A friend has a Ford Fiesta 1.3 that won't start.
It stinks of petrol and must be over fueling.
My question is this:
I'd like to recomend the Tune-up guy from Southampton to visit her house and do the job. (Her AA doesn't cover Homestart)
However if it's a weird and complex sensor fault will he be able to locate the problem without the diagnostic kit?
My gut feeling is to avoid Ford. Can an independant mechanic diagnose these problems?
I'd like an answer back on this quick.
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Parp, Parp!
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Toad,
I would have expected any Tune-Up guy would be able to sort a Fiesta. As you have read here so often cars can go into the dealer and get a no fault found diagnostic while still driving poorly. Most Tune-Up guys will know what to look for on such a popular car.
Is it a modern Fiesta?
David W
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Thanks both of you. Confirms my thoughts.
It's a K reg fiesta.
The endura-e with Fuel Injection and Cat. ;-(
I've seen the quality of diagnosis the tune-up boys give on this site and have first hand experiance of Mr. Moorey's integrity, ability and sheer talent. ;-) So I'm keen for them to do the diagnosis.
I've never know a dealer who imperssed me. Also if someone works on you car in your drive you still retain possesion of the car. Once it's in a workshop you've lost custody and th eability to make decisions yourself and do work yourself.
It's a little academic now 'cos it started this lunchtime. It will occur again I'm sure. ;-(
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Parp, Parp!
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I don't think there's anything to lose but lots to gain from going to a tune-up guy.
I'd also agree with your gut feeling. The trouble with main dealers is they plug in their computer diagnostic machine and rely on that - probably because these days the kids in the workshop know diddly squat about what REALLY goes on under the bonnet.
Evidence: girl in my office, 15-month old Pug 206 keeps failing to start. Dealer says "the computer shows the fault has corrected itself" but it keeps happening. Refuse to order new ECU until he has evidence but each failure makes her late for work and costs her a round trip to the dealership. Time to buy a different make from a different franchise I think!
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Thanks sincerely for the complements. The Fiesta shouldnt be a problem to fix. Problem may not be so much an excess of fuel but a lack of spark while cranking. Alvin Tarlton is the man in Southampton btw. Good luck!
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Cheers Andrew!
She's taking it to a local garage. I'd already passed on AT's details with a warm recomendation but she's taking it to a local garage anyway. ;-(
It's 'kangarooing' now and reving v. high at tickover. Plus these problems only occur for the first few miles of running so I'm not sure it's HT problems. [1]
My bet is water temp sensor or the ECU itself. *But* if I go over and start randomly replacing stuff it's gonna cost a fortune.
[1] Wish it was/ Even I can go to Halfords and buy plugs, leads, rotor arm and Dizzy Cap.
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Parp, Parp!
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It's 'kangarooing' now and reving v. high at tickover.
The car is still suffering from these symptoms. The independant garage she took it to yesterday have said it really needs Ford to diagnose it.
That's two independants that have failed to resolve it. Is it time for Ford? [1]
Is there a ford specialist on the south coast who might have diagnostic kit?
[1] My view has always been that independents are better.
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Parp, Parp!
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But were the independants TuneUp type guys or someone who who really only does mechanical repairs?
David
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But were the independants TuneUp type guys or someone who who really only does mechanical repairs?
Mechies David.
I *keep* telling her to get tune-up in, but she just won't.
I don't want to voice my opinion forcefully to her unless I'm 70 per cent sure the tune-up guy *can* do it without specialist diagnostic stuff.
That said I'm pretty frustrated that I've given her a name, address and recomendation of a cheap and straightforward solution that involves zero hassle to her and it's been ignored for an expensive and difficult solution that has put her out a lot.
Women eh! They simply cannot make rational decisions.
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Parp, Parp!
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Looks like it's time to walk away from this, TTH, and let the lady solve it herself - after all, she knows best and it's her money. In my view you can't teach people experience - they have to learn for themselves, and pay for the privilege.
Ian Cook
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Looks like it's time to walk away from this, TTH, and let the lady solve it herself - after all, she knows best and it's her money. In my view you can't teach people experience - they have to learn for themselves, and pay for the privilege.
Absolutely right!
I didn't really feel able to make a forceful recomendaiton so just left it at what I'd already suggested.
Fortunately she was absolutely right. The garage diagnosed the problem as a disconnected vacuum pipe and replacing it has solved her problems.
I'm assuming they mean a pipe that advances the igniiton and that the ignition may have been retarded too much. Not sure i beleive it but if it solves the symptoms I guess that must be it.
Thanks guys!
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Parp, Parp!
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So Fords still have starting/ignition problems? That takes me back! :-)
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