Fiesta MOT

beccye

Hi

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me please!

I have a 1996 Ford Fiesta 1.8 diesel which failed its MOT today. I was told it needs brake pipes replacing and that the front brakes are dragging. What does dragging mean and do I need complete new brakes? The bloke was very vague.

Also would this have caused my fuel consumption to have doubled? ( I was getting 400 miles to a tank but recently only get 200) And would this have caused a squealing noise when I first start driving?

I know these are questions I possibly should have asked him but I didn't want to give him ammunition for potential unneccesary things to bill me for! (I know I'm cynical but I am 25 with an old banger, and my knowledge only covers checking the water, oil and changing a tyre!!!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated
TIA

steveo3002

yes its most likely the cause for the excess fuel consumption and the squeak

best ask the tester what pipes need replacing , only he will know

as for the fronts binding , the calipers may need rebuilding or replacing

Sailor_Sam

The squealing when you first start driving is probably coming from the fanbelt, check to see if it too loose. This is'nt a big job.
The front brakes dragging, he probably means they are stuck on, and this may account for the poor recent petrol consumption. To test this, jack up the front wheels, see can you spin them easily by hand. If they are sticking, could be a number of reasons, possibly just a bit of dirt or rust, and once cleaned and some ease-it oil on, ( not on the pads themselves ), you may be fine.
Have you not got a manual, go the local library and read up, may not be a big job.

goldspanners

theres a good chance the brakes sticking on may also be caused by the front flexi brake pipes,these have a habit of corroding from the inside and blocking the brake fluid from returning back to the reservoir. or it could be a siezed caliper,the flexi pipe will only be a few quid to buy and not much more to replace if someone is already removed and cleaned up the calipers.
this will be having an effect on your fuel consumption.

beccye

Thank you to all of you.

I will see if I can get a manual tomorrow and do some homework before I speak to him again. Hopefully I will sound like I know what I'm talking about!

Now I know they may all be connected its in my best interest to get it sorted asap.

Thanks again x

Conor_3

beccye wrote: »

Hi

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me please!

I have a 1996 Ford Fiesta 1.8 diesel which failed its MOT today. I was told it needs brake pipes replacing and that the front brakes are dragging. What does dragging mean and do I need complete new brakes? The bloke was very vague.

Also would this have caused my fuel consumption to have doubled? ( I was getting 400 miles to a tank but recently only get 200) And would this have caused a squealing noise when I first start driving?

I know these are questions I possibly should have asked him but I didn't want to give him ammunition for potential unneccesary things to bill me for! (I know I'm cynical but I am 25 with an old banger, and my knowledge only covers checking the water, oil and changing a tyre!!!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated
TIA

What a lovely well maintained vehicle. The brakes are binding from lack of maintenance. In short, they're sticking on and not coming off fully. If you're lucky, the calipers may free off but if not, you'll need new ones. If I were you, I'd put aside £400 for a full brake overhaul.

Yes it will have caused your fuel consumption to have doubled because you're effectively driving down the road with your brakes on.

As for giving him ammunition for unnecessary things to bill for? You're driving a vehicle in an extremely dangerous condition with faulty brakes. The fault you have builds up heat in the brakes and can either cause them to fail completely, leaving you with non, or can actually result in your car setting on fire.

Just because it's an old car, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be serviced. Due to your stupid idea not to because you thought you'd save £50 or £60, it's cost you more than that in the mileage you've lost over 3 tanks of fuel.

The squealing noise is from the slack fanbelt that wouldn't have been had you bothered servicing it.

beccye

Conor wrote: »

What a lovely well maintained vehicle. The brakes are binding from lack of maintenance. In short, they're sticking on and not coming off fully. If you're lucky, the calipers may free off but if not, you'll need new ones. If I were you, I'd put aside £400 for a full brake overhaul.

Yes it will have caused your fuel consumption to have doubled because you're effectively driving down the road with your brakes on.

As for giving him ammunition for unnecessary things to bill for? You're driving a vehicle in an extremely dangerous condition with faulty brakes. The fault you have builds up heat in the brakes and can either cause them to fail completely, leaving you with non, or can actually result in your car setting on fire.

Just because it's an old car, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be serviced. Due to your stupid idea not to because you thought you'd save £50 or £60, it's cost you more than that in the mileage you've lost over 3 tanks of fuel.

The squealing noise is from the slack fanbelt that wouldn't have been had you bothered servicing it.

What a rude response. I actually did have a service at 72,000 miles but a service is not the same as an MOT - this I am aware of.

I don't claim to be a car expert hence my post asking for help. I drive my car to work early in the morning when it is cold and home again in the evening when it is cold. Diesels do not start in the same way as petrols (again something I do know) and so whilst I had noticed a change I had assumed it was due to the weather, and the frosty mornings.

And as for your first sarcastic comment, the actual car engine was commented on as being the best of that age he had seen in a while, so whilst I might not have noticed a problem I do not neglect my car.

In future if you only intend on being extremely condescending do not reply to people's posts.

hewhoisnotintheknow

beccye wrote: »

What a rude response. I actually did have a service at 72,000 miles but a service is not the same as an MOT - this I am aware of.

I don't claim to be a car expert hence my post asking for help. I drive my car to work early in the morning when it is cold and home again in the evening when it is cold. Diesels do not start in the same way as petrols (again something I do know) and so whilst I had noticed a change I had assumed it was due to the weather, and the frosty mornings.

And as for your first sarcastic comment, the actual car engine was commented on as being the best of that age he had seen in a while, so whilst I might not have noticed a problem I do not neglect my car.

In future if you only intend on being extremely condescending do not reply to people's posts.

hes not here to be nice to you, hes here to give his comments

the engine might be good but the brakes are not

Conor_3

beccye wrote: »

What a rude response. I actually did have a service at 72,000 miles but a service is not the same as an MOT - this I am aware of.

Would that be a proper service or one of those £60 things that's basically an oil and filter change?

And as for your first sarcastic comment, the actual car engine was commented on as being the best of that age he had seen in a while,

A good engine doesn't stop you from piling into the car in front....that's what brakes do. You know, like the ones you have that don't work?

In future if you only intend on being extremely condescending do not reply to people's posts.

In future if you only intend on maintaining your deathtrap as poorly as you have been, do not drive on the road where there's a high chance you might end up killing someone.

iolanthe07

Anyone who posts on here risks being flamed by Conor, but actually what he says usually makes good sense. It's just the way he puts it..............!