Hi

17-03-2008, 00:12

I thought I'd say a quick hello in here

. Ive had my car 6 weeks, and here is the story of what brings us here today

I bought my 1997 Ford Maverick 2.7TD a few weeks ago after I wrote off my clio by doing a bit of unintentional iceskating in it 8O

At the time I thought it may have been a blessing in disguise as I wanted to buy a 4x4 anyway to tow the horses, although I do have to take my trailer test.

So I found a very nice ford maverick locally and I took my mechanic with me to check it out before I bought it. Then once I had it, I had it serviced and new brake pads etc. By all accounts it was described as a good car.

My mechanic has been using veg oil as fuel, so I thought I'd put a little in the tank with a view to changing the fuel filter after 1000 miles. After 200 it started suffering what I now know is fuel starvation and I got it towed to my mechanics (it's up a huge hill so I'd never have got it there!). They changed the new oil and oil filter and put in a new fuel filter. All fixed.

A week later or so, I put some more veg oil in it, thinking that it would be ok this time. Wrong. A few days after putting the veg oil in I went to see a friend 30 miles away, and it started suffering fuel starvation again. Took it garage, got them to change the fuel filter and still it wasnt happy.

In the end, I drove it 30 miles suffering from fuel starvation, and left it at the garage. This time, it was the injector filter, which Ive seen on here as workshop 14.

By this point, I decided that the veg oil is a bad idea. My mechanic thinks that it would be fine if I put more in, but decide that it's not worth the hassle and just use pure diesel.

Go forwards 8 days. Im at a friend's house, I leave at 10.30pm, go to my car, put the key in the ignition, try to start it and get nothing. We spent 2 hours driving around getting jump leads and then trying to jump start it when the leads werent long enough. We finally manouvred the cars close enough together, to find out it wasnt a dodgy battery.

The garage was so close, that the following day the mechanic walked up and tried to fix it at the roadside, couldnt, and so he had to get it recovered. Back at the garage, he diagnosed a faulty starter motor.

Still with me? That was Thursday, just 3 days ago. The mechanic replaced the starter motor and I picked it up on thursday evening. It's been driving fantastically.

Last night, I decided that I had better take out RAC cover as I dont seem to be having much luck, but just got the bare minimum as Im really feeling these car bills. Today, I went to drive down the stables. I got in the car, put my key in the ignition, waiting for the glowplug indicator to go off and turned the key to start the engine. All the electrics cut out. Opening and closing a door would reset the circuit.

After a couple of hours, I realised that I could start the engine, if I turned the key whilst simultaneously shutting the door. Timing was crucial, but it was possible. I've now left the car down at the garage.

So here I am. I I havent towed with it yet, but now Im not sure if I'll trust it with the horses on the back. I love the car and when it drives, it drives fantastically but feel very disappointed as I've only had it 6 weeks.

rossco · 17-03-2008, 07:46

Welcome queeny, you have come to the right place for help, this a friendly club and welling to help with advice.
I hope between us we can get your problems sorted and you out in joying 4x4s

t-jay · 17-03-2008, 13:05

this sounds like a faulty ignition switch. quite a few members have had similar problems. sounds like you've had a bad start with your truck. your not on your own, in the last four months i've had to replace the battery, starter motor, alternator and the glow plugs! all things aside these are really fantastic vehicles on and off road. i quite often tow a horse trailer with two horses in with ease.

17-03-2008, 00:12	#1
queeny Guest Posts: n/a	Hi I thought I'd say a quick hello in here . Ive had my car 6 weeks, and here is the story of what brings us here today I bought my 1997 Ford Maverick 2.7TD a few weeks ago after I wrote off my clio by doing a bit of unintentional iceskating in it 8O At the time I thought it may have been a blessing in disguise as I wanted to buy a 4x4 anyway to tow the horses, although I do have to take my trailer test. So I found a very nice ford maverick locally and I took my mechanic with me to check it out before I bought it. Then once I had it, I had it serviced and new brake pads etc. By all accounts it was described as a good car. My mechanic has been using veg oil as fuel, so I thought I'd put a little in the tank with a view to changing the fuel filter after 1000 miles. After 200 it started suffering what I now know is fuel starvation and I got it towed to my mechanics (it's up a huge hill so I'd never have got it there!). They changed the new oil and oil filter and put in a new fuel filter. All fixed. A week later or so, I put some more veg oil in it, thinking that it would be ok this time. Wrong. A few days after putting the veg oil in I went to see a friend 30 miles away, and it started suffering fuel starvation again. Took it garage, got them to change the fuel filter and still it wasnt happy. In the end, I drove it 30 miles suffering from fuel starvation, and left it at the garage. This time, it was the injector filter, which Ive seen on here as workshop 14. By this point, I decided that the veg oil is a bad idea. My mechanic thinks that it would be fine if I put more in, but decide that it's not worth the hassle and just use pure diesel. Go forwards 8 days. Im at a friend's house, I leave at 10.30pm, go to my car, put the key in the ignition, try to start it and get nothing. We spent 2 hours driving around getting jump leads and then trying to jump start it when the leads werent long enough. We finally manouvred the cars close enough together, to find out it wasnt a dodgy battery. The garage was so close, that the following day the mechanic walked up and tried to fix it at the roadside, couldnt, and so he had to get it recovered. Back at the garage, he diagnosed a faulty starter motor. Still with me? That was Thursday, just 3 days ago. The mechanic replaced the starter motor and I picked it up on thursday evening. It's been driving fantastically. Last night, I decided that I had better take out RAC cover as I dont seem to be having much luck, but just got the bare minimum as Im really feeling these car bills. Today, I went to drive down the stables. I got in the car, put my key in the ignition, waiting for the glowplug indicator to go off and turned the key to start the engine. All the electrics cut out. Opening and closing a door would reset the circuit. After a couple of hours, I realised that I could start the engine, if I turned the key whilst simultaneously shutting the door. Timing was crucial, but it was possible. I've now left the car down at the garage. So here I am. I I havent towed with it yet, but now Im not sure if I'll trust it with the horses on the back. I love the car and when it drives, it drives fantastically but feel very disappointed as I've only had it 6 weeks.

17-03-2008, 07:46	#2
rossco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wellington North Island New Zealand Vehicle: NIssan Mistral Posts: 1,107	Welcome queeny, you have come to the right place for help, this a friendly club and welling to help with advice. I hope between us we can get your problems sorted and you out in joying 4x4s

17-03-2008, 13:05	#3
t-jay Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: west midlands Vehicle: ford maverick Posts: 146	this sounds like a faulty ignition switch. quite a few members have had similar problems. sounds like you've had a bad start with your truck. your not on your own, in the last four months i've had to replace the battery, starter motor, alternator and the glow plugs! all things aside these are really fantastic vehicles on and off road. i quite often tow a horse trailer with two horses in with ease.