Lease car problem. Advice?
Discussion
Hi all. I have a 2014 focus 1.6 tdci that for the past 9/10 months has had a recurring fault. When it went in for its 2nd service we told the dealer (Arnold Clark ford) that the mpg had dropped from a steady 50ish mpg to low 40s and the car was terribly down on power.
No fault found. Nothing on diagnostics. Service carried out and told to see how it goes for the next 1-2k
No better. Car went back in a about 3 months later. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong. Told them not happy with that. They eventually diagnosed a broken turbo clamp and replaced it. Car felt instantly tons better. Mpg came back up. Happy days.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Car had deteriorated again worse on power and mpg dropped again and now accompanied by a metallic rattle at certain revs. A glance under the engine cover noticed a missing bolt from the heatshield and the exterior of the turbo covered in black soot. Took it back again. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong with it. No chance. Refused the car back so in the garage it went again.
This time they reckon they have found a turbo gasket failed and another clamp. So they were replaced and the car roadtested. Picked it up and the car was worse. Hesitating and no power and the rattle was still there. Pulling away needed loads of revs and no in gear pull at all. To top it off they dented and gouged the bonnet.
Went back in the next day and got the service manager involved. He sent a tech out with me who agreed the car felt terrible and confirmed the rattle. They said bring the car in weds (last week) and we will get to the bottom of it no matter what. If it needs a turbo or dpf then so be it. They also said the bonnet would get sorted ( no arguing so they knew they had done it).
At this point I get the lease co (lex) involved as it's getting silly. They were very helpful and supportive and agreed that this needs sorting and would be on the dealers case.
So I called today for an update. The car has been on the diagnostics and there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously. They haven't done any physical inspections of the turbo or dpf. Nothing. They been waiting for a new heatshield and the car has gone to the body shop to have the bonnet sorted. They don't know when it will be ready.
Now I'm not far off entering the 4th year of Lease ( daft I know. I knew no better at the time) and now after today's update Lex are siding with the dealers viewpoint that if there's nothing on the diagnostics nothing they can do. And as a classic line Lex told me that cars deteriorate with age and wear and tear. Seriously a 33 month old car with 24k is "expected" to deteriorate!!!
I'm now so fed up with it I just want rid, i have better things to do than chase it and keep taking the car into the dealers who are complete morons.
Sorry for the long winded rant but throwing it out to the masses what can I actually do?
Lex aren't interested in me rejecting the car as ford have told them it's fine. Ford won't/can't fix it. So I'm stuck with it and risk a 4th year of no warranty with a known fault. Or just pay the early termination and put it down to experience?
Any help gratefully received.
No fault found. Nothing on diagnostics. Service carried out and told to see how it goes for the next 1-2k
No better. Car went back in a about 3 months later. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong. Told them not happy with that. They eventually diagnosed a broken turbo clamp and replaced it. Car felt instantly tons better. Mpg came back up. Happy days.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Car had deteriorated again worse on power and mpg dropped again and now accompanied by a metallic rattle at certain revs. A glance under the engine cover noticed a missing bolt from the heatshield and the exterior of the turbo covered in black soot. Took it back again. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong with it. No chance. Refused the car back so in the garage it went again.
This time they reckon they have found a turbo gasket failed and another clamp. So they were replaced and the car roadtested. Picked it up and the car was worse. Hesitating and no power and the rattle was still there. Pulling away needed loads of revs and no in gear pull at all. To top it off they dented and gouged the bonnet.
Went back in the next day and got the service manager involved. He sent a tech out with me who agreed the car felt terrible and confirmed the rattle. They said bring the car in weds (last week) and we will get to the bottom of it no matter what. If it needs a turbo or dpf then so be it. They also said the bonnet would get sorted ( no arguing so they knew they had done it).
At this point I get the lease co (lex) involved as it's getting silly. They were very helpful and supportive and agreed that this needs sorting and would be on the dealers case.
So I called today for an update. The car has been on the diagnostics and there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously. They haven't done any physical inspections of the turbo or dpf. Nothing. They been waiting for a new heatshield and the car has gone to the body shop to have the bonnet sorted. They don't know when it will be ready.
Now I'm not far off entering the 4th year of Lease ( daft I know. I knew no better at the time) and now after today's update Lex are siding with the dealers viewpoint that if there's nothing on the diagnostics nothing they can do. And as a classic line Lex told me that cars deteriorate with age and wear and tear. Seriously a 33 month old car with 24k is "expected" to deteriorate!!!
I'm now so fed up with it I just want rid, i have better things to do than chase it and keep taking the car into the dealers who are complete morons.
Sorry for the long winded rant but throwing it out to the masses what can I actually do?
