any good service department around? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

uhzid · 02-24-2004, 17:50

hi guys, hate to ask but does anyone know any good service department that knows their stuff?? today my zetec went for her 3rd water leak fix. 1st time the dealer tried to fix it with no result, 2nd time they took it to the panelbeater for two days and its now leaking water again as it has been raining in the past two days in sydney. i don't want to keep going back to get the car *fixed* only to find out few weeks later when it rains that the problem is still there.

i did a wheel balance as part of my 15k service last week and they couldn't even get the w/b right the first time, after they did it the car pulls to the left with the steering wheel pointing straight, i even had fun of changing lanes on the highway without touching the steering wheel.

i'm just about to had enough of running around to the dealers, been back no less than 10 times in 6 months for all sorts of problems and this is not good enough. if the water leak can't be fixed this time i'm going to talk to ford, asking them to at least pay for my last service bill to show a guesture of goodwill. i know warranty doesn't cover for your personal time loss and troubles but this is way too much trouble than anyone can take.

ok, so back to the topic. any recommendation on where i should take my zetec for service next time? i'm pretty sure i won't be back to my dealer, not that they don't want to fix it or anything but they simply can't. and also is there a contact point that i can direct my problems with the zetec to ford just to let them know what a great car they've produced, don't get me wrong i love the car and the way it runs but... you know what i mean.

lincolnr · 02-24-2004, 18:03

Where are you? Where are you going now?

Timmeh · 02-24-2004, 23:08

My dealership is AWESOME but I am in Newcastle, and I think you're after soemthing a bit closer to Sydney!

Try Power Ford, talk to "Zetec" aka Matt.

Cheers.. Tim

Zetec · 02-25-2004, 02:56

Don't bother contacting 13 FORD with service issues, they're just a bunch of university students with telephones at desks in Melbourne... no idea. They just annoy the dealers. If you want action, call the Dealer Principal of your dealership if the service manager is being a prick, after all the DP is his boss.

Give Power Ford a try mate, I recommend them, my car has been in with them for a reflash. Otherwise, I HIGHLY recommend Dominelli Ford as the dealer I bought my car from and who did my 15,000km service, it was immaculate. Whichever is closer, Power Ford (Castle Hill) or Dominelli Ford in Sutherland/Kirrawee. Both have my recommendation as a Focus owner and Ford employee.

Where have you been going so far? And as for the water leak, what exactly is the problem coz I heard something about that overseas and there was a fix for it on US cars...

As for the wheels, they should pull left as a safety feature so you pull away from oncoming traffic (and into a power pole) if you take your hands off the wheel at any speed... but depending on how far left they pull that's another story.

lincolnr · 02-25-2004, 03:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zetec

As for the wheels, they should pull left as a safety feature so you pull away from oncoming traffic (and into a power pole) if you take your hands off the wheel at any speed... but depending on how far left they pull that's another story.

That would have to be one of the most absurd things I've ever heard.

Sounds like a poor wheel alignment. Balancing is vibration. You could also have too high tyre pressues which can make tramlining worse. But it just sounds like poor alignment.

Pulling left as a safety feature! My goodness. Your car tends to go left because the road is sloped that way.

sniper545 · 02-25-2004, 16:58

Zetec, can I have some of what you're taking? Sorry mate but lincolnr may be right on this one, but not entirely. That's why Mercedes and the likes have wheel alignement problems 'cause Australia has more camber in its roads than you'll find on the autoban. but having said that, any competent wheel alignment specialist can compensate for this to a degree. I've noticed in my Zetec that tyre pressures can play havoc on how it behaves on the road if not set right. ( I have 42psi at the front and 39psi in the rear) my rear suspension is -2 degrees by default because of the ride height adjustment, and to offset that alot of shops will increase the rear tow to try and straighten it up a bit. This causes (imo) excessive tyre wear and I asked to have the toe set to minimise drag and reduce feathering. if not done right it could also cause a car to prefer left or right.
Either way uhzid, it sounds like you are in desperate need of a 4 wheel alingn carried out by a professional. When you do, ask for a copy of the measurements before and after they carry it out, and post it here for

Zetec · 02-25-2004, 20:27

my reason for posting the "depending on how far left they pull that's another story"... I know it isn't safe for the wheels to pull wildly away, just always thought the reason they pulled slightly away from centre was that they were set that way, slightly off centre... learn something new every day!!! I certainly don't think the car should be changing lanes like that just the road camber issue explains it!! I'll go back into my hole now...

uhzid · 02-26-2004, 01:28

Thanks Zetec. Power Ford it is. I'll give that a try next time.

The first time it can change lanes in as short as 100 meters. After they did the w/b again this time is what I'll call slightly. So yea its all good now, and the unstable characteristic at highway speed is gone now as well, for the first time in many month that I felt how stable the car is at high speed compared with before.

Oh yea, today I got my car back from the 3rd water leak fix. They said they have water test it with 32L of water pouring at it for 10mins after the fix.. so yea, I guess I'll just have to wait for another few weeks or so til it rains again to find out.

BTW, can anyone actually make the car move with Parking break on? When I select "R" or "D" and leave the parking break on the car actually move itself. I always thought that the parking break should stop the car from being moved from stationary even if driving gear is selected.

Anyways, thanks for all your reply... I heard there is another courise coming up next month, and this time is at night. Gotta be fun, I'm in.

Zetec · 02-26-2004, 01:37

sweet mate, just reply on the EFOC (Euro Ford Owners Club) forum, is shaping up to be a great night!!! Hopefully it's Drive-ins with a meeting beforehand in the beer garden for a chat!!!

As for the service, either book online at http://www.powerford.com.au/ or call them on 9680 4799 and ask for the Service Department. They'll book you in mate

Sounds like you might just need to get ur handbrake tightened. Mine used to be looser and i had to pull it all the way on, so i got it tightened so it's fully on after about 2 or 3 clicks, works sweet and now i've got a VERY strong grip on the rear wheels if I give the lever a good pull... only problem is the rear discs, not made for handbrake turns very easily, its better having drum brakes on the rears if you are going to make a habit of handbrakeys because of the nature of the brakes, how they expend as the wheel heats them up and they really clamp on and lock up the rears. So I guess just get it tightened and you'll be sweet, they'll do that for you in about 20 seconds. Can even do it yourself if you know how!