Haha! Maybe!

Well my car has gone in this morning and I'm collecting it at 2pm. They said they will check my reverse gear but if they need to take the gearbox out they will re-book me in and give me a courtesy car for 2 days. Not really sure the receptionist can decide this before the mechanics have looked. She agreed with me I wasn't being fussy and that I shouldn't be having these problems with a new car.

Will update you tonight when I've got my baby back. Always very nervous about garages, my mum had a brand new white metro and some work experience girl with no driving licence reversed a rover straight into it and wrote it off!

At least they've acknowledged your problem and are going to check it out---that's a start anyway.

Hope everything's OK this afternoon and don't accept it back until it's better! :)

Slightly concerned now.

They just rang and asked where my locking wheel nut is...i told them...then hung up and thought "why would they need to take my wheels off?"

Does anyone know?

Slightly concerned now.

They just rang and asked where my locking wheel nut is...i told them...then hung up and thought "why would they need to take my wheels off?"

Does anyone know?

To get to something :) oorrr steal your wheels :) either or, you choice :D

Ok, they have just rung me again and said that:

a) they cant see the volume control not working. I clearly told them it was an intermittent fault.

B) it is normal for gears to crunch into reverse and they had the cheek to tell me i had obviously not been following the 3 second handbook rule. I said, I had and that the car had been stationary. I am sick to death of hearing about this 3 second rule...cant ford make gearboxes?! He then said he couldn't look at the gearbox as then the company would have to pay for it and it wasn't covered by my warranty and ford couldnt afford to look at it. NO BUT I'VE JUST BOUGHT A £12k CAR FROM YOU.

c) my exhaust isnt blowing, apparently all ford exhausts are "noisy"

What a load of absolute crap. The mechanic has said I can go on a test drive with him to identify the problems.

OMG the Cheek!! What are you going to do?!

Ok, they have just rung me again and said that:

a) they cant see the volume control not working. I clearly told them it was an intermittent fault.

B) it is normal for gears to crunch into reverse and they had the cheek to tell me i had obviously not been following the 3 second handbook rule. I said, I had and that the car had been stationary. I am sick to death of hearing about this 3 second rule...cant ford make gearboxes?! He then said he couldn't look at the gearbox as then the company would have to pay for it and it wasn't covered by my warranty and ford couldnt afford to look at it. NO BUT I'VE JUST BOUGHT A £12k CAR FROM YOU.

c) my exhaust isnt blowing, apparently all ford exhausts are "noisy"

What a load of absolute crap. The mechanic has said I can go on a test drive with him to identify the problems.

What 3 sec rule?

We're talking about a brand new car not one 20 odd years old.

Your car is under warranty and for the first year everything is covered--sorry, but they are just trying to fob you off.

Stand your ground and insist that they rectify it.

*nods* What hedgepig said. Totally out of order. I would keep hassling them and if possible get video evidence of the problems if you can. I would be FUMING with those guys!!

They said they couldn't find the problem and couldn't look into it further as the warranty didnt cover it and then ford wouldnt pay them.

I said I will video it next time so then I have proof.

He said my reverse gear was fine and that it was "normal" for it to do this crunching thing. I have just done a 3 point turn and its popped out of gear and made the horrendous crunching noise...yeah normal indeed!

He then said that "Ford have made new fiestas exhaust so they sound a little bit sporty"

He then added "I've never worked on one of these before, pretty nice arent they"

I showed him exactly what I thought was wrong with the exhaust and instead of looking at the exhuast he spent more time looking down my top than at the exahust.

They had rummaged through my CD case and changed the CD in the car, they've adjusted my steering wheel position, adjusted my seat. they take the biscuit.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I wasn't going to sit and wait for them to do nothing any longer.

GRRRRR!

I have bought my car home now. I've had enough.

They said they couldn't find the problem and couldn't look into it further as the warranty didnt cover it and then ford wouldnt pay them.

I said I will video it next time so then I have proof.

He said my reverse gear was fine and that it was "normal" for it to do this crunching thing. I have just done a 3 point turn and its popped out of gear and made the horrendous crunching noise...yeah normal indeed!

He then said that "Ford have made new fiestas exhaust so they sound a little bit sporty"

He then added "I've never worked on one of these before, pretty nice arent they"

I showed him exactly what I thought was wrong with the exhaust and instead of looking at the exhuast he spent more time looking down my top than at the exahust.