Lex aren't interested in me rejecting the car as ford have told them it's fine. Ford won't/can't fix it. So I'm stuck with it and risk a 4th year of no warranty with a known fault. Or just pay the early termination and put it down to experience?
Any help gratefully received.
Take it to another dealer. Don't let it go out of warrenty with this issue unresolved. The lease company have no real interest and aren't in a position to question the dealer even if they were bothered. Escalate to Ford UK if no joy at second dealer.
If it were me, and I couldn't physically see an obvious problem under the bonnet/up on my ramps, I'd be tempted to pay my local mechanic £60 to have a good poke around and let me know his thoughts.
If it were me, and I couldn't physically see an obvious problem under the bonnet/up on my ramps, I'd be tempted to pay my local mechanic £60 to have a good poke around and let me know his thoughts.
tallpaul26 said:
Monkeylegend said:
Does your agreement allow you to VT ?
You can't VT a lease. Best case is the lease company will let you return the vehicle for a percentage of the outstanding payments e.g. with VWFS this is 55%. No idea for Lex. 
tallpaul26 said:
Take it to another dealer. Don't let it go out of warrenty with this issue unresolved. The lease company have no real interest and aren't in a position to question the dealer even if they were bothered. Escalate to Ford UK if no joy at second dealer.
If it were me, and I couldn't physically see an obvious problem under the bonnet/up on my ramps, I'd be tempted to pay my local mechanic £60 to have a good poke around and let me know his thoughts.
The problem is I'm surrounded by arnold clark and Evans Halshaw dealers who are all as bad as each other. I've already contacted Ford uk and they won't deal with me as im not the owner and referred me to the Lease co. Lex were fantastically helpful to start with and I know for a fact that they have been in regular contact with the dealer so they are paying some attention. But today they've kind of flipped a switch and taken the dealer stance. I nearly spat my coffee out when they gave me the wear and tear line.If it were me, and I couldn't physically see an obvious problem under the bonnet/up on my ramps, I'd be tempted to pay my local mechanic £60 to have a good poke around and let me know his thoughts.
Lex have said in the past they can get an independent engineer to inspect but there's been no mention of that option as yet.
The independent garage isn't a bad shout if I get no further, the only visible evidence is the build up of soot on the turbo exterior which has been ongoing since the problem began. The dealer claimed that this is now sorted with the replacement of the turbo gasket.
sdh2903 said:
Hi all. I have a 2014 focus 1.6 tdci that for the past 9/10 months has had a recurring fault. When it went in for its 2nd service we told the dealer (Arnold Clark ford) that the mpg had dropped from a steady 50ish mpg to low 40s and the car was terribly down on power.
No fault found. Nothing on diagnostics. Service carried out and told to see how it goes for the next 1-2k
No better. Car went back in a about 3 months later. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong. Told them not happy with that. They eventually diagnosed a broken turbo clamp and replaced it. Car felt instantly tons better. Mpg came back up. Happy days.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Car had deteriorated again worse on power and mpg dropped again and now accompanied by a metallic rattle at certain revs. A glance under the engine cover noticed a missing bolt from the heatshield and the exterior of the turbo covered in black soot. Took it back again. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong with it. No chance. Refused the car back so in the garage it went again.
This time they reckon they have found a turbo gasket failed and another clamp. So they were replaced and the car roadtested. Picked it up and the car was worse. Hesitating and no power and the rattle was still there. Pulling away needed loads of revs and no in gear pull at all. To top it off they dented and gouged the bonnet.
Went back in the next day and got the service manager involved. He sent a tech out with me who agreed the car felt terrible and confirmed the rattle. They said bring the car in weds (last week) and we will get to the bottom of it no matter what. If it needs a turbo or dpf then so be it. They also said the bonnet would get sorted ( no arguing so they knew they had done it).
At this point I get the lease co (lex) involved as it's getting silly. They were very helpful and supportive and agreed that this needs sorting and would be on the dealers case.
So I called today for an update. The car has been on the diagnostics and there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously. They haven't done any physical inspections of the turbo or dpf. Nothing. They been waiting for a new heatshield and the car has gone to the body shop to have the bonnet sorted. They don't know when it will be ready.
Now I'm not far off entering the 4th year of Lease ( daft I know. I knew no better at the time) and now after today's update Lex are siding with the dealers viewpoint that if there's nothing on the diagnostics nothing they can do. And as a classic line Lex told me that cars deteriorate with age and wear and tear. Seriously a 33 month old car with 24k is "expected" to deteriorate!!!
I'm now so fed up with it I just want rid, i have better things to do than chase it and keep taking the car into the dealers who are complete morons.
Sorry for the long winded rant but throwing it out to the masses what can I actually do?
Lex aren't interested in me rejecting the car as ford have told them it's fine. Ford won't/can't fix it. So I'm stuck with it and risk a 4th year of no warranty with a known fault. Or just pay the early termination and put it down to experience?
