Hi All,
Its just over a month since I got my 1st car. So far it had the engine oil, oil filter, air filter and the spark plugs changed.
Concern: It now seems less "nippier", e.g. when I'm trying to get away at the lights, seems to take slightly longer to speed up.
People say its not the car, its me, I just got used to the car etc.. Is that right?
I just think that it was much more responsive before....
I will need to change the front brake disc before the next mot. Is it safe to buys these disc+pads set from eBay?
Thanks.
{header amended to make less vague - ie, a brief description of question being asked}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 16/12/2008 at 23:33
|
Did you put the correct oil in - per the specification of Ford?, and the correct amount?
Also are the spark plugs correct for the car/year, as with the air filter.
Did you disturb anything whlst doing these things?
A garage would ( if competent) check the codes to ensure that the car was functionning ok.
I would be careful of parts that are not known source, insurance problems if it all goes wrong.
The real parts are fairly cheap for that car, but are you sure you know how to fit them correctly?, can be a pain to get off ( discs) and need persuasion.
Try Partco, or similar, there will be one local, and you can change them if you have the wrong bits too!
|
Hi,
I think its the right oil, granville 5/30 full synthentic. I didnt do the jobs, got a garage to do it.
The card seems to function ok, just pick up seems slow to me. What questions should I ask the garage?
Thanks
|
I just got used to the car etc.. Is that right?
Most likely the reason, unless you are using different fuel or mixing different brands of fuel which can hinder performance. Also the colder weather will cause additional friction which will impact performance.
|
I recently paid around £55 for UniPart (PartCo) front disks and pads for my Focus and they seem to be fine. Ford parts cost substantially more.
Some of the sets available on eBay are suspiciously cheap - there has to be a certain element of 'you get what you pay for' !
|
|
Do you think the garage did something to make it a little less noisy? A car always seems faster if it makes more noise!
|
|
|
|
|
I had my Audi serviced about 6 weeks ago and it felt sluggish and fuel economy dropped off a cliff! After thinking that some more money may need to spent on a MAF sensor or something I wasnt too pleased, however it turns out they have overtightened my handbrake and it was dragging slightly. If you took it to a garage it worth checking the same hasnt happened to you!
|
I thought it was just only me. I just serviced my honda accord diesel at a Honda main dealer for its major service at 75,00 miles where oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, gear oil and windscreen fluid were changed. Infact the valve clearance of the engine was checked although no adjustment made according to the invoice given to me. However on the invoice, 10W-40 semisynthetic oil was written on the invoice insteadof the recommended fully synthetic 0W-30 oil. Over a week I have noticed that the fuel consumption has reduced by almost 8 mpg. I phoned them back and the service manager insisted they used 0W-30 oil but their computers always wrote 10W-40 (what they normally use for petrol engine) as the oil used no matter the kind of oil they use.
I hope he wasn't telling lies having spent £435.00 for the servicing
|
|
|
Aretas,
I get a bit of a squeak from under the hood, almost dissapears after the engine worms up, they suggested that the serpentine belt was the wrong type (apeared too tight when they touch). They also beleive that this was the cause of slight moist around the powersteering pump.
I'll keep and eye on it, perhaps its the freezing weather has some effect too..
|
|
|
I had my Audi serviced about 6 weeks ago and it felt sluggish and fuel economy dropped off a cliff!... however it turns out they have overtightened my handbrake and it was dragging slightly.
The handbrake adjustment was my first thought also. I think the Focus is usually meant to be about 5-6 clicks.
|
OK, How can I check if this the case with my hand brake?
Thanks
|
|
Easiest way is to jack up each rear corner in turn, put the car into 3rd and take the handbrake off - the wheels should be free or at least rotate with very little effort!
|
Not unknown for new spark plugs to be faulty and cause a misfire under load.
|
|
|
|
>> The handbrake adjustment was my first thought also. I think the Focus is usually meant to be about 5-6 clicks.
hmmm my 01 1.6 focus handbrake holds on 2 clicks! Do you think mine might be too tight? 5-6 seems quite a lot!>>
|
|
|
|
|
