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Poor gas mileage, Rough Idle, and gas fumes - LEMON?
2007 Ford Focus SE purchase in June 2008.
1) Has always averaged 17-18 mpg (city). Ford garage admits this is poor, but cannot find the problem. This has been checked 3-4 times and they've never been able to figure out why.
2) Has a rougher than normal idle - my nine yr old asks me why the mirrors are shaking. This has been checked, but they've claimed they can't get it to "duplicate."
3) My husband says he can smell faint gas fumes. On a few occassions, they've gotten pretty strong. The worst it ever was we had to turn off the heat (the fan) and roll down the windows because the smell was burning our eyes and we couldn't breath. They've checked, at least twice, for gas leaks, but haven't found any.
I'm tired of this game. The garage says they can't find the problem but says something's wrong. Ford Motors says without them knowing what's wrong they won't approve further tests or repairs. Oh, but they're sorry about our mileage problem and believe us that something's wrong.
What's the point in having a warranty if they won't stand behind it? Do we have a chance at having this declared a lemon and having Ford replace it or buy it back?
I have already contacted Ford's customer service department - No help.
I even went as far to contact a VP that I managed to find an email address for. His assistant contacted me - again, more time wasted.
It was an 07 purchased in 08 - so it was used, but it's still under factory (power train) warranty. We bought it with 31,000 miles on it and we've been fighting with them (pretty much) ever since. It now has 40,000 miles and I'm losing faith and paitence. I have contacted an attorney and I'm waiting to hear back from him - if for no other reason to push the issue of them fixing the car...although, after 8 months of trying, I think we deserve more.
7 Answers
- Robert MLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
There is a very good chance that your problem is the fuel pressure regulator. This is a vacuum operated valve that controls fuel pressure from the 2 fuel lines. One comes from the tank, the other goes back to the tank. Should the diaphragm get wasted from bad fuel (some fuels actually break the diaphragm if they have methanol in them). then the valve will dump raw fuel into one or more of the closest cylinders. Since you bought the car used, it is pretty hard to prove that the previous owner did not use a fuel, even by mistake, that had methanol in it. Some fuel injection cleaners also have this chemical in them. Big Mistake. Anyway, to test this thing out, remove the vacuum line to the regulator. If gas spurts out of thevacuum feed, the valve is bad. Proper engine operation, and fuel milegage, should be restored upon replacement. To get the most from this engine, install a set of Bosch Fusion or Nippondenso TT spark plugs. They simply are more efficient burning plugs. Try to always use a top tier fule with good detergent factors. Read up on this in the internet. Good Luck!! Please, E-mail me back with what you discover!!!
- Mad JackLv 71 decade ago
Check your owner's manual. Most manufacturers have a factory customer care department. This is usually a toll free call.
State your problem calmly and accurately. You should have some documentation from each time you brought this car in for service. Have this on hand when you make the call for reference. Ford will contact the service manager at your dealership. Your dealership does not want this kind of contact from the company. Ford has been paying this dealership to repair this car and will want to know why it isn't fixed correctly yet.
If this doesn't work, this type of problem is covered by the Lemon Laws because this car was purchased new. But for the law to apply you need to get this resolved before the factory warranty is up.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Short, correct answer - yes. But, is it worth the trouble?
Leaking injector, faulty fuel pressure regulator, faulty O2 sensor are a few of the top things to check.
Keep at Ford until they break. Call the Customer Service line if you haven't already. Demand to speak to manager, supervisors, etc. Prepaid lawyers, etc can also be somewhat effective. I had a buddy that was offered a buyback amount on his Nissan truck after his lawyer typed up a letter and sent it to Nissan.
Good luck. It's one little problem that's causing it - not the whole thing.
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- MingLv 51 decade ago
Ford probably laid off all their good employees and kept the cheap ignorant ones. Post their diagnostic report and let me see it.
That car is supposed to get roughly 29 mpg highway. I suggest you get rid of that Ford and buy a japanese car, Honda, Toyota, Nissan.
If budget is a problem, the lower end japanese cars are okay too. Mazda, Mitsubishi
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Short answer - NO!
