Au Falcon cold start problem.

gunsandguts · 31-08-2013, 07:51 AM

Hi,
I bought an Au falcon after owning many Holden commodores and I must say it's a much better car. It's tough, drives and accelerates smoothly, low road noise and hugs the road and is more stable than the Commodore.

The only problem I had was that it would not start when cold. I had to use the accelerator to get it going. But when The engine was hot it would just start straight away.

I took the car to Ford at Newcastle and they said it was the fuel pump, fuel filter, etc. they charged me over $ 1200 dollars but never fixed the problem. I also noticed that they never replaced the fuel pump. I wanted to report them to the cops but just thought I will never take my car to ford again.

I took the car to two other mechanics that could not fix the problem either. Cost $ 300, and $150. So now it;s cost me about $1650. And I still have the same problem.

As a last resort I looked on this forum and found a post about the crank angle sensor causing a cold star problem. I got a new crank angle sensor for $40 and 10 minutes to fit it. The car starts first time every time now. I wish I had just read this forum before I spent so much time and money with so called professional mechanics.

I love my Au III.

Maka · 31-08-2013, 09:33 AM

Hi & welcome to AFF gunsandguts, alot of Falcon owners come to AFF trying to fix things mechanics cant, congrats for finding the problem yourself! A failed cas should've thrown a code, if Ford used a scanner it would've shown. Imo dont let them get away with parts that wasnt replaced & bogus labor charges, it could've been a mistake? - speak to the service manager, show him the lack of parts & work - no joy & if you can prove it, go to Fair Trading. Ah, the joys of car ownership doh!

Hopefully your Au is sorted now & you can enjoy thousands of kays of troublefree motoring. All the best & good luck!

cheers, Maka

sednwol · 31-08-2013, 10:16 AM

"As a last resort I looked on this forum and found a post about the crank angle sensor causing a cold star problem. I got a new crank angle sensor for $40 and 10 minutes to fit it. The car starts first time every time now. I wish I had just read this forum before I spent so much time and money with so called professional mechanics. "

I'd take the car back to Ford and raise hell. They should have know that!

gunsandguts · 31-08-2013, 12:17 PM

Just further to the ford dealer I asked if they could check the spark plugs and leads whilst they were looking for the problem. I was told they always do that. But after them having the car for two days the first time and then another two days the second time I took it back as the problem was not fixed.

I decided to have a look at the spark plugs to see if they had replaced them and noticed that 4 out of 6 plugs were so worn they had no ground electrode left and the other 2 had just a small lump. I replaced these myself but it still did not fix the problem.

I was all fired up to take them on about not fixing the problem and not replacing the parts they charged me for but my wife talked me out of it. Its been to long now as this was about 12 months ago. Only wish I had joined this forum sooner.

sednwol · 01-09-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunsandguts

but my wife talked me out of it.

Cost her a lot of handbags!

FGII-XR6 · 01-09-2013, 10:53 AM

the dealer you talk about ( no names required) is well known to use a "chuck some parts in charge the customer and hope it works . I know a few cab owners who were ripped big time till the finally realised what the were doing. steer well clear of them. where in Newy are you? if close to town cars to cabs in Wickham knows his falcons well but he is busy. Milton Skinner at Woodberry is also good . there used to be a good one up here at Maitland but his work has deteriorated over the last few years.