Good afternoon all
My car (detailed above, an 03 LX) is pretty poorly. I've been told I need new core plugs as they're corroded and are leaking onto the spark plugs. I've been quoted £200 if it's a simple job, but £400 if it's more tricky (if the heads fall off while it's under the knife!).
Additionally, I need a new clutch and have been quoted £400 by the garage quoting for the core plugs or £250 by a clutch specialist.
I should also get (but not urgent) new trim as the plastic trim around both driver and passenger doors flew off on the motorway! Any ideas on cost?
I need to know whether all the above quotes are reasonable. I feel I can easily be taken for a ride as the garage know that I know nothing about my car and what's wrong with it. (Their initial quote was £1000 - £1500 including clutch as they thought it was the head gasket and cylinder head ... ? My lack of knowledge left me backed into a corner).
It's done 76,000 and I don't know whether this is just the start of more (expensive) problems to come.
Have a lovely New Year and thank you for your time
Nicky
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Firstly, I would say that your car seems to have a hard life!. an 03 Fieta would not normally be in such a state. Was it sourced from a 'banger site', or reputable garaga?
Secondly, re core plugs. A very rare occurrance nowadays, used to be caused by freezing up. Is the car losing coolant?, it is dripping onto the ground?. What are the symptoms of the problems in the spark plugs?
I believed on my old escort that the core plugs were nowhere near the spark plugs! sounds rubbish
Clutch wear at 76K, sounds too soon, unless badly driven. Is this the genuine miles on teh car?
Anyway easy clutch to fix £200 topside including all new parts
In your position, it is hard to know what you are being told. What you need is that rare thing, a reliable garage. Do you know of friends that can recomend a local repair place, no good going to a main dealer. A genuine person working from an arch is often the best bet.
Or sell it, cuts your losses and get a newer car the problems thatyoua re having are not typical of a Fiesta, my brother has had them for years. His have been totally reliable, the rust is usually teh killer, round the rear wings.
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Nicky, the clutch, well they do wear out its a normal item, so you can only take the good advice from TD and find a good recommended garage.
The core plugs are a bit of a puzzle to me, i am supposing that they have corroded through from the inside, now if thats the case it shouldn't be happening and leads me to wonder if your car has been running round with either no inhibitor (good quality anti freeze contains corrosion inhibitor) or something else isn't right here.
If there is corrosion from the inside, then that may also cause the radiator and the heater matrix to have their life shortened, as they do need a good anti freeze mix for a long life.
If the core plugs are corroding from outside. then thats a bit different as its probable that the car has seen a lot of road salt spray thats not been washed off as it should, unfortunate but one of those things.
Some core plugs can be a swine to get to and replace, i thnk you need as TD says a good old fashioned (preferably older fashioned in outlook too) general garage to give you a second opinion. Not a fast fit centre for engine work like this.
Seek opinions from people whom you trust for garage recommendations.
If your car water needs topping up in the meantime, make sure you top up with a strong antifreeze mixture (30 to 50%) not plain water, whilst you find a suitable garage.
If the core plug leaking onto the spark plugs is causing a misfire, spray the relavent plug and area with some WD40 or similar, it will help to displace any water from the electrics for the time being.
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Thank you both for your replies, and for taking the time on New Year?s Eve! :)
The car was bought new from a Ford dealer in Plymouth back in 2003. I have probably given it a pretty hard time ? I?ve worked all over the rural areas of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire with it. But, that said, kept it regularly serviced.
To provide some background: On 29th September I had breakdown callout as it wouldn?t hold a charge and the breakdown guy fitted a new coil (don?t ask me more, but it cost £77 if that helps!).
Then on 17th December I drove it from Swindon, Wilts to Telford, Shrops due to a family emergency and as I got closer to Telford it was very reluctant when accelerating from stand still and chuggy until it got going into 4th/5th gear from 45-5-mph up. An orange engine light then came on as I arrived at the hospital. I called the breakdown service again and they came out and, on first inspection, he said it needed a new coil. I explained it had had a new one in September so he looked again and said the coil was being rapidly eroded from the leaking of the plugs and water was gathering in the channel (??). He then towed me back to Swindon and a local garage towed it into their yard yesterday.
Re: clutch. Yeah, the miles are all mine. I?ve had two clutch breakdown callouts in the last year, where the clutch has gone straight to the floor and won?t engage gear. They had to fit a bar (?) to reattach the clutch pedal each time. I don?t know if this has anything to do with it now?
I?m not aware of it dripping coolant or water, but it?s parked in a meadow overnight so I wouldn?t necessarily notice.
Re: good garage advice. I?m in a quandary. I had three recommendations from people at work, then in the evening I talked it over with friends and they gave me horror stories re: the recommended places and vice versa! I wish I knew who to trust.
I think I?ve answered all your questions, but if I?ve missed anything, I?m sorry, it?s because I don?t know the answer.
Maybe a basic car maintenance course would be a good investment for me in 2009 ...
Have a lovely evening
Nicky
x
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Hi Nicky,
A common problem on '03 model onwards Fiesta is rain water running down the bonnet into gaps around the washer jets (a suprisig amount) which then leaks down into the channel in the engine where the spark plugs are located causing corrosion of the plugs and eventual misfire, which can also shorten the coil life.
Modified washer jets with rubber seals as fitted to later Fiestas will prevent the problem.
The spark plugs will probably need replacement and the channel cleaning out thoroughly.
If you are not losing any engine coolant (the level being correct when cold) the above may be the problem.
Hope this is of help !
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