Ford Fusion fault

MeeNorr

Hi, I have a 2003 1.6 petrol Ford Fusion that has had a problem recently.

It was mis-firing, a local garage diagnosed a fault with cylinder number 1 and so replaced coil pack, leads and plugs for about £180. Few weeks later the mis-fire is back says he thinks its a faulty coil and so changes it again under warranty.

A couple of weeks later engine management light comes on and charges me about £40 for a diagnosis and says that he's reset the light and it should now be ok.

Few weeks later light is back on again so took it to another garage as the original garage has now closed down! They say it needs a new lamda sensor and fit it costing about £220 including another £40 diagnostic. They say if this doesn't solve the problem a new catalytic converter is needed and another lamda sensor. The cat is about £330 fitted plus I assume £180 for the other lamda sensor meaning the total outlay for this 1 problem will be about £900!

This week the car has started mis-firing again and engine management light is back on so I assume new cat and lamda will be needed. The car is worth about £1200 with 63k on the clock. The MOT is due in Sept along with service, cam-belt replacement (and water pump) and any other costs arising from MOT and service.

I'm tempted not to have the repair done and scrap the car. To replace it I'd have to get a bank loan (I've worked out could afford £3k over 2 years).

Would a garage consider part exchanging it giving me a reduced trade in if told them about the cat needing doing? My parents have offered to lend me half the money for the cat and lamda but I'm not overly keen on spending so much money on a 10 year old car that isnt worth much more than the total repair bill.

Thank you for any advice.

dmliverpool

Once a car starts to cost a bit to repair you have to wake up and get rid or scrap it.

This car sounds like it has major engine damage and it would be far more economical for you to buy a newer car. Putting new parts into an intricate/damaged engine is like getting heart transplant, it won't ever run the same again, although it admirable that your trying to repair it.

I learnt this with my first ever car which was a punto The only benefit was that I learnt the name, cost and purpose of most car parts especially the ones that can break. E.g trying to flog a dead horse.

dmliverpool

P.s I have a 2007 fiesta, it runs like a dream so I know you predicament.

Strider590

dmliverpool wrote: »

Once a car starts to cost a bit to repair you have to wake up and get rid or scrap it.

This is the wrong attitude......

A car is not worth it's 2nd hand value, it's worth what it'd cost to get another car (which could also have big problems).

It's always better the devil you know.

Is the car over heating at all?

Faulty lambda could cause overheating, this can damage the cat and also heat can cause damage to coil packs, but is the heat coming from the lambda or is the heat being caused by another much more simple fault? (like a jammed thermostat)

dmliverpool

Knowing a car has major damage that once repaired will enviably fail again doesn't come cheap is my point. To get a new car may cost say £2k at a presumably lower mileage. Vs. Keeping the old horse, spending £300-500 every 6 months on major repair bills and never driving distances with confidence. I see your point but I think the decision is whether you want a pet project come hobby in repairing it or just a reliable car. I know this as I have had a fix it again tomorrow badge.

colino

Get it to a personally recommended garage and let them assess the car properly. It's not a piece of exotica, and while service items like coil packs and lambdas do go, this car sounds like someone has being throwing new parts at it because they've failed to properly diagnose the fault. Running properly with a fresh MOT your car might make £1200, as it is with a few weeks MOT and a limp, it's going to be valued at scrap as a trade-in.

Strider590

dmliverpool wrote: »

Knowing a car has major damage that once repaired will enviably fail again doesn't come cheap is my point. To get a new car may cost say £2k at a presumably lower mileage. Vs. Keeping the old horse, spending £300-500 every 6 months on major repair bills and never driving distances with confidence. I see your point but I think the decision is whether you want a pet project come hobby in repairing it or just a reliable car. I know this as I have had a fix it again tomorrow badge.

But factor in that with a car that's more than a few years old, the primary reason for it being on the market will be that it was "starting to cost too much in repairs". There's a VERY good chance of buying someone elses problem car.

I think OP needs to get the car to a garage that knows what it's doing, not just a bunch of monkeys with a diagnostics machine.


And found this earlier, lots of others if you do a web search. Don't search for "fusion" though, because it's a relatively rare car and the engine was used in many other vehicles.

http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?12801-Fiesta-2004-04-1-6-Missfire

dmliverpool

Strider590 wrote: »

But factor in that with a car that's more than a few years old, the primary reason for it being on the market will be that it was "starting to cost too much in repairs". There's a VERY good chance of buying someone elses problem car.

I think OP needs to get the car to a garage that knows what it's doing, not just a bunch of monkeys with a diagnostics machine.


And found this earlier, lots of others if you do a web search. Don't search for "fusion" though, because it's a relatively rare car and the engine was used in many other vehicles.

http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?12801-Fiesta-2004-04-1-6-Missfire

Ok, can see you point on scrapping as I assume you think I mean cut and run missing the point regarding the current value in the car etc. I did say 'get rid or scrap', which could also follow your logic so in that sense we have similar opinions.

My advice was based on the most economical option and not to just hang onto things because you like them. There will be about 100 cars out there for sale (maybe different colours) that will give the OP the same newer car satisfaction without the trouble.

MeeNorr

Strider590 wrote: »

This is the wrong attitude......

A car is not worth it's 2nd hand value, it's worth what it'd cost to get another car (which could also have big problems).

It's always better the devil you know.

Is the car over heating at all?

Faulty lambda could cause overheating, this can damage the cat and also heat can cause damage to coil packs, but is the heat coming from the lambda or is the heat being caused by another much more simple fault? (like a jammed thermostat)

No the car hasn't over-heated in the 20 months that I've had it. The only slight issue I've had is I've had to keep a close eye on the oil as its needed topping up every couple of months or so.

dmliverpool

Check the coolant for oil if its present its the head gasket. Could also be a oil leak?

MeeNorr

dmliverpool wrote: »

Check the coolant for oil if its present its the head gasket. Could also be a oil leak?

I haven't had a chance to check coolant for signs of oil this morning yet (will do later) but I did notice as I was pulling into my parking space earlier there was a few small puddles of fairly fresh looking oil on the ground. Not a good sign.