Any help gratefully received.
Your first mistake was taking it to Arnold Clark. They are appalling. I had 2011 focus with the same engine and it kept going to limp mode. Their diagnosis was that it does that when the service is due, didnt bother changing the fuel filter which was the actual problem. No fault found. Nothing on diagnostics. Service carried out and told to see how it goes for the next 1-2k
No better. Car went back in a about 3 months later. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong. Told them not happy with that. They eventually diagnosed a broken turbo clamp and replaced it. Car felt instantly tons better. Mpg came back up. Happy days.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Car had deteriorated again worse on power and mpg dropped again and now accompanied by a metallic rattle at certain revs. A glance under the engine cover noticed a missing bolt from the heatshield and the exterior of the turbo covered in black soot. Took it back again. Nothing on diagnostics nothing wrong with it. No chance. Refused the car back so in the garage it went again.
This time they reckon they have found a turbo gasket failed and another clamp. So they were replaced and the car roadtested. Picked it up and the car was worse. Hesitating and no power and the rattle was still there. Pulling away needed loads of revs and no in gear pull at all. To top it off they dented and gouged the bonnet.
Went back in the next day and got the service manager involved. He sent a tech out with me who agreed the car felt terrible and confirmed the rattle. They said bring the car in weds (last week) and we will get to the bottom of it no matter what. If it needs a turbo or dpf then so be it. They also said the bonnet would get sorted ( no arguing so they knew they had done it).
At this point I get the lease co (lex) involved as it's getting silly. They were very helpful and supportive and agreed that this needs sorting and would be on the dealers case.
So I called today for an update. The car has been on the diagnostics and there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously. They haven't done any physical inspections of the turbo or dpf. Nothing. They been waiting for a new heatshield and the car has gone to the body shop to have the bonnet sorted. They don't know when it will be ready.
Now I'm not far off entering the 4th year of Lease ( daft I know. I knew no better at the time) and now after today's update Lex are siding with the dealers viewpoint that if there's nothing on the diagnostics nothing they can do. And as a classic line Lex told me that cars deteriorate with age and wear and tear. Seriously a 33 month old car with 24k is "expected" to deteriorate!!!
I'm now so fed up with it I just want rid, i have better things to do than chase it and keep taking the car into the dealers who are complete morons.
Sorry for the long winded rant but throwing it out to the masses what can I actually do?
Lex aren't interested in me rejecting the car as ford have told them it's fine. Ford won't/can't fix it. So I'm stuck with it and risk a 4th year of no warranty with a known fault. Or just pay the early termination and put it down to experience?
Any help gratefully received.
pavarotti1980 said:
Your first mistake was taking it to Arnold Clark.
Not true.The first mistake was taking a lease beyond the warranty period. Arnold Clark was the second mistake.
Please don't do either of those things again
How long is left on the lease? Can you just persevere with it as-is until it goes back?
a said:
Not true.
The first mistake was taking a lease beyond the warranty period. Arnold Clark was the second mistake.
Please don't do either of those things again
How long is left on the lease? Can you just persevere with it as-is until it goes back?
I would agree but it has only just had its 2nd service so well within warranty period for nowThe first mistake was taking a lease beyond the warranty period. Arnold Clark was the second mistake.
Please don't do either of those things again
How long is left on the lease? Can you just persevere with it as-is until it goes back?
pavarotti1980 said:
I would agree but it has only just had its 2nd service so well within warranty period for now
sdh2903 said:
Now I'm not far off entering the 4th year of Lease
3 year warranty on a Focus.Although that does answer my question above... just over a year remaining on the lease.
Hope it gets sorted before warranty is up. It's bad enough throwing money at your own car, let alone someone else's!
Thanks all. Yes hold my hands up this was the first foray into leasing. Lesson learnt. It never even crossed my mind at the time with regards to the warranty.
The dealer is also one I've learned from. I will never use an Arnold Clark dealer for as long as I have a hole In my a**e. The second time the car went in they started making excuses as I was booking the car in. Yes before even looking at it.
Just about 15 months left on the deal. It will cost around 1k to end early. We've pretty much decided that even if the car is sorted we will be getting shot as I don't want the uncertainty of that 4th year hanging over us. Yes we will lose 1k but will save 250 on next service and mot and a pair of tyres at 240 quid (odd size) so a net 500 quid loss.
I was furious at Lex's response last night and emailed them back chapter and verse and also quoted some of the sales of goods act just to try and show I wasn't going quietly. Funny enough I've had no response.
The dealer is also one I've learned from. I will never use an Arnold Clark dealer for as long as I have a hole In my a**e. The second time the car went in they started making excuses as I was booking the car in. Yes before even looking at it.
Just about 15 months left on the deal. It will cost around 1k to end early. We've pretty much decided that even if the car is sorted we will be getting shot as I don't want the uncertainty of that 4th year hanging over us. Yes we will lose 1k but will save 250 on next service and mot and a pair of tyres at 240 quid (odd size) so a net 500 quid loss.
I was furious at Lex's response last night and emailed them back chapter and verse and also quoted some of the sales of goods act just to try and show I wasn't going quietly. Funny enough I've had no response.
Probably as much to do with Ford's routine for diagnosing faults as much as anything.
From what I have read elsewhere on this forum, if the on board diagnostics do not report an issue after a scan then there is very little their service team can do as they have no fault to log their time against to investigate the fault. If they can't daignose a problem to fix (and thus potentially not get paid for it) then are you going to pay for them to do the investigative work with no guarantee of a result?
Their hands are tied to a certain extent but short of becoming and incredibly regular and uncomfortable pain to them there is probably very little they will do.
From what I have read elsewhere on this forum, if the on board diagnostics do not report an issue after a scan then there is very little their service team can do as they have no fault to log their time against to investigate the fault. If they can't daignose a problem to fix (and thus potentially not get paid for it) then are you going to pay for them to do the investigative work with no guarantee of a result?
Their hands are tied to a certain extent but short of becoming and incredibly regular and uncomfortable pain to them there is probably very little they will do.
Defconluke said:
Probably as much to do with Ford's routine for diagnosing faults as much as anything.
From what I have read elsewhere on this forum, if the on board diagnostics do not report an issue after a scan then there is very little their service team can do as they have no fault to log their time against to investigate the fault. If they can't daignose a problem to fix (and thus potentially not get paid for it) then are you going to pay for them to do the investigative work with no guarantee of a result?
Their hands are tied to a certain extent but short of becoming and incredibly regular and uncomfortable pain to them there is probably very little they will do.
Yes this seems the crux of the situation. No fault codes = no fault. Despite what the car is actually doing. Sad state of affairs that this is the pinnacle of motor engineering. The service manager apparently has decided to change the fuel filter now to try it. I say apparantly as the dealership aren't even bothering to keep me updated, I'm getting word third hand now from the idiot at Lex. From what I have read elsewhere on this forum, if the on board diagnostics do not report an issue after a scan then there is very little their service team can do as they have no fault to log their time against to investigate the fault. If they can't daignose a problem to fix (and thus potentially not get paid for it) then are you going to pay for them to do the investigative work with no guarantee of a result?
Their hands are tied to a certain extent but short of becoming and incredibly regular and uncomfortable pain to them there is probably very little they will do.
Need to try and find a replacement for a focus zetec s thats available for delivery at the end of October now. Something sporty ish that's not too heavy on juice and has 4/5 doors.
Edited by sdh2903 on Tuesday 8th August 22:05
Just a follow up. Car was with the dealer for 11 days. They've replaced a heatshield that was the suspect for the rattle. Resprayed the bonnet they damaged but were adament that there was no problem with the lack of power. Even though their technician agreed there was. After much tooing and froing they decided to replace the fuel filter. They wanted to charge me for this as it's not due til next service but Lex agreed to cover it.
Picked the car up today and it is marginally better but it still feels as though it's being 'held back' and no where near how good it was 12 months ago.
Lex on the whole have been pretty good. After firming their stance saying there was nothing they could do and offering 50 quid compo. They softened after I sent a very stern email telling them I was not happy and was looking into taking legal advice on the matter.
So we have been offered 2 choices. Keep the car get one month free lease And if the problem reocurres they will take up a rejection with ford after an independent engineer has inspected. Or hand the car back and they will discount the early termination fee by 50%. ( so 600 ish quid) taking Into account that it's about to need a major service and mot (250) and another 2 tyres it will prob cost a net 150 quid to get shot. Which I think is probably the best option given my naivety in taking the 4 year lease and the cars problem history.
Thanks all for the advice.
Picked the car up today and it is marginally better but it still feels as though it's being 'held back' and no where near how good it was 12 months ago.
Lex on the whole have been pretty good. After firming their stance saying there was nothing they could do and offering 50 quid compo. They softened after I sent a very stern email telling them I was not happy and was looking into taking legal advice on the matter.
So we have been offered 2 choices. Keep the car get one month free lease And if the problem reocurres they will take up a rejection with ford after an independent engineer has inspected. Or hand the car back and they will discount the early termination fee by 50%. ( so 600 ish quid) taking Into account that it's about to need a major service and mot (250) and another 2 tyres it will prob cost a net 150 quid to get shot. Which I think is probably the best option given my naivety in taking the 4 year lease and the cars problem history.
Thanks all for the advice.
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