Got a SH Car

[ryoken]

I gotta ask the question.....

Did you buy them new or second hand?

Just asking because my experience of Fords is a little different to yours.

Mercury was a hand me down from Grandfather who passed away. So it was used.

F-150 was new, and it was a horrible truck. Had balls like no other with the 302/5.0L But every month something on it blew up/died/broke/stopped working what ever.

Now like said above. Any car of any make can be bad. I have worked at a major dealership when younger as a mechanic, and you would not believe the abuse/excuses/stupidity i have seen.(IE. "Engine is making a tapping sound" looked under when on hoist, and piston was hanging out side of block from a 6 Inch hole)

First thing is ask if you can have a Mechanic(yours not theirs) look at it. Do not have to, but if they say no walk away. Guaranteed something is wrong.

Second test drive it on a dry day(water is a lubricant, and will hide noises/creaks/thumps) Do not drive it like an old woman, but give it hard up to 100KPH and break hard a few times. Swerve back and forth and listen/feel for loseness/noise.

Outside of car of course look under hood, and underneath. Look at tires for even wear. Push down on all 4 corners and check for bounce/noises/creaks.

Compare prices. Chances are if it is lower then all others of same make/year/milege then there is a reason.

If told it was lady driven? THAT is not a good thing. Most women never check things, and drive it until something breaks.(no offence women, just a fact)

If you really want to go hardcore you can get a dye that you add to fluids. After you drive 5-10KM use a black light, and any leak no matter how minor will show up.

And last if you are a none smoker like myself. DO NOT BUY A SMOKERS CAR!!! No matter what you do, you will never get the stink of cigs out of the car.


PS. Oh 1 more thing. Any smoke, especially blue smoke coming from car is a very bad thing. Run away as fast as possible.

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[Agmen of Eladesor]

PS. Oh 1 more thing. Any smoke, especially blue smoke coming from car is a very bad thing. Run away as fast as possible.

Unless it's a diesel. Then it's SUPPOSED to make blue smoke when it starts up, because of unburnt fuel. C'mon, Ryoken, you ought to know that, truck driver you... :)

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.

[ryoken]

Unless it's a diesel. Then it's SUPPOSED to make blue smoke when it starts up, because of unburnt fuel. C'mon, Ryoken, you ought to know that, truck driver you... :)

Not in Canada. Only older diesels. New stuff here is all clean Diesel with those dam filters, and ultra low sulfer diesel. All here have to now have a DPF or the new thing here DEF http://www.discoverdef.com/def-overview/faq/#def
No more blue smoke, or any smoke from Diesels. I can cold start, and rev my truck now, and get nothing. It is considered cleaner now then gasoline.

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[Zahas]

Bought a Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi