Pinking On '07 2.0 Petrol Zetec Galaxy Mkiii

[clockworkfrog]

My 2.0 petrol MkIII (11000 miles) is pinking badly but ford have said that the engine is showing no faults. Has anyone else experienced the same problem and if so what, if anything, was done about it?

 

Regards

 

Steve

[insider]

Just because no faults are being reported, it doesn't mean there isn't one!

A good Dealer would accompany you in the car to understand what the problem is. It's still under warranty so take it back, or better still, take it to a different (better) Dealer.

[clockworkfrog]

'07 2.0 Zetec Petrol Galaxy - Pinking

 

I have now tried thee different suppliers of petrol and higher octane with no success and is still pinkijng through all the gears. The car is now back with the garage but they are saying that computer is showing no faults and therefore FORD will not allow them to try to 'fix' it. I tried the customer service number which took me two days to get through in several 1 hours sessions. The guy at the other end just referred me back to what the garage has said or said that I could use the

[Smilge]

"Pinking" is usually caused by ignition timing and in this case is controlled by various sensor inputs into the PCM (ECU). As there are no fault codes present then I would expect the dealer to see if thee are any PCM software upgrades, or, at least re-program the ECU.

[insider]

The car is now back with the garage but they are saying that computer is showing no faults and therefore FORD will not allow them to try to 'fix' it.

Is it possible that the car is faulty and the diagnostic computer doesnt show it?

Yes! If one of your driveshafts broke as a result of a manufacturing defect the diagnostic system would know nothing about it but it would still have to be fixed under warranty.

Take it back and insist they use the "old-fashioned" diagnostic system, i.e. a knowledgable mechanic (if they can find one!), who can accompany you in the car and understand what the problem is. If they won't do this then take it to another Dealer who will. Don't be fobbed off by a Dealer who obviously can't be bothered to investigate your concerns.

[clockworkfrog]

Thanks for the response insider.

 

The Garage have just called me and say that after calling the customer help line and other numbers they are getting nowhere. Basically, if the computer doesnt show a fault then they wont pay. They have asked FoRD if they can change the "Knock sensor" but FORD will not pay unless the fault is showing on the computer. FORD have said that the garage needs to compare it with another petrol galaxy (which they dont have) to see if it is normal for the car!!! You would think that FORD would know this wouldnt you.

 

Not sure where this leaves me. I am going to try another FORD dealer that has one of these for sale and see if I can get any further. I fear that if I relay the story to them they wont want to know.

 

I have asked the Garage for a trade-in price on one of their Galaxys to see if that makes the fault more real?

 

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WITH ANOTHER ONE OF THESE TO COMPARE.

 

Frustrated!!!!

[clockworkfrog]

Thanks for the reply Bleeno.

 

The Garage say that they have reset the ECU but thats all. I havent asked them about software updates. But wouldnt FORD tell them that? I'll ask them when they ring back.

[clockworkfrog]

Now I have to fetch my car from the current garage and drive it 20 miles to a garage with a petrol Galaxy for sale. A tech at that garage will compare the two and report back to FORD.

 

I'll let you know what happens. I cant believe this!!

[clockworkfrog]

New garage compared cars and couldn't understand why FORD wouldnt accept the first garages opinion. The new garage now has the car and I'm hoping that they will fix it. The technician also noted that the car was underpowered compared to theirs.

[clockworkfrog]

Heres what was wrong --- From new, the car has had a pipe connecting to the catalytic convertor fitted incorrectly. This had resulted in gradual deterioration of the 'cat' hence loss of power and pinking. With the new correctly fitted cat the power has dramatically improved and the av. mpg has increased.

 

New Cat fitted and pipe corrected. Paid for on warrantee.

 

Its like a different car. If left with the first garage this would never have been fixed. Needless to say I bought the 2nd garage (Allen Ford Daventry) a few bottles of wine to say thanks for putting themselves out to help me quickly.

 

Very disappoinited with Ford customer service and warranty (athough once convinced they paid up). If I hadn't pushed this I would be driving to france next week with a seriosly faulty car.

 

Hopefully this is the end of the thread!

Edited June 7, 2008 by clockworkfrog

[searcher]

Glad you got it sorted, just a shame you had to go around the houses to get there.

[strataman]

Heres what was wrong --- From new, the car has had a pipe connecting to the catalytic convertor fitted incorrectly. This had resulted in gradual deterioration of the 'cat' hence loss of power and pinking. With the new correctly fitted cat the power has dramatically improved and the av. mpg has increased.

 

New Cat fitted and pipe corrected. Paid for on warrantee.

 

Its like a different car. If left with the first garage this would never have been fixed. Needless to say I bought the 2nd garage (Allen Ford Daventry) a few bottles of wine to say thanks for putting themselves out to help me quickly.

 

Very disappoinited with Ford customer service and warranty (athough once convinced they paid up). If I hadn't pushed this I would be driving to france next week with a seriosly faulty car.

 

Hopefully this is the end of the thread!

I have the same car and I often notice it pinking when I run my car with a lower gear or loaded uphill.

I thought this goes worse with low octanes or bad petrol.

Next time I go to the garage I will ask him to check.

Thanks for the hint.