Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Dreadful warranty service M53 Ford Birkenhead

Ford Fiesta, 2.5 years old started with an oil leak - few drips on the drive. Under warranty still so booked it into Ford in Birkenhead - yep it had a "massive gear box oil leak" which they 'repaired'.

Took it home, bigger drips of oil on the brand new drive. Took it back to Ford - "minor adjustment made to gearbox". Took it home - even bigger drips on drive. Took it back to Ford - "kink in one of the gaskets - repaired". Took it home - any guesses????

Still practically gushing oil all over the drive. It's gone to Ellesmere Port Ford today and will apparently take a week to fix. I'd heard bad things about the Birkenhead garage but I didn't expect this. Our drive cost a lot of money to have the council do it and now it is completely wrecked.

Will post a picture of drive when I find the camera cable to do so.

Just a rant - maybe I shouldn't have kept parking it on the drive...

if you fancy it, bring it along to my garage, ill tell you what it is for free!

See pictures...today Ellesmere Port diagnosed it as an 'oil leak' - I really do admire their motoring knowledge

No offence here Chris but as it's within warrenty I would advise the owner to get on to Ford area manager (can get details of another site) and let them "fix it"

As you have been in it will be on file.

If a car has to have repeat work for the same job the place gets grief so to speak and bonus's lost so keep at it!!

Quick edit....


As it's gearbox related, does it go in gear ok? Does the clutch slip?

use tfr to get the oil off the drive

Take the car to someone who knows what they are doing!

Fook the warrenty, they won`t know unless you tell em

Ste with Ford if they warrent the work you have come back, go higher than just the ellesmere port dealer as they are monkey's.

As Ste says, TFR and a pressure washer will clear the drive.

Sounds like M53 couldnt find their own arse - even if they used both hands!

Id also like to have more than "oil leak" as diagnosis. Id like to know which gasket / seal has failed.

Is it engine oil or gearbox oil and can you see where the leak is coming from?

I have no idea what kind of oil it is - it was originally coming for the gearbox - if you look at first pic in the top left was originally were the leak was concentrated to.

I did used to have trouble getting it into gear but no the clutch doesn't slip. After the first visit, at first, it was driving like a brand new car again, but now I have started having trouble getting it into gear again.

It also judders in 3rd and 4th after you've taken your foot off the clutch.

I am not usually one to complain but I will be writing to Ford and sending them the pictures. I can clean the drive but I want them to pay for it! Although I seriously doubt they would

Thanks all for comments - I wouldn't recommend them at all. I'm very disappointed it's been a great car and I love it but the fact that I constantly feel like it's going to break down is not good!!

If you want to know what kind of oil it is just smell it (not being funny) as gearbox oil smells disgusting, that will give you some indication.
You can tell gearbox oil from engine oil by the smell

My husband says he's sniffed it (ha ha) and it doesn't smell. Originally it was a "massive gear box oil leak" and "turbo intake pipe oil leak"

turbo intake pipe?
lol, what kind of fizzbomb is this?

No idea - just repeating what they said, good god what have I done to my poor car taking it to these lot?!

The oil will wash off in the rain in time. Drive cleaner from b&Q/homebase will sort it if you want it doing sooner.

Have a look at my topic on dealing with garages:

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/405329/Advice_for_dealing_with_garage.html

If it's main dealer, I would suggest writing to Ford customer service in the first instance.

Damn right transmission fluid is disgusting, I got a load of it on me when I took the box out of the Starion and I can still smell it today two years later.

Get trade brick/mortar cleaner:



It lifts oil/dirt/stains out of driveways in a few minutes, it's extremely acidic and is very effective, I had loads of oil on my folk's, and used this, it was like new.

Thanks that is husband's job to get some of that this week!