Author Topic: Just Bought A Lemon... Now What? (Read 2982 times)

Argh! · « **on:** February 21, 2008, 06:35:15 pm »

Alright here is how it goes. Last Friday I purchased a 2004 Ford Focus wagon from a dealer who purchased it at auction the night before. I test drove it for an hour, highway and street... no noises or problems arose. All fluids were brand new (clean).

Two days ago there was a slight hesitation between gears on the automatic tranny, emphasis on slight. Tonight, the transmition jumps into gear (VERY rough) and I lose all gearing on an incline. Less than a week and less than 140 kms after purchase I am stuck in my apartment parking lot.

Do I have any recourse? What can I do?

BlackS40 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2008, 06:40:09 pm »

Wouldn't you have, at least, a 30 day warranty on your used car purchase?

Argh! · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2008, 06:49:13 pm »

No warranty was mentioned or implied...

rrocket · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2008, 06:51:14 pm »

For starters, drain and put some fresh tranny fluid in. Who knows if it's EVER been changed. Maybe it's low...did you check it? Is it the right tranny fluid? Who knows with a used vehicle..I know you say it looks clean.. Maybe add in some tranny stop slip from Lucas. I have seen it work miracles...

I'm sure ArcticSteve will be by to chime in...

Argh! · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2008, 06:56:57 pm »

ALL the fluids were clean when I tested them before I purchased the car... 140 kms later the oil is looking nearly the same, the tranny fluid looks well used (as apposed to new 6 days ago).

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:19:47 pm »

That sucks, hopefully you have warranty from the seller. Doesn't look like Focus transmissions are that good:

From the APA website:

FORD Focus
* Some catastrophic automatic transmission failures reported. The planetary gearset is weak and can fail around 100,000 km, just after the drivetrain warranty ends. Rebuilt transmissions are equipped with an improved gearset.

http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=23

Reliability for the trans on CR is not good either for 03 and below, uncomfortably close to your 04.

Argh! · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:43:54 pm »

Wow, I never heard of the Focus having a weak transmition before, wish I had. It seems odd to me that I didn't pick up any warning signs of this a week ago when I test drove it.

Thanks for the link.

marineboy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:25:10 pm »

Well why don't you approach the dealer, explain your plight and see if you can work something out. If you bought from a reputable dealer and approach him with a polite but concerned manner he would probably willing to help you. Give it a try.

rrocket · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:28:03 pm »

In the Lemon Aid book, the Focus was a car to avoid....

barrie1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:33:49 pm »

Its possible someone else just did the fluid change as they were having problems. It probably ran great for a day or so after the change but does need some work on it. I would visit a independent shop but NOT "Mr Tansmission" the Orange and White ones that advertise they are all Canadian as they are crooked and way too expensive for what they do which is the least amount of repairs for the most money.

Cord · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:50:33 pm »

How many kms on this car?

articsteve · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:42:57 pm »

This used car dealer is not legally responsible. Ppl, DON"T buy auction cars unless you really know your sh*t and are prepared to get a turkey.

Mileage would be nice to know. This car will have to go to an HONEST Ford dealer. It could be an electronic problem (grade logic

). Who knows.

You might as well let it out.

How much did you get clipped for? It happens to even the best of us.

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:57:57 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on February 21, 2008, 08:28:03 pm

In the Lemon Aid book, ~~the Focus~~ every car ~~was~~ is a car to avoid....

FTFY

Looks like the Focus transmission rating in CR is better than average to me. Unfortunatly everyone makes a turkey now and then. It could also have been a rental car and whipped to within an inch of its life. Bad luck.

rrocket · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:20:35 pm »

^^^^There was no need to fix it for me. Avoid the Focus...and they did list tranny problems as one of the reasons.

Cord · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:41:13 pm »

The op has an '04 correct? And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that Consumer Reports chart show the '04 Focus as having the best possible transmission score? Somehow I doubt that making inaccurate blanket statements is very helpful to the op.

rrocket · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:47:16 pm »

I'm telling you what my Canadian Lemon Aid says.

Cord · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:00:19 pm »

So CR says the trannies on '04s have their highest rating and Lemon Aid says to avoid because of the transmission? I guess it comes down to the credibility of each source.

I noticed that on the Lemon Aid site they have a big headline stating something like "GM says Trunk Leaks Are Normal." I found it somewhat puzzling that the offending "trunk" was on a GM 3/4 ton pickup. Oh well, I guess they know what they're doing.

rrocket · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:05:33 pm »

^Oh..I don't know about the Lemon Aid site, I was referring to the book I have which is the 2006 version....

Careener · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:10:41 pm »

Quote from: Cord on February 21, 2008, 11:00:19 pm

So CR says the trannies on '04s have their highest rating and Lemon Aid says to avoid because of the transmission? I guess it comes down to the credibility of each source.

I noticed that on the Lemon Aid site they have a big headline stating something like "GM says Trunk Leaks Are Normal." I found it somewhat puzzling that the offending "trunk" was on a GM 3/4 ton pickup. Oh well, I guess they know what they're doing.

Source on website?

Cord · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:37:11 pm »

Quote from: Careener on February 21, 2008, 11:10:41 pm

Quote from: Cord on February 21, 2008, 11:00:19 pm
So CR says the trannies on '04s have their highest rating and Lemon Aid says to avoid because of the transmission? I guess it comes down to the credibility of each source.

I noticed that on the Lemon Aid site they have a big headline stating something like "GM says Trunk Leaks Are Normal." I found it somewhat puzzling that the offending "trunk" was on a GM 3/4 ton pickup. Oh well, I guess they know what they're doing.

Source on website?

http://www.lemonaidcars.com/alberta_regional_reports.html