They had rummaged through my CD case and changed the CD in the car, they've adjusted my steering wheel position, adjusted my seat. they take the biscuit.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I wasn't going to sit and wait for them to do nothing any longer.

GRRRRR!

I have bought my car home now. I've had enough.

You need to get your other half to go down with you. If the guy was looking down my GF top when i was there he would be eating throw a straw for the next 2 weeks!

There is no way in hell that the gear box should make that noise, im 99% mine doesnt!

You need to speak to a manager at the place and talk to him, he should listen, if he doesnt then take it up with his manager etc until the issue is resolved to your satisfaction which at the end of the day needs to be their top goal!

I am just appalled with their customer service.

He said he had tried putting the car into gear and it was fine. If I hear one more !Removed! thing about keeping the clutch down for 3 seconds I will scream!!!!!!!

I said it doesnt do it all the time, but when it does it makes a horrible noise. He said too come back if the problem got worse but they couldnt take the gear box apart as they hadnt identified the problem....but they will if they take the gearbox apart im sure!

I'm just angry, i didnt pay this amount of money to be given this customer service.

I am just appalled with their customer service.

He said he had tried putting the car into gear and it was fine. If I hear one more !Removed! thing about keeping the clutch down for 3 seconds I will scream!!!!!!!

I said it doesnt do it all the time, but when it does it makes a horrible noise. He said too come back if the problem got worse but they couldnt take the gear box apart as they hadnt identified the problem....but they will if they take the gearbox apart im sure!

I'm just angry, i didnt pay this amount of money to be given this customer service.

Take a camera, and sit in the car until it makes the noise. Then go straight back down there and show him. Thats the only way its going to get the point across me thinks!

Will do I think. I can tell when its going to do it as the smoothness of the gears feels different...that sounds odd i know.

Im sorry, but i think its a load of rubbish that "ford made the exhausts sound more sporty" is this ford speak for "we dont know what the problem is so lets just make something up"

You do have me wondering now because my exhaust does sound 'sporty' from the start. Gives a rally style GRUM on start up :S

If it always sounds like that fine - we would probably have to accept that. But if it has only just started then its not good. We need to find out from Ford if their intention was for it to sound "sporty".

Poohbear, I'm really sorry that they have made you feel so angry and made you feel like you are just a girl who doesnt know what she is talking about. I swear the only time men are good to have around is for support for stuff like this. We pay the bills as well, treat us with respect!

They said they couldn't find the problem and couldn't look into it further as the warranty didnt cover it and then ford wouldnt pay them.

I said I will video it next time so then I have proof.

He said my reverse gear was fine and that it was "normal" for it to do this crunching thing. I have just done a 3 point turn and its popped out of gear and made the horrendous crunching noise...yeah normal indeed!

He then said that "Ford have made new fiestas exhaust so they sound a little bit sporty"

He then added "I've never worked on one of these before, pretty nice arent they"

I showed him exactly what I thought was wrong with the exhaust and instead of looking at the exhuast he spent more time looking down my top than at the exahust.

They had rummaged through my CD case and changed the CD in the car, they've adjusted my steering wheel position, adjusted my seat. they take the biscuit.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I wasn't going to sit and wait for them to do nothing any longer.

GRRRRR!

I have bought my car home now. I've had enough.

That's absolute rubbish about the warranty not covering your gearbox.

It's also total nonsense that it should crunch in reverse--mine doesn't and the two demo Fiestas I test drove in December didn't.

I think you should take your OH / Dad with you next time as they won't be quite so keen to fob you off if you have some extra support with you.

You could also complain to the general manager or dealer principal and if they have a parent company then maybe a carefully worded letter explaining the problem and the treatment you have received.

Whatever happens, don't give up--this dealer has an obligation to sort out this problem. :)

I swear the only time men are good to have around is for support for stuff like this.

Why thanks Jan!

I knew I'd get a compliment out of you if I persevered enough! ;) ;)

I am just appalled with their customer service.

He said he had tried putting the car into gear and it was fine. If I hear one more !Removed! thing about keeping the clutch down for 3 seconds I will scream!!!!!!!

I said it doesnt do it all the time, but when it does it makes a horrible noise. He said too come back if the problem got worse but they couldnt take the gear box apart as they hadnt identified the problem....but they will if they take the gearbox apart im sure!

