2014 Ka Edge - Brand New But Issues (Please Help)

[Kenny1001]

Dear all

Please be gentle, this is my first post.

I purchased 3 weeks ago a brand new Ka edge with connectivity pack. I have done 500 miles and have noticed a number of issues. I was wondering if people could tell me if these are normal or if you have any idea what the issues could be.

Here goes with the list of issues

1. 1st gear is really difficult to control, sometimes from standing accelerates nicely, other times there is no power / movement then the car suddenly launches itself forward uncontrollably

2. Judder at low revs in 2nd and 3rd gear

3. Exhaust is noisy and when stationary if you stand at the back of the car it sounds as though it is blowing

4. The coolant fan kicks in whenever you are stationary for a few seconds.

5 funny burning smell after long journeys

I certainly didn't expect to get this from a car that is only 3 weeks old, it is due to go into ford on the 12th, but your help would be greatly appreciated as at the moment I am considering envoking the sale of goods act and handing it back as I don't really want them fitting parts to a brand new car.

[delboy]

i would hand it back and get money back of a diffrent car. the smell maybe the clutch if its an eggy smell. the gear box maybe a duff one. as the goy to let you drive the same model to see what that's like as i bet the gear change will be much better.

ps

all the problems your having with a brand new car is not normal !!

[Kenny1001]

Thank you for your reply, I went into the garage this morning and spoke to the sales manager, he wants the service department to have a look to discuss options.

Has anybody had any experience in returning a brand new car?

[alexp999]

Is it petrol or diesel?

[GrahamJC]

You may like to take a look at this article I found. I would suggest that when you take your car to the garage, with a

view to them having a look at it, make it clear that you are reserving your right to reject the car whatever the outcome of

their findings.

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/your-new-car-rights

[Kenny1001]

It's petrol

[alexp999]

1-4 doesn't sound normal, but 5 can be on a new engine.

We test drove a fresh of the transporter demo that really stank. Dealer said it can do that until run in a bit, although I would have thought by 500 miles it would have burnt off what is used in the manufacturing process.

I'd take it back and demand it is fixed or you will reject the car.

[delboy]

keep us posted on the outcome with the dealer/service dpt. i personally would refuse the car back due to part 1 of your list as i would never feel safe. when you drop it off ask for a car to use whist they sort your one out or phone the salesman to arrange a car for you for when you take your one back

[Kenny1001]

I will keep you all posted, I've got a courtesy car booked for the 12th when it goes in. I also wrote a letter (sent via e-mail) to the sales manager stating that even though I was letting them look at the car / potentially repair it I was not negating my right to reject the car under the sales of goods act.

What's even more annoying is he idling has gotten worse, and the salesman is not responding to my requests for him to call me back. I also appear to have developed an annoying rattle on the dashboard somewhere.

It's a real shame as its a nice little car. I've got a load of long journeys to make over the weekend so will be interesting to see if I end up calling a recovery truck.

[delboy]

from past experience once the salesman has sold the car he is not interested anymore. you most prob find it's his day off when you call.

keep all paperwork & emails but best to give it over in writing & get them to sign it and get a full report on the car. sounds like you got a friday car.

once it's sorted presuming they do sort it take someone with you and makesure it's to your satisfaction and check they have replaced all parts that they remove & have not damaged anything especially if they goto do anything with the rattle in the dash as thigs dont seem to fit back as they do in the factory

best of luck with it.

[TomsFocus]

1,2 and 5 all sound like the clutch is at fault tbh.

3 can be normal for a new car, exhausts have to 'bed in' so will sound a bit louder to start with. That said, it might not have been fitted correctly and be blowing somewhere.

4 seems normal on small engined new cars. I had a 107 exactly the same and was told that the engine runs so close to its optimum temperature to keep the emissions low that it's normal for the fans to be on a lot when stationary.

[Kenny1001]

Well the car went in today, and low and behold they phoned me to say they could find absolutely nothing wrong, not even the idling problem which is always there.

I tried to get hold of the new sales manager who was on holiday and he hadn't even told the deputy what was happening.

The assistant sales manager when I told him I wanted to reject the car said it could only be dealt with by the manager and then accused me of just not liking the car and wanting to swap it for something else.

I've apparently got to wait until Monday now to see the manager and wait for them to call me to make an appointment.

Anyone got any suggestions on where I go from here?

