Hi All - I'm in the need of some rather urgent advice.
My old car died...so I test drove a Mondeo MK3 2.0 Zetec (petrol) car at a local dealers... all well and good (except being very low on petrol at the time) so I agreed to buy it, signed all the paperwork etc. It was due an MOT and valet that afternoon, so the next day I returned to collect it, I handed over the cheque and was given the keys. I noticed there was slightly more fuel in it than when I test drove it, so they must have filled it from a jerry can. When I started the engine, the idling was all over the place and it quickly stalled. The second time I started it, the engine started, but was spluttering, but then cut out again almost immediately. I started it a few more times after that, each time starting almost immediately (i.e no slow starter motor) and spluttering, I managed to move the car a few feet, but the engine was only going for a couple of seconds before it stalled.
Having not got the car off the forecourt I told the dealer about the problem... he got in the car and experienced the same problem. We talked about what the problem was... we all suspected a fuel problem and even smelt the filler cap for the smell of diesel (suspecting someone had put diesel in it by mistake), but couldn?t smell anything other than petrol. Now at this point I got my cheque back and handed back the key. They said they?d get an engineer to look at it.
They called back today to say that the fault was down to a faulty battery that caused the Engine Management Unit to fail ? they even said that the battery died completely shortly after I left the car. They argue that a failed cell in the battery meant that the EMU couldn?t regulate the engine speed properly, hence the stalling. They?ve replaced the battery, reset the EMU and filled the tank as a courtesy. The even took the car for a lengthy test drive to make sure. Now the dealer has a good reputation and I?m not saying they?re lying but this somehow doesn?t ring quite true. If the battery had a faulty cell would the starter motor still turn over normally? Would it cause the spluttering I heard ?
So I?m left with more questions than answers.
What I?m worrying about is that if there was diesel, dirt or water in the fuel, could it have done long term damage to the engine? Is the engine likely to cut out again? Should I accept the car from them when I go to see them this afternoon? What if they filled the tank and test drove the car so I wouldn?t see any signs of this being the case? Is there anything I can/should check before I collect the car?
Any help or advice is gratefully accepted!
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I wouldn't worry about it if the problem has now gone. You've got a new battery and a tankfull of petrol as a bonus. If they put diesel in it by mistake then it's not likely to cause any long term problems, although it's not good for the cat, not like putting petrol in a diesel. If it was water or dirt in the fuel then it has either gone through the system never to be seen again or it has settled in the fuel filter. I would probably change the fuel filter and put some fuel treatment in the tank, to be on the safe side, if they haven't already done it. I find it hard to believe that a duff battery would turn the starter but not have enough milliamps to power the ECU (or Powertrain module in the Mondeo), but having said that, I've lost touch with modern battery technology.
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it does sound far fetched but i have had this problem with fiestas and a new battery did indeed cure it.
Can i suggest that you ask for a seven day money back guarantee with a small fee being paid by you if you are not happy in that time ?ithink £75 is reasonable
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Thanks for your responses guys - much appreciated. Well to cut a long story short, I went to the dealers yesterday afternoon and after test driving the car again and inspecting it agreed to accept it. They couldn't in all honesty explain it totally either, but they didn't try and give me any bull and seemed quite above board.
I've driven it about and (touch wood) so far seems absolutely fine - a very nice car.
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