Ford KA ford ka electrical problems
Variant: 1.3 Luxury
Model Year: 2004
Categories:
Leaks & Noises
Bear with me. This needs explaining.
First problem: battery light
A month ago my girlfriend purchased a Ford KA 1.3 for £2000 from a trader in Sheffield. When she bought it, the battery light was on and she was told this was due to the car having stood unused. After about two weeks, including a trip to Eastbourne and back, the light was still on. She took the car to a battery centre and they told her the battery was fully charged and the alternator was working.
She then took the car to another garage near to her workplace, her told her the problem was due to corroded wires. They charged her £30 and then told her they were unable to fix the light and that they had no idea what was causing the problem.
Second problem: ABS light/Speedo dead/CD player dead/car not turning over
On a rainy night the car died. She told me the ABS light came on, the CD player died and the car wouldn't turn over. She left it ten minutes and managed to limp the car home. She contacted the traders, who had sold her the car with a three-month warranty. Tbey told her they were busy and would struggle to fit the car into their schedule but she could take the car to another garage under the warranty. Cue loads of messing around with the warranty company and eventually the car ended up at a garage, who told her the problem was the alternator. The total bill exceeded what the warranty company would cover and she had to pay a further £60. When the car came back the battery light was off but without seeing what happens in extremely wet conditions I'm not confident this problem is solved.
Third problem: electric windows dead/CD player dead/AC dead
Tonight she told me that yesterday, in the hot weather, the electric windows would not work. The CD player and AC were also dead. She could still drive the car. Today, these problems have gone.
So, in summary, she's got a car she's had for less than a month with a series of intermittent electrical problems. If it were my car, I'd be back at the garage and demanding action but it isn't. All of you know a lot more about cars than I do. If you were in her position, would you try for a refund? Would a full electrical overhaul cost the Earth? Is this car a lemon?
Sorry for the essay!
First problem: battery light
A month ago my girlfriend purchased a Ford KA 1.3 for £2000 from a trader in Sheffield. When she bought it, the battery light was on and she was told this was due to the car having stood unused. After about two weeks, including a trip to Eastbourne and back, the light was still on. She took the car to a battery centre and they told her the battery was fully charged and the alternator was working.
She then took the car to another garage near to her workplace, her told her the problem was due to corroded wires. They charged her £30 and then told her they were unable to fix the light and that they had no idea what was causing the problem.
Second problem: ABS light/Speedo dead/CD player dead/car not turning over
On a rainy night the car died. She told me the ABS light came on, the CD player died and the car wouldn't turn over. She left it ten minutes and managed to limp the car home. She contacted the traders, who had sold her the car with a three-month warranty. Tbey told her they were busy and would struggle to fit the car into their schedule but she could take the car to another garage under the warranty. Cue loads of messing around with the warranty company and eventually the car ended up at a garage, who told her the problem was the alternator. The total bill exceeded what the warranty company would cover and she had to pay a further £60. When the car came back the battery light was off but without seeing what happens in extremely wet conditions I'm not confident this problem is solved.
Third problem: electric windows dead/CD player dead/AC dead
Tonight she told me that yesterday, in the hot weather, the electric windows would not work. The CD player and AC were also dead. She could still drive the car. Today, these problems have gone.
So, in summary, she's got a car she's had for less than a month with a series of intermittent electrical problems. If it were my car, I'd be back at the garage and demanding action but it isn't. All of you know a lot more about cars than I do. If you were in her position, would you try for a refund? Would a full electrical overhaul cost the Earth? Is this car a lemon?
Sorry for the essay!
Posted: May 24, 2012 (12 years ago)
Hi
Firstly what is the age of the KA? Fords through-out time have had fuse box issues which can cause problems within the electrics.
Has the car got the ford stereo fitted? and if so I would check to see if it has had another stereo fitted at any point in the past then changed later for a ford unit. Check by removing the stereo and actualy look at the wiring behind it to ensure that none of the wires have been tampered with. DIY mechanics have a tendency to attempt things like fitting stereo's without knowing the issues that can lead from poor use of wire cutters and insulation tape (or lack of).
Firstly what is the age of the KA? Fords through-out time have had fuse box issues which can cause problems within the electrics.
Has the car got the ford stereo fitted? and if so I would check to see if it has had another stereo fitted at any point in the past then changed later for a ford unit. Check by removing the stereo and actualy look at the wiring behind it to ensure that none of the wires have been tampered with. DIY mechanics have a tendency to attempt things like fitting stereo's without knowing the issues that can lead from poor use of wire cutters and insulation tape (or lack of).
Posted May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
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