21 replies to this topic

[Hopscotch]

Got a brand new fiesta 3 weeks ago - noted a couple of things that don't feel normal to me - been in garage twice and they have road tested 8 miles only each time - nothing found on diagnostics.

Between 1 & 2nd gear - intermittently will take a wee nose dip as if loosing power.

When driving in top gear another intermittent kind of judder - feels like running out of fuel but not as severe - car can take a wee lunge forward then back - occurs more often around 2000/2200 revs and about 50-60mph

Any ideas ??

[nilagin]

Hi, if it had been a MK3 Mondeo, I'd have said it was fuel filter, egr valve, or one of the boost hoses may have a hole or could even be loose. I'd doubt it would be an egr valve so soon as they get a carbon build up and 3 weeks isn't long enough, not unless you've managed to clock up 20,000+ miles. How cold has it been since you bought the car, it could be the actual fuel you are using having a lack of anti waxing agent and it is freezing up a bit in the filter and restricting it's flow. Try a fuel additive like millers. I've recently read of some Peugeot dealers recommending that their customers avoid using Tesco diesel as it has been causing fueling problems in cars.

[siruncle]

if you can get it to behave that way, maybe ask if a mechanic will go with you for a drive.

[Hopscotch]

Hi there,

Thanks for ur suggestions - temp has varied between bout -5 and +9 since got car. I haven't used Tesco fuel as yet but given what u say I will avoid. Normally use Sainsbury's/ BP / Morrisons. I will explore the anti waxing and fuel additive options. I have got some fuel treatment to try - it so annoying that in a 3 week old car I am having to try to find solutions - this may be how they drive but not been given a diesel courtesy to try and see if it the same - fingers crossed a solution can be found.
Much appreciated :-)

[Hopscotch]

Hi Siruncle,

Unfortunately so far due to my working hours by the time I get to the garage the mechs have finished - if continuing will try get one at a weekend if poss - thanks :-))

[siruncle]

Hopscotch, on 19 February 2012 - 12:05 AM, said:

Hi Siruncle,

Unfortunately so far due to my working hours by the time I get to the garage the mechs have finished - if continuing will try get one at a weekend if poss - thanks :-))

as the saying goes, "you'll be lucky..."

tried giving it a good blast? (an italian tune-up) might just want using a bit more...

[Hopscotch]

Yeah it used on motorway almost daily - keep thinking maybe it is just running in - although they do say that u shouldn't need to run cars in nowadays - yeah I am prob onto plums for a mech at the weekend lol :-)

[siruncle]

try filling up with some decent fuel like bp optimax or similar, see if it makes any difference... i know you'll need to take out a mortgage to fill the tank with it, but put £20 worth in a nearly empty tank.

[Hopscotch]

Good idea - will give a try also :-))

[Jonsen]

Simple really IMO. Reject the car. Don't faff about with additives you shouldn't have to.

[Hopscotch]

Spoke to Ford on the first week and they say unless something shows up on diagnostics there is little they can do - shocking really - was told the gear change was down to my driving style - funny how it has taken 24 years to raise its head :-)

[nilagin]

Don't take this the wrong way, but is this the first diesel car you've driven. They do have slightly different driving styles over a petrol engined car, and may account for the dip in power when changing gear from 1st to 2nd, it can take a while to get used to and how to drive the car, I had similar after around 10 yrs in a petrol car and then returning to diesel. Try just using the BP or Shell fuels for a while, their premium brands may well work better still, see if that cures the other problem.

[Hopscotch]

No offence taken :-) my partner has a diesel but his is a 2.0litre and I drive it regularly as have done with all his diesels - I haven't driven a ford diesel before and I was thinking maybe it is just gettin used to it - but the other prob I am sure is a fuel related issue or an added feature of a ford diesel lol - will take on board all suggestions and see how it goes - much appreciate everyones time to respond :-))

[Hopscotch]

No offence taken :-) my partner has a diesel but his is a 2.0litre and I drive it regularly as have done with all his diesels - I haven't driven a ford diesel before and I was thinking maybe it is just gettin used to it - but the other prob I am sure is a fuel related issue or an added feature of a ford diesel lol - will take on board all suggestions and see how it goes - much appreciate everyones time to respond :-))

[4titx]

I guess the Ford mechanics didnt actually feel/see the fault? Made worse by suggesting your driving style and they cant offer anyother sugestions.

Doesnt encourage you does it?

[nilagin]

I'm assuming you are just raising your concerns with the service department. Have you tried talking to the salesperson that sold you the car? They are the ones who would much rather see you come back to buy another car and want a good after sales service. See if they can let you have a similar demonstrator for a while to see if that performs the same, whilst yours is in for a little longer for a proper check.
My car had fueling problems in the same rev range as yours, mine turned out to be fuel filter, but it never showed up all the time and only threw up codes and an engine management light because I continued to push it really hard until it stalled, prior to that it faltered but never threw up any codes. So sometimes these things can be hard to detect without an extensive test etc as they can be so random.

[davimel]

Had to laugh at the 'driving habit' comments from the mechanic,, I have a 09 fiesta and the O/S/F door handle has broken twice now, after the second repair which took 2 days I was told that they had decided that my manner of using the handle was at fault and further repairs would be at my expense!! I tried pointing out to the spotty faced, inbred moron of a service desk manager that I had been driving since I was 18 and I am 56 now and I have NEVER had a door handle fall apart on me but they didnt care.. It has been fine since the last 'repair' although I suspect they replaced it, but now the N/S/F handle has become stiff and not as smooth as before,, so the wife is in for a rollocking now by the look of it... and god help them if they try to blame her LOL

[Hopscotch]

@4titx yeah doesn't encourage u much

@niligan - yeah have been in contact with the sale guy throughout - I said that for them to drive my car all of 8 miles is not long enough to get a feel of the car given that atleast 6 of the miles were town driving - do prob only got 2 miles on the m-way. Interesting re: ur car - Ihave been sayin that the diagnostics will not necessarily pick up a problem if it has not actually failed - I know it must be difficult for them - u would think they may try a couple of things like check the fuel filter and I am not sure but fuel injectors or something to make sure they seem ok.

@davimel u have really cheered my day up lol

[nilagin]

I'd doubt it was fuel injectors as I'd have thought they would show up an error code. But you could ask them to check that the injectors are coded properly (each injector is coded to the car and if they are ok, maybe try a fuel filter from another car.

[Hopscotch]

Cool - just test drove another diesel - never felt the gear change issue as I experience however that one was more jumpy so I have maybe got it easy - on m-way driving never felt what I feel at the speeds I feel it but on letting the car naturally slow down there was one judder not quite do pronounced but did feel it at just above 60 - maybe I am expecting too much of the car - gonna see what the dearer fuel does and the sales guy has suggested if still not happy worth gettin a second opinion as apparently they have had cars that no problem has been detected and when it gone to another garage it has picked up a problem - will try that if the change of fuel doesn't help and will ask if they can check the filter :-))