missallison

Hi! I'm new to the forum and don't know much about my new car. I recently purchased a 1998 Fiesta LX 1.2 Automatic which has presented a few problems.

1) The most worrying problem: When accelerating from stationary it can take up to 10 seconds for the car to move forward. A bit tricky when trying to emerge into traffic. This happens each time the car stops whether the car is warm or cold.

2) Although this is an automatic transmission car it has stalled on four different occasions (in the past two weeks) when switching gears from reverse to drive. I've never had an automatic car that stalled before so it was a bit of a shock!

3) Not worrying at all, but thought I would mention it anyway: There's an unidentifiable leak into the rear hatchback door when it rains. The door becomes full of water which leaks out of a hole near the door's catch into the boot and empties when the door is opened.

I don't know if anyone can help me with these problems, but I figured I would come here before a garage (as I'm skint) in case it's a common, obvious and easily fixable problem that I am missing completely!

Thanks for your help!

Fordtech.

Looks like you've found out why the car was for sale :-(
There was a concern with this model year which basically ends up with the car having a new transmission fitted mainly because an overhaul works out more expensive. I'd take it to an auto-box specialists to get them to confirm.
Boot leak could be the grommet around the wiper spindle, or the rear window.