Whats with these BA's ???

[XRLNT-8]

Howdy people,

I'm beginning to wonder just how much better a BA falcon is than an AU. A couple of months ago my uncle's BA started shifting badly (auto) took it to Ford and they looked in the coolant bottle and said your radiator has split and dumped into the auto, $3,500 to replace auto, radiator and flush (common problem apparently, his just out of warranty). Last night my dad's BA which has only done 25,000 kms (he's a pensioner) has a confirmed blown head gasket! (warranty ran out in april) He is mighty ****ed as he bought it brand new and has been a ford supporter for most of his life.

Just goes to show that newer is not necessarily better.

Cheers,
Simon

[Racecraft]

both the things you mentioned are not model specific, if anything Ford has reduced the headgasket issue 100 fold since the EA.

Blaming the BA for 'Falcon' problems is alittle unfair

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

both the things you mentioned are not model specific, if anything Ford has reduced the headgasket issue 100 fold since the EA.

Blaming the BA for 'Falcon' problems is alittle unfair

Yep, my dad's AU2 auto gearbox crapped itself recently after 90,000k's of very easy use. I wouldn't say thats an AU specific problem.

[MRJUCY]

Seeing the car is so low kays your dad should try to put a bit of pressure on Ford to come to the party & at least give a part credit/payment for the repairs, it's worked for people before despite being technically out of warranty.

[FGII-XR6]

sometimes ford will look at things like this the radiator is a known problem so they will probably cover it . and such a low K car with a blown head gasket is an exceptional situation too. racecarft is right head issues are far better than the bad old days when a 120K service often included pulling the head off

[Mr Hardware]

I put faults in cars in two categories. Design Faults, and Build Faults.

An example of a Design Fault is the BA IRS Diff. It takes 4 hours to change a diff compared to half an hour for a live axle.

An example of a Build Fault is where an automatic craps itself after a short amount of time. That is unacceptable.

Basically anything that is a problem on all falcons is a design fault, anything that is a problem on some falcons is a build fault.

I have seen nearly 50 falcons over many years cover about half a million kays each. Right from an archaic 1996 EL Falcon to a nice modern BA mk II. The build quality seemed to be just as good on the EL as the AU as the BA if you ask me, save the first of the BA's (just 02 and early 03 models) which were often poor.

As for design faults, I believe that the AUII and AUIII falcons are the best designed that Ford has ever made in terms of all round reliability.
I see the EL's on par with the BA mkIIs. Interiors are not as well designed and get grubbier easier, more stuff breaks, etc. Personally, the main thing that stops me from wanting a BA/BF is the electronic throttle, it is just too laggy. I prefer the instant torque shove that comes from the big aye-you on gas.

[Creampuff]

I think you would find that there is good and bad with all models and cars.

[StealthAu]

Except EA's, no good there

[falzoony]

Originally Posted by stockoau

Except EA's, no good there

Well the series 2 had the 4 speed, but your dead right for the series 1.

[StealthAu]

Originally Posted by falzoony

Well the series 2 had the 4 speed, but your dead right for the series 1.

I think people had less issues with the 3 speed

[vandrsxr6]

Originally Posted by XRLNT-8

Last night my dad's BA which has only done 25,000 kms (he's a pensioner) has a confirmed blown head gasket! (warranty ran out in april) He is mighty ****ed as he bought it brand new and has been a ford supporter for most of his life.

Just goes to show that newer is not necessarily better.

Cheers,
Simon

Same thing happened my dads ute, BA XLS, it was 2 months after warranty exp and we MADE ford fix it at no charge

[sednwol]

It's worth a try, he should take it to Ford and "raise hell", especially with other customers around.

[waggaclint]

have a look on hear http://www.motorsm.com/complaints/default.asp there are more complaints about BAs than AUs....i now at my work we have about 50 or so BA and BFs tray back utes and we have alot of trouble with the diffs and g-boxs in them and power steering hoses...we have 50 odd hiluxs as well and as a ute the hilux is a way better car by far nothing eva goes wrong with em the guys that drive the falcons hate em hey.....

[XRLNT-8]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Speak of the devil, he got a phone call from Ford Melbourne HQ this arvo (he wrote them a letter a week ago) the customer service guy was very apologetic but would not commit to say what action they would take yet (just letting him know they had received his letter basically) Ford will contact him next week and talk further.

I really hope they sort him out 'cos it would be really hard donning the Ford clobber at the clipsal again whilst feeling like they don't give a bout their customers!

Cheers,
Simon

[Eu-GenixX]

don't pick on the poor old EA.... probably my favourite falcon ever made....

[Kryton]

MY AU1 gearbox lost reverse at 60000km and had to get the gearbox replaced.
the BA has 145000km on it and hasnt had a gearbox fault yet.
does that mean the AU is crap?

[JBomb3000]

Originally Posted by davway

MY AU1 gearbox lost reverse at 60000km and had to get the gearbox replaced.
the BA has 145000km on it and hasnt had a gearbox fault yet.
does that mean the AU is crap?

Based on the logic used in the first post it does.

[mik]

do they still retighten cylander heads at 1500 service on modern falcons?, i can remember doing it on the x series, i`m not up with the neweys, if it should be done and is not that might cause a head gasget problem, not uncommon for short cuts to happen during serviceing, not always design or build faults imo, mechanics take short cuts sometimes. :(

[GlennBA]

Originally Posted by mik

do they still retighten cylander heads at 1500 service on modern falcons?, i can remember doing it on the x series, i`m not up with the neweys, if it should be done and is not that might cause a head gasget problem, not uncommon for short cuts to happen during serviceing, not always design or build faults imo, mechanics take short cuts sometimes. :(

nup.. 1500 service is just a check. Takes about 5 minutes.

[mik]

Originally Posted by GlennBA

nup.. 1500 service is just a check. Takes about 5 minutes.

ok thanks glennba!!

[Casper]

Id say every model car has the odd lemon.. I dont think it can be said that one is worse than the other.