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10-08-2007, 09:01 AM | #1 | ||
Monsoon SIII XR8 220
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 102
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Howdy people,
I'm beginning to wonder just how much better a BA falcon is than an AU. A couple of months ago my uncle's BA started shifting badly (auto) took it to Ford and they looked in the coolant bottle and said your radiator has split and dumped into the auto, $3,500 to replace auto, radiator and flush (common problem apparently, his just out of warranty). Last night my dad's BA which has only done 25,000 kms (he's a pensioner) has a confirmed blown head gasket! (warranty ran out in april) He is mighty ****ed as he bought it brand new and has been a ford supporter for most of his life. Just goes to show that newer is not necessarily better. Cheers, Simon |
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10-08-2007, 09:03 AM | #2 | ||
they call me Tibbo
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 6,163
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both the things you mentioned are not model specific, if anything Ford has reduced the headgasket issue 100 fold since the EA.
Blaming the BA for 'Falcon' problems is alittle unfair
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10-08-2007, 10:01 AM | #3 | ||
Fordless
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,122
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Seeing the car is so low kays your dad should try to put a bit of pressure on Ford to come to the party & at least give a part credit/payment for the repairs, it's worked for people before despite being technically out of warranty.
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10-08-2007, 12:12 PM | #4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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sometimes ford will look at things like this the radiator is a known problem so they will probably cover it . and such a low K car with a blown head gasket is an exceptional situation too. racecarft is right head issues are far better than the bad old days when a 120K service often included pulling the head off
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10-08-2007, 12:47 PM | #5 | |||
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,046
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10-08-2007, 01:49 PM | #6 | ||
Flairs - Truckers Delight
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Brisbane Northside Likes: Opposite Lock
Posts: 5,731
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I put faults in cars in two categories. Design Faults, and Build Faults.
An example of a Design Fault is the BA IRS Diff. It takes 4 hours to change a diff compared to half an hour for a live axle. An example of a Build Fault is where an automatic craps itself after a short amount of time. That is unacceptable. Basically anything that is a problem on all falcons is a design fault, anything that is a problem on some falcons is a build fault. I have seen nearly 50 falcons over many years cover about half a million kays each. Right from an archaic 1996 EL Falcon to a nice modern BA mk II. The build quality seemed to be just as good on the EL as the AU as the BA if you ask me, save the first of the BA's (just 02 and early 03 models) which were often poor. As for design faults, I believe that the AUII and AUIII falcons are the best designed that Ford has ever made in terms of all round reliability. I see the EL's on par with the BA mkIIs. Interiors are not as well designed and get grubbier easier, more stuff breaks, etc. Personally, the main thing that stops me from wanting a BA/BF is the electronic throttle, it is just too laggy. I prefer the instant torque shove that comes from the big aye-you on gas.
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Current: Silhouette Black 2007 SY Ford Territory TX RWD 7-seater "Black Banger"
2006-2016: Regency Red 2000 AUII Ford Falcon Forte Automatic Sedan Tickford LPG "Millennium Falcon" |
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10-08-2007, 01:59 PM | #7 | ||
149 rwkw of Style
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Nth Brisbane
Posts: 1,277
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I think you would find that there is good and bad with all models and cars.
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2004 XR6 Mercury Silver |
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10-08-2007, 02:46 PM | #8 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,981
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Except EA's, no good there
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10-08-2007, 03:07 PM | #9 | |||
Force Fed Fords
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lysterfield
Posts: 1,914
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BA XR6 TURBO 310rwkw and always chasing more Now with 6th Gear RAPID PERFORMANCE ORSM FORD CRUISER
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10-08-2007, 04:51 PM | #10 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Wantirna South, Melbourne
Posts: 425
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It's worth a try, he should take it to Ford and "raise hell", especially with other customers around.
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10-08-2007, 08:06 PM | #11 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: perth w.a
Posts: 1,074
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have a look on hear http://www.motorsm.com/complaints/default.asp there are more complaints about BAs than AUs....i now at my work we have about 50 or so BA and BFs tray back utes and we have alot of trouble with the diffs and g-boxs in them and power steering hoses...we have 50 odd hiluxs as well and as a ute the hilux is a way better car by far nothing eva goes wrong with em the guys that drive the falcons hate em hey.....
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10-08-2007, 08:30 PM | #12 | ||
Monsoon SIII XR8 220
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 102
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Thanks for the replies guys,
Speak of the devil, he got a phone call from Ford Melbourne HQ this arvo (he wrote them a letter a week ago) the customer service guy was very apologetic but would not commit to say what action they would take yet (just letting him know they had received his letter basically) Ford will contact him next week and talk further. I really hope they sort him out 'cos it would be really hard donning the Ford clobber at the clipsal again whilst feeling like they don't give a bout their customers! Cheers, Simon |
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10-08-2007, 08:32 PM | #13 | |||
Rockin '67
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,416
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10-08-2007, 09:41 PM | #14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,770
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don't pick on the poor old EA.... probably my favourite falcon ever made....
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10-08-2007, 11:26 PM | #15 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,292
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MY AU1 gearbox lost reverse at 60000km and had to get the gearbox replaced.
the BA has 145000km on it and hasnt had a gearbox fault yet. does that mean the AU is crap? |
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11-08-2007, 12:53 AM | #16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Melb north
Posts: 12,025
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do they still retighten cylander heads at 1500 service on modern falcons?, i can remember doing it on the x series, i`m not up with the neweys, if it should be done and is not that might cause a head gasget problem, not uncommon for short cuts to happen during serviceing, not always design or build faults imo, mechanics take short cuts sometimes. :(
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13-08-2007, 01:13 AM | #17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,918
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13-08-2007, 10:00 AM | #18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,981
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14-08-2007, 09:41 PM | #19 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Melb north
Posts: 12,025
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14-08-2007, 09:50 PM | #20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 895
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14-08-2007, 09:52 PM | #21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,083
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Id say every model car has the odd lemon.. I dont think it can be said that one is worse than the other.
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Older, wiser, poorer. Now in Euro-Trash. VW Coupe V6 4motion.
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