I'm just angry, i didnt pay this amount of money to be given this customer service.

I know what you mean with this gearbox problem it's an absolute disgrace. I can bet you have the IB5 gearbox fitted in yours, my OH has the same with hers and I had the same with my '05 focus I had, not every time would it do it , but would say most of the time, Fords must be aware of this problem, for Christ sake, it's been going on long enough and with all the complaints I've heard personally and on various Forums, they must Deaf , dumb and thick all rolled into one, however, I think we all know the real issue here and it's cost, i.e all investigations, recalls etc, it just ain't gonna happen, it will kill Ford; and as for this 3 Second thing (sorry to mention it again) what a load of crap, as someone said 'we're not living in the dark ages anymore' !!! better stop there I think as this whole thing is making me see Red!!

Anyway I hope you do get some resolution with your car

Cheers Pete

!Removed! hell, I am appalled at your service today, was it not a fords garage as you mentioned "ford would not pay them" I fully 100% understand exactly the sound, the feeling of the reverse gear crunching as you know, I think I am going to start to record on my phone now when I think its going to happen to have evidence when taking it in on 8th May, at the end of the day I have driven a car everyday (near enough) since 1986 I sure do know how to put a car into reverse and agree a stupid 3 second rule is fooking ridiculous in this day and age - you wouldnt have BMW or Mercedes writing that in their handbook!!!!!

I tell you something, my brother in law is a right finicky bloke and his 07 plate fiesta had a squeak, he went back and forth to fords would not give in, in the end they gave him a brand new car because he drove them mad lol.

what about the indicators? did they do them?

I tell you something, my brother in law is a right finicky bloke and his 07 plate fiesta had a squeak, he went back and forth to fords would not give in, in the end they gave him a brand new car because he drove them mad lol.

Absolutely right, if I had a problem with my car, and if they messed me about, I'd be their worst nightmare until it was sorted.

That's the only way to be with some people--you've got to be hard and ruthless just like they are.

It doesn't matter whether you've paid £1 or £5000 the principle is the same.

You've bought a brand new car--all the parts are brand new so you don't expect a blowing exhaust and a crunching gearbox--don't think they were options in the brochure somehow.

I am going to use that phrase John, when I go take mine in, "I didnt opt for the non working indicator, broken seatbelt, faulty bootcatch, reverse gear crunch, options" lol.

Why thanks Jan!

I knew I'd get a compliment out of you if I persevered enough! ;) ;)

You have your moments!

I didn't mention the indicatiors Michelle, by then I'd had enough of being spoken to like I didn't understand anything.

He had the cheek to say maybe I wasn't putting the car in reverse properly. I have had a driving licence for 2 years, I do know how to drive.

This 3 second rule is ridiculous, he sat and explained to me exactly how the gearbox worked, then said it was normal for it to crunch...no i dont think so!

I'm glad you know what i'm talking about Michelle, you can feel it can't you?

This is a genuine Ford garage I took it to yes :( They basically said they couldnt identify the problem but couldnt take the gearbox apart as they werent allowed to when they didnt know what the problem was (bet this is to do with keeping within book time on jobs) my point is, they might have found the problem as im convinced there is something wrong. When it does this crunching noise I always worry it wont go back into reverse again or something and i'll be stuck in the middle of the road!

And I do have the IB5 gearbox yes...

I'm just really fed up, I didn't buy a car to get such rubbish customer service. Thinking of writing a complaint, do you think I should? Feel like I cant take my car back there now because I think they think I dont know anything when really I tell them the problem and they just dont seem to know how to fix it.

This happens occasionally in my 1998 Fiesta, I have no idea what the gearbox is. I understand how you feel poohbear, its like theres no trust there.

Thats it exactly, i just cant trust them to fix the problem. It just feels like they either cant be bothered or dont know what the problem is :(

From where you stand at the moment, (aside from making fairly serious complaints directed at people quite high up the chain) all i can think is maybe drive to some other dealerships (from other dealer groups) and talk to them about it. You may eventually get an honest answer about it, and maybe a solution (that isnt a 3 sec rule), but it looks doubtful that the problem will actually be fixed (due to the nature of the problem). They are unlikely to fix, more likely to replace the box, that would be the best result, but the problem is likely to re-occur with a new box, i would imagine.