[delboy]

i would make a letter out stating that you refuse the car back & want a full refund. dont forget to make a copy for yourself.

you need to talk to the manager not a sales person & bluntly refuse the car & hand the letter ove stating all the faults & the date they had the car to sort it & the date it was returned to you etc. make it clear & straight to the point and stand your ground & take a friend or someone that know how to deal with

with this matter. if they wont accept it contact trading standards & if your in the aa/rac contact them as they maybe able to help you. if that fails contact the manufacturers http://www.ford.co.uk/Footer/ContactUs

i did say that the sales guy would be on his day off. they are so predictable.

phone them and ask for the manager that runs the place not the sales manager he is just a puppet.

i would go down & make myself seen and make it clear i was not happy & see the manager. can you tell us the dealer please so we know to keep well clear of them

have a look here

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/for-consumers/motor-vehicles/got-a-problem/faulty-or-defective-vehicles#steps

[Kenny1001]

Thank you for your advice. I went into another dealer today and they fired up another KA edge to show me how it idles and they agree with me that mine isn't idling correctly from how I have described it. They have asked me to take it to them on Thursday and they will have a look for me.

When I collected my car this morning, I even got a technician to come out with me, he told me the idling was normal for the car as it runs close to the limit for emissions, he said a clunky gearbox is normal for these cars. He agreed 1st gear was lively but said there was nothing mechanically wrong with it and to give it to about 1500 miles to bed in, and he said again a noisy exhaust is normal and he couldn't find any leaks.

He also agreed the shift indicators get you to change far too early.

Be interesting to see if the sales manager dies ring me on Monday.

The dealership is Perry's in Aylesbury

[delboy]

if the other garage agreed there is a problem with the idling and the shift indicators cannot be right.. im sure that cannot be correct. ask if you can test drive one of their cars or even book a test drive with another garage to see what its like .

what about the rattle in the dash ?

[Kenny1001]

The rattle in the dash seems to have disappeared.

The other ford dealership started another ka for me and low and behold no idling problem, they want to see mine to confirm if they think there is or isn't a problem, as it's under warranty and they are a ford dealership I may even give it to then to fix

[delboy]

thats what i would do let them sort it but put it in writing to the dealership you purchased the car from incase it cant be sorted so that way you can always take it back for a full refund.you should not have a problem if its a for dealership as they are all linked for servicing etc.

i would never go back to the place you purchased it from as they have already said there is nothing wrong with it.

[Simonb2795]

Hi all,

Long time listener, first time caller................

Just chipping as about a month ago I too picked up a new, 64 plate Ka Edge and share your pain with first gear. Pulling away and moving along in first is a real challenge at times however I found this to be the case in the year old Zetec model I test drove. Kenny, did you test drive one at all? Could the garage in question let you drive their demo car to get an idea if yours is worse than normal? FYI - I deal with Perrys in High Wycombe and find them generally above average to good!

My findings with first seem to come down its very high biting point - the distance from biting point to clutch fully up is minuscule! Also you barely need to breath on the gas pedal (sorry..gas.....hangs head) to get enough revs although I do find myself watching the rev counter as I find it tricky to balance from muscle memory and engine noise alone. I find the smoothest I get is to get the rev counter to 1000, bring up the clutch to almost all the way up and then as it travels the remaining few mill, apply some more revs gently before then pushing down quite hard to move off. Mentally I have just chalked up this need to change driving style down to the new fangled engines in cars these days and the fact that for 5 years I have drive an automatic (Fusion, which I love!) and a diesel manual Transit Connect.

Generally the engine in the Ka is pretty lack lustre but in the perfect conditions you can easily find yourself flying along - slow speed manoeuvring is a pig though.........Still, for me it is cheap to insure and run and gets me along the A40/M40 everyday and thats what I need right now.

Cheers

Simon

[Kenny1001]

Had a meeting with the sales manager today, and all sorted. It appears the issues are just how the car drives but not what I expected.

My car is now being replaced with a fiesta.

[alexp999]

I'd guess that being built by Fiat didn't help.

At least you have had a positive outcome :)

[Grebe]

Did you see BBC Watchdog last week concerning the Fiat 500. Exactly the same problem. Even an expert (ex Top Gear Stig) couldn't get it to pull away on a hill.

[Kenny1001]

No I missed that, but would make sense. In fairness I can't fault the way the sales manager has dealt with the issue. Restored my faith in the garage

[delboy]

glad you sorted it kenny. i think you have done the right thing on changing the car. i hope you test drove the fiesta. did you mention you went to another garage & their ka did not have an idoling problem like your one did & did they accept it was not fit for purpose allowd you the change it for the fiesta

[delboy]

did you get your new fiesta and is it ok ?

[Kenny1001]

The fiesta is due to be delivered this week, so still have the Ka at present.

They stated that the idling is as the cars are, but some are worse than others as based on the fiat 500

They were really helpful stating that sometimes the car just isn't as we expect, and they have gone out of their way to help me, was really impressed with the sales manager and the salesman that is now dealing with the new car.

Have had loads of updates on the cars status which is really nice.