns black straight away.
Could be it was sucked out through the dipstick instead of being properly drained.
Pick up keeps it's oil clean for about a thousand miles before starting to blacken up, i'd have expected similar from your car.
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>>> Pick up keeps it's oil clean for about a thousand miles before starting to blacken up <<<
Do you DIY it Gordon?
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Do you DIY it Gordon?
Interim service yes, but it's the same result at the dealer they do drain it properly though.
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>>> but it's the same result at the dealer they do drain it properly though. <<<
Interesting gordon, when I had my Mercedes diesel engined Hymer motorhome, the oil was allways as black as Newgate's straight after a service.
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I know this because I have a steel valve key dustcap on one wheel and its changed position.
Or they just moved the dust cap ;-)
If they have to loosen these items that remained loose for access then it is shoddy workmanship. Definitely have a firm word with the service manager.
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...Have you dipped the oil to check they've changed it ?... Yes, and it's black, but I've come across instances before where fresh oil in a diesel turns black straight away.
The oil change I reported on in the oil extractor thread was actually on our C3 bought from a main dealer 1mth and 1000mls ago. To me the oil looked very black soon after we'd collected the car and there wasn't a drop of spilt oil under the filter housing (removeable paper element filter type). I just had to wonder if they'd really changed the oil.
To be honest I was pleased to see the date code on the filter removed was appropriate to the service date so all's good. I had the oil to hand and the filter was only £8 so worth it for peace of mind.... given that had I not checked and had they not changed it the car would have done £25k min on the same oil.
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Main dealer not changing the oil and filter? Paranoia springs to mind.
Re the clip, I vote that it was working loose, yes the dealer could have noticed it though they cannot put a screwdriver or spanner to every single fastening on the vehicle.
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Those clips dont usually work loose themselves so it was eaither never properly tightened or someone had it off and forgot to tighten. Difficult to say who/when is at fault. A service doesnt include a check of all clips etc, although if mechanic spots something he will usually deal with it.
We road test all cars after service, but most garages dont bother now unless customer says there is a specific fault that would require a road test.
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We road test all cars after service but most garages dont bother now
The one I use does - even if it's just one of the mechanics nipping home lunchtime in your car instead of theirs as I found out one day.
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>> We road test all cars after service but most garages dont bother now The one I use does - even if it's just one of the mechanics nipping home lunchtime in your car instead of theirs as I found out one day.
Trip to the chipshop or supermarket is a common reason for a test drive.
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...Main dealer not changing the oil and filter? Paranoia springs to mind...
Agree, the oil and filter will have been changed.
Not so sure about the clip, it was loose to the point it was not gripping at all, which was why it was so easy to spot.
I think it unlikely vibration would have undone it to that extent.
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Cheddar said......**Main dealer not changing the oil and filter? Paranoia springs to mind.**
It does happen Cheddar... when I was working in the trade (independent) I discovered this to be the case on several occasions.... such as a Pug 206 on its original (and collapsed) oil filter at over 40k.
Not quite so bad missing a change on the old 6k intervals but now a missed change taking a 12.5k interval out to 25k is not something I'd want to see on a modern HDi that we want to have to 75k plus without replacing the turbo.
So given I had a nagging doubt 20 mins of my time and £8 was great value for peace of mind.
Gordonbennet's clean oil in his diesel truck up to 1000mls after change is almost unknown. My brand new HDi at just 650mls on the clock has already turned its oil dark grey, almost black.
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Gordonbennet's clean oil in his diesel truck up to 1000mls after change is almost unknown.
>
My truck's (none of my cars) oil has never gone more than about 4K between changes (cue some objections but i'll carry on regardless) maybe this has some bearing (ho ho), maybe the insides of the engine have stayed cleaner as a result.
As an aside does the Millers (snake oil;) i've used for years help keep the combustion cleaner i wonder...i don't know about that just thinking out loud.
The engine produces no black smoke at all even under full power and it does not have a DPF.
I slipped an unnecessary change in in early December and checked the level yesterday and it's as clean as a whistle...i can't tell you how many miles that is though, definately over 500 as it got no use over Christmas.
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I remember a Talbot Horizon, company car, wouldn't start.
Company turned us out for roadside rescue. I came to open the bonnet, the cable had snapped. I opened it by other means from under the car. The bonnet catch was encrusted with untouched road dirt and grease, the oil filter was rusty, as were the plugs and the oil was low and black.
I told him, after getting it started, that a good service was overdue.
The driver produced the service book, stamped up by a main Rootes agent the week before !
Ted
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Ted,
I've read a couple of your replies and they are not going to make me sleep any easier. :)
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I went to an VW/Audi specialist to have the turbo replaced on my Audi Tdi. When I left the workshop, and went onto the dual carriageway, there was no power, and smoke was pouring out of the back. I could hear the turbo spooling up then giving up straight away. Pretty dangerous as it would not climb the slightest gradient and I had artic lorries up my tailgate.
I went back and told them, the workshop manager sighed and apologised, and reconnected the engine management plugs that were dangling loose under the bonnet. He told me that the guy who had worked on it was a bit forgetful and was prone to this kind of thing.
I wasn't exactly happy about it, because before, I had some suspension replaced and the track rod ends hadn't been tightened up at the rear (Quattro), so I had this weird rear steering effect at the back of the car. I tightened them up and let it go that time.
Turns out it was the same guy.
Anyway, I never went back, but what I'm trying to say is that the workshop may be OK but you don't know exactly who is working on your car, and tarnishing the reputation of everyone else who works there.
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I was a mobile tuner for 14 years, and I was particularly obsessive about checking that everything was put back, tightened up, all tools removed (especially my Snap on magnetic screwdriver!)
But even I would err (as is Human) on the 'odd' occasion.
Give the service manager a rub down with the sporting life, and leave it @ that.
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>>I know this because I have a steel valve key dustcap on one wheel andits changed position.
At least it was still there!
Your service doesn't sound untypical of Ford servicing, from what I've heard.
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My family has had good, reliable motoring from more than a dozen Fords over the years.
At one time, that might have been down to good maintenance.
I'm now thinking the Focus is an extremely well-engineered car which runs as well as it does in spite of, rather than because of, maintenance.
The stamp in the book for the warranty is the most important thing.
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I'm now thinking the Focus is an extremely well-engineered car which runs as well as it does in spite of rather than because of maintenance.
I used to think that about Vauxhall company cars because they always came out of the dealer in a worse state than when the entered it. Though I have had good service from Ford dealers over the last seven years.
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