Ford and swelling wheel nuts
Discussion
Just though I'd start a thread on this, seems to be a problem on all Fords due to poorly designed nuts made from steel with a chrome cap over the top. A small gap exists between both pieces and water can and is getting in in my case.
I have a Ford Fiesta MK 7 .5 thats only two years old which are displaying this visibly on at least 5 nuts, although I can see damage ( from using an air and not a torque wrench to tighten them up, but more on that later!) and smaller areas of swelling that Furrows of Owestry were unable to spot, although none of this is there fault.
I purchased the car from Evans Halshaw and have ongoing problems with them and Ford regarding servicing, I wont go into detail on that. As a result I took the car for it's first service while in my ownership to Furrows, pointing out the swelling wheel nuts, photos were taken and sent to Ford, although they tried to make out I damaged them or a 3rd party. The helpful chap chased it up non the less with Ford, I received a call back from him saying I could have 5 "new" wheel nuts to replace those they found and he asked if any refurbishment work had been done to the car.
Turns out those wheel nuts are 2nd hand as they have copper grease inside of some of them.
Work has been done by Ford direct, who promise to replace anything including tyres that need replacing prior to selling the car on as it's an ex Ford management car and all tyres have only been removed at Furrows during my time of ownership as required for it's 2nd service. What's concering unless they damaged them I this car as part of the Ford Direct scheme was "independently" inspected by the RAC which would require the removal of tyres to check the breaks over, I can't believe the damage and swelling wasn't spotted during that inspection.
So now I'm here to ask you all, if you've had any problem with Ford wheel nuts? At the minute, Ford themselves are trying very hard to distance themselves from this and the problem with Evans Halshaw and servicing.
Furrows have been very good in all fairness, apart from mking out the wheel nuts were new. I was told the wheel nuts are classed as trim and are only covered for the 1 year of the cars life. I've owned the car from 14 months old until now.
I'll be email Andy Barrat, head of operations in the UK regarding my complaints and would like to point him in the direction of this thread also, so if anyone who's had similar things happen could please share.
Thanks.
I have a Ford Fiesta MK 7 .5 thats only two years old which are displaying this visibly on at least 5 nuts, although I can see damage ( from using an air and not a torque wrench to tighten them up, but more on that later!) and smaller areas of swelling that Furrows of Owestry were unable to spot, although none of this is there fault.
I purchased the car from Evans Halshaw and have ongoing problems with them and Ford regarding servicing, I wont go into detail on that. As a result I took the car for it's first service while in my ownership to Furrows, pointing out the swelling wheel nuts, photos were taken and sent to Ford, although they tried to make out I damaged them or a 3rd party. The helpful chap chased it up non the less with Ford, I received a call back from him saying I could have 5 "new" wheel nuts to replace those they found and he asked if any refurbishment work had been done to the car.
Turns out those wheel nuts are 2nd hand as they have copper grease inside of some of them.
Work has been done by Ford direct, who promise to replace anything including tyres that need replacing prior to selling the car on as it's an ex Ford management car and all tyres have only been removed at Furrows during my time of ownership as required for it's 2nd service. What's concering unless they damaged them I this car as part of the Ford Direct scheme was "independently" inspected by the RAC which would require the removal of tyres to check the breaks over, I can't believe the damage and swelling wasn't spotted during that inspection.
So now I'm here to ask you all, if you've had any problem with Ford wheel nuts? At the minute, Ford themselves are trying very hard to distance themselves from this and the problem with Evans Halshaw and servicing.
Furrows have been very good in all fairness, apart from mking out the wheel nuts were new. I was told the wheel nuts are classed as trim and are only covered for the 1 year of the cars life. I've owned the car from 14 months old until now.
I'll be email Andy Barrat, head of operations in the UK regarding my complaints and would like to point him in the direction of this thread also, so if anyone who's had similar things happen could please share.
Thanks.
k me, when this inevitably escalates to suggestions of rejection, we'll have reached peak PH.Yes, when I purchase something I expect it to be correct, not to have to fork out for damage not done by me. I'd also would like to be able to remove the wheel nuts with out issue, swollen ones would mean being between socket sizes and those 4 black things are the only thing that keep you on the road.
Dave. said:
This happens on discovery 3s a lot.
Not a new thing.
At last a sensible reply, I'm in limbo at the minute as both fronts need changing, but don't want to change anything as I can see Ford trying to wriggle out of it if I do. Not a new thing.
At the minute I'm considering whether to get legal advice and force Ford to purchase the car back from me for the price I payed for it as others have done with various manufactures.
FD3Si said:
Right, are they actually swollen, it is it purely cosmetic? Because it sound a little like the latter.
I'm guessing you haven't actually had an issue getting a socket on them?
