Fuel light (Ford Focus)

Vamoose Killers

Ford Focus 1.4...put 10 euro in when it seemed to be nearly empty, drove it for about an hour and a half, fuel light came on, put another tenner in, 30 mins later fuel light comes back on...something to be worried about?

Also, the car seems to shake quite a lot when I hit 70mph+, presume this has something to do with the tyres?


Thanks/

SV

You put fuel in and used it and then the fuel light comes on..I eh..don't understand your concern?

Vamoose Killers

Sorry But it shouldn't have come on so soon surely?

SV

Depends how much you were driving it really!

Also, I've known fuel lights to come on in certain cars when the fuel gauge drops to 1/10th (a bit drastic if you ask me) so I wouldn't worry about it.

re: the car shaking though, get your tyres balanced, I'd say that's the problem.

Plug

Focus's never give trouble in the fuel department usually. Is it a 1.6 deisal by any chance?
I say your tyres need balancing aswell.

Vamoose Killers

Thanks.

It's a 1.4 btw.

colm_mcm

maybe stick more than a tenner in next time

Vamoose Killers

Test drive

colm_mcm

2 hour testdrive! I'd say you got a feel for the car in that time!

Vamoose Killers

Haha, had to bring it to my trusty mechanic!

Seth Brundle

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Haha, had to bring it to my trusty mechanic!

Was this before or after your first post an hour ago?
If before, why then ask us?

Vamoose Killers

Because I only noticed the fuel light on the way home? Initially I thought it must have been really low on petrol and thought nothing of it really.

colm_mcm

more the shaking of the tyres, surely the mechanic would've test driven it too?

Vamoose Killers

Sorry yeah, no need to ask that...just decided to throw that in:D

But anyways, nothing to be worried about re:fuel?

colm_mcm

not unless it was using an alarming amount of fuel. hard to say. maybe consult the trip computer (if fitted, and see the average consumption figure)

petrol lights can be funny and come on early or late, they're not exact.

Vamoose Killers

If there is a problem is it easily fixed? The dealer I'm thinking of buying off won't give a guarantee

colm_mcm

The place is awash with cars.

Why buy from a dealer who won't stand over the car?
He's legally supposed to anyway.
If you have no comeback you may as well buy privately - and actually see what kind of driver the car had and ask in-depth questions about the cars history and maybe get an honest answer.

Vamoose Killers

Hmm...is it uncommon for a dealer not to offer the warranty? It's only passed it's NCT by the way. I asked him already but he said it was being 'sold as seen' and couldn't give me a warranty. Any chance a dealer will change his mind on this? I'm not sure how this whole process works tbh!

Second opinion from my mechanic was good too...just needs a couple of small things done.

Seth Brundle

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

If there is a problem is it easily fixed? The dealer I'm thinking of buying off won't give a guarantee

Christ - dealers across the world cannot move cars yet this one won't even stand over his.
Run away fast

colm_mcm

If the clutch/gearbox/steering rack fails next week, what good is

A) No warranty
A verbal bill of good health from your mechanic
C) an NCT

to you?

how old is the car in question and how much is it?

bazz26

With the thousands of Foci out there for sale why take the chance on one being sold by a dealer who will not back it up with a warranty? Cars usually sold as seen are sold that way for a good reason.

talkFIAT.net

You are doing 70mph + and you wonder where the fuel is going?? I'd say it's your right foot! But as said before, fuel light can come on prematurely sometimes!

Vamoose Killers

colm_mcm wrote: »

If the clutch/gearbox/steering rack fails next week, what good is

A) No warranty
A verbal bill of good health from your mechanic
C) an NCT

to you?

how old is the car in question and how much is it?

The car is 2001 and it's 3k.

colm_mcm

There are plenty of 01 Focuss priced at around 3500-3750 on carzone, most of these could be bought for 3k.

Vamoose Killers

I was hoping for 2700 though Pushing it a bit?

colm_mcm

Go for it, in all likelyhood it was picked up in the auctions and he probably hasn't spent any money on it. I'd even try 2500 and see what happens. If you're getting no comeback you may as well not pay a premium for buying from a dealer.