Fiesta problems

bru20vt · 31-01-2007, 07:56 AM

Guys, you might want to check if your fiesta has a similiar problem. My 6 month old Fiesta LX 3 dr window sill is starting to flake and lose the thin black coating. Dealer is replacing both sides under warranty.

Secondly, and dont get me wrong as I love the way this car drives and the general solidity (lack of any squeaks) compared to the audi I had previuoisly.

I am still getting rough idling on start up even though the ECU has been reflashed by the dealer. Also, I will be sitting at the traffic lights and it feels like it wants to jerk forwad even though my foot is on the brake. It is an auto and I only ever put BP Ultimate.

I would be very interested if anyone else is having this problem.

dom

photn · 31-01-2007, 08:34 AM

Hmm thats interesting.....My window sill is all good. no prealing or loosing of anything. Mind you i polish and wash my car every weekend but thats beside the point. Good that its getting done under warranty.

Hmm that idle problem, i know a couple of people have sort of mentioned something like that.

Hmm first problem ive encountered.......apart from Teki's water pump blow.

MISTA FIESTA · 31-01-2007, 08:52 AM

Hmmmm, Do you think the window sills have corroded (?) or look to have been not coated properly beforehand?? Good to hear that its getting replaced under warrenty.

About 4 months in after purchase, I also had a rough idle, and on occasions the car would just stall (auto). Took it straight to ford dealership, where they checked everything and found no problems, but did reflash the ECU. Since then it is running fine. I have also noticed that usually about 2000kms before recommended service the car really lacks omph, I am getting a churning noise from the belts/pulleys, occasionally car boggs down when you punch it hard.

So maybe get then to do a quick service, but obviously get ford to investigate the matter further.

Ives · 31-01-2007, 09:47 AM

G'day,

I think we talked briefly when I was buying the 17" MP3 Wheels from PowerFord. You mentioned about cold-start problems.

Well since I'm kind of new to cars and motoring, can someone explain to my what window sill (seal?) is? a picture of it maybe?

As with rough idle, I've never had that problem. I've done 11,600kms using Optimax, Optimax Extreme, V-Power, V-Power Racing, Vortex, Vortex98, and BP Ultimate..... I can say I've never had the problem you stated (and hoping will never have).

Maybe change the spark plugs (and leads) to better ones?

Also, could the oil cause that problem? I've been using Castrol EDGE 5W-30.

bru20vt · 31-01-2007, 09:57 AM

Hi Ivan, yes that was me.

The window sill is the black plastic on the outside of the car at the top of the door.

I must admit that with water restrictions I only was the car every 3 weeks. Even so, it should not deteriorate so quickly.

nnng_oozie · 31-01-2007, 10:01 AM

I agree, it could possibly be your spark plugs.

I can't recall a name but i remember someone talking about bad spark plugs a few months into the car. They even had pics!

MISTA FIESTA · 31-01-2007, 10:13 AM

Yeah i should ahve said sparkplugs too. if you have a search i have posted pixs of my sparkplugs I think at 30k, and they were rooted.

bru20vt · 31-01-2007, 10:47 AM

Wow, I never had any cars where I had to change the spark plugs at 9,000 kms. I cant see how any water could get in there for them to corrode. I'll see if I can get the engine cover off and have a look.

photn · 31-01-2007, 10:56 AM

there is a thread about removing the engine cover. its on the euroford Website. and trust me when you do it. it requires a bit of UMPH.

I can wash my car everyweekend cause i live on Tank water. so i dont use town water ware i live lol. 2x 20,000 litr tanks do the job.

goop · 31-01-2007, 11:06 AM

my sills are pretty yucko too. I'm still a ways off my 15k service; might pay to get it in to them earlier.

Piotr · 31-01-2007, 11:16 AM

The window sill was probably just from a dud batch at the factory. Its getting replaced on Warranty so no biggy.

A problem with some Australian delivered fiesta is they have fouled spark plugs, this is only affect a few and is probably a results of the boat trip over from Germany. If yours a in poor condition get them changes and the problem will be fixed.

The part you need to take off is the Airbox not an engine cover

Ives · 31-01-2007, 03:34 PM

The stock spark-plugs that came with the Fiesta arent that good apparently. I'll change them sometime in the middle/end of the year. We'll see.

Danny · 31-01-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

Hmm first problem ive encountered.......apart from Teki's water pump blow.

They found what in his water pump!!??

:

Imolator · 31-01-2007, 05:57 PM

The Fiesta will go through spark plugs quicker than other cars because of the way their ignition systems are set up. The plugs are setup to fire in pairs so there is always one wasted ignition cycle, which means that instead of the plugs firing in 1 3 4 2 sequential order they actually fire in pairs one on the compression stroke and the other on the exhaust stroke. Basically the spark plugs are doing twice the work and will wear out quicker than other ignitions systems that fire them individually.

Piotr · 31-01-2007, 06:57 PM

Wasted spark inginition is used in plenty of cars. Use should replace spark plugs when the manufacter recommends it or when they are worn out to the point of being inefficient which ever comes first.

Imolator · 31-01-2007, 07:25 PM

There is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that Fords 45,000km replacement of the sparkplugs is hugely optimistic. One wonders if they really tested how long they would last or just picked a number out of the air.

In the service guide one of the few errors listed is that the 45,000km change of sparkplugs is given for cars driven under extreme conditions. (page 37)

Ford in the Uk and Europe list the plugs as being due to replace at 37500 miles.

Ford Australia say that they should be changed at the B sevice which they list as first occuring at 60,000km (page 35) Then later under the dealer stamp section have the B service occuring every 45,000 km for normal usage. Doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. They cant even get the service guide right.

Piotr · 31-01-2007, 07:36 PM

The replacemnt interval is 60,000km and no they didn't pull the number outa the air. The Sigma range have been in service since 1995 and if they had issues they would have adjusted the figures by now.

Teki04 · 31-01-2007, 07:44 PM

I think what Imolator it trying to say that the Australian Ford Fiesta Service book lacks consistency within itself, and also in comparison to the overseas intervals.

So yes, maybe they DID pull the number out of the air (It's an expression. I think he means that they obviously got things wrong...)

Dom,

Welcome! Good to know they fixed it under warranty. Ford Aust are pretty good with warranty repairs.

The engine I found was usually a little 'ruff' in comparison to other small cars... but it didn't lack character! I'd probably only feed her some BP Ultimate and as others have mentioned, get the spark plugs checked.

Hope you enjoy the car as much as I did when I owned one!

bru20vt · 01-02-2007, 11:50 AM

Thanks for everone's input. The car is booked in for next Tuesday to get the sills replaced. This will be the third time I have asked them to check the rough idle/misfire. I hope I can convince them to take a look atthe spark plugs.

dom

frinik · 31-03-2008, 11:28 PM

I just pulled the cover off to take a peek at my sparkplugs. Its a WP 04 model, this is the first time ive done it due to a recent rough idle on a cold start and a shudder at around 80km/hr and i only had it serviced by ford in feb. As per previous posts suggested they were pretty rusted. I'll be off to get new ones tomorrow, maybe even the pipercross induction system if its around.
I remember somebody posted how to get to the spark plugs on euroford but that forum seems to link back here now? ..
I'll document how to get the cover off and get to the plugs for all the Do it urselfers, it took me a while to figure out what was going on.