Yes, if you read the OP I've been given wheel nuts although haven't fitted them to replace the really bad ones. I haven't used a socket on them and if left they will cause an issue. I'm guessing you haven't actually had an issue getting a socket on them?
I'm also an Automotive Engineer so know the the tall tale signs of corrosion and nuts being rounded off from using the wrong tool for the job.
Lots of cars have these style of wheel nuts. I wonder if the are designed like this as a safety feature to prevent over torquing.
My second car had them, and before I bought a torque wrench I was always spinning the caps on the nuts. I bought a torque wrench have have never had a problem since.
My second car had them, and before I bought a torque wrench I was always spinning the caps on the nuts. I bought a torque wrench have have never had a problem since.
Megaflow said:
Lots of cars have these style of wheel nuts. I wonder if the are designed like this as a safety feature to prevent over torquing.
My second car had them, and before I bought a torque wrench I was always spinning the caps on the nuts. I bought a torque wrench have have never had a problem since.
The chap at Furrows said the same thing about over torquing, I haven't touched them only Ford during my ownership. When refurbished by Ford direct they should have been replaced if damaged prior to offer peace of mind, well that's what the website says, so cant see how it's my fault as Ford themselves are trying to claim. My second car had them, and before I bought a torque wrench I was always spinning the caps on the nuts. I bought a torque wrench have have never had a problem since.
FD3Si said:
Wow, my comment about rejection was in jest. How foolish I feel now.
Just so you know, everyone in your local Ford dealership now refers to you as 'That Guy'.
I'm also disappointed that an Automotive Engineer doesn't know how to spell 'brakes'.
I see you work for Ford, also sorry for being dyslexic.Just so you know, everyone in your local Ford dealership now refers to you as 'That Guy'.
I'm also disappointed that an Automotive Engineer doesn't know how to spell 'brakes'.
Dave. said:
They're £15 for a set of 16...
It's really not worth your time or effort.
Just buy a full set, change the ones that need changing and keep the rest as spares...
Of course it is, people complain about build quality and the like all the time, until more people complain nothing will improve. It's really not worth your time or effort.
Just buy a full set, change the ones that need changing and keep the rest as spares...
That £15 is better in my pocket and not theirs, I payed a sustainable sum so would expect everything to be in order.
Also the other problem I have is far more serious, so I'd rather kill two birds with one stone.
I think you really need to think about your priorities.
They are wheel nuts for god sake, life is too short to send emails and have a dispute about WHEEL NUTS!
You sound exactly like a NIMBY, even if someone did over-torque and they are now showing corrosion, its £15 for set, have done with it and carry on with it.
Its not worth worrying about.
They are wheel nuts for god sake, life is too short to send emails and have a dispute about WHEEL NUTS!
You sound exactly like a NIMBY, even if someone did over-torque and they are now showing corrosion, its £15 for set, have done with it and carry on with it.
Its not worth worrying about.
sohco said:
Dave. said:
They're £15 for a set of 16...
It's really not worth your time or effort.
Just buy a full set, change the ones that need changing and keep the rest as spares...
Of course it is, people complain about build quality and the like all the time, until more people complain nothing will improve. It's really not worth your time or effort.
Just buy a full set, change the ones that need changing and keep the rest as spares...
That £15 is better in my pocket and not theirs, I payed a sustainable sum so would expect everything to be in order.
Also the other problem I have is far more serious, so I'd rather kill two birds with one stone.
All well and good saying just replace them, but this would effect the remainder of my warranty on the car. I still have a year to go with that and can't be bothered faffing about trying to prove the new nuts are the same or better quality than Ford's, which would require me paying an independent engineer to do if something else went wrong with the car, even a new engine for example if they got spotted.
Even then, I currently have an issue with servicing and the warranty thanks to Evans Halshaw insisting the service was due on the wrong date, so two birds with one stone.
Even then, I currently have an issue with servicing and the warranty thanks to Evans Halshaw insisting the service was due on the wrong date, so two birds with one stone.
sohco said:
All well and good saying just replace them, but this would effect the remainder of my warranty on the car. I still have a year to go with that and can't be bothered faffing about trying to prove the new nuts are the same or better quality than Ford's, which would require me paying an independent engineer to do if something else went wrong with the car, even a new engine for example if they got spotted.
Even then, I currently have an issue with servicing and the warranty thanks to Evans Halshaw insisting the service was due on the wrong date, so two birds with one stone.
I have just quoted this in case it get deleted by the OP.Even then, I currently have an issue with servicing and the warranty thanks to Evans Halshaw insisting the service was due on the wrong date, so two birds with one stone.
OP, there is a no naming and shaming policy on PH, you are breaking those rules.
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