Your questions answered: Ford Ranger engine issues

Your Questions Answered returns this week with a sticky question about an ailing Ford Ranger, as well as a request for advice on a buying an EV with a $60,000 budget.

We also explore the importance of trying a car out for yourself before committing to purchase and just what the MG U9 ute is all about.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

Question:

I had it towed to the mechanic who recommended to take it to a Ford dealership in Mornington, Victoria, due to suspected failure of the oil pump and a lot of freeplay in turbocharger turbine. Ford came back with the shocking news of “metal contamination”, meaning a new engine at more than $16,000.

I haven’t had a concrete answer or explanation of what could have caused the engine to die. This engine was previously replaced by Ford at 77,000km since the vehicle used to be a fleet management car from a council in Queensland and honestly that was the selling point when I purchased the car.

I’ve reached out to Ford Warranty and all I get is “they’re not mechanics”. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. - Leo

Answer: Hi Leo, this is a tough one but this all comes down to the agreement made between you and the dealer at the time of purchase.

You didn’t specify which engine your MY17 Ranger car is equipped with, but I’m betting it was the 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel. It’s well documented that the five-potter suffered from turbo gremlins like the ones you described.

A cursory glance at used car warranty requirements in Victoria shows that your Ranger, as a commercial vehicle, is not even entitled to the three months/5000km statutory warranty afforded to cars that are less than 10 years old and have travelled 160,000km.

As I touched upon, your first line of defence is the wording of the extended warranty deal. It is critical that we as customers understand what is covered, to what extent and for how long.

It’s important to approach these discussions in a calm and rational manner and preferably armed with a full service history to show that you have done your best to keep your car in tip-top condition.

It may well come down to nutting out a compromise with the dealer; free labour to fit the new motor, for example, or favourable consideration on a trade-in.

Unfortunately, there’s not much more we can offer other than our best wishes on a speedy resolution.

Question: What more can you tell us about the MG U9? - Peter

Answer: Expect to hear more about the MG U9 ute in the coming months, but we do know it will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, will be able to tow 3500kg, and will have its suspension settings retuned for Australian conditions.

This is an important distinction, and if MG is successful in implementing the right tweaks for Australia – and, just as importantly, can get the retail price right – then the U9 ute has the potential to make an impact in an increasingly crowded dual-cab pick-up space.

MG has also confirmed it will also sell a diesel/electric hybrid version of the U9, which will compete against the hybridised likes of the Ford Ranger, GWM Cannon and BYD Shark.

For reference, check out our review of the LDV Terron 9 given it’s a (very!) close relation to the MG.

Question:

Everything about the Mercedes was fine, except I could not set up the seat/steering wheel so that I had a clear view of the instrument panel; the steering wheel just gets in the way. I can see you took photos through the wheel from close up, but what about the driving experience?

I keep my cars long term and would expect to have it for 10 or so years. The engine etc. is current, but Volvo’s corporate problems and the changes in tech over that period might be an issue. – Marvin

Answer: As you’ve so perfectly described, the only way to really get to know a car is to see, touch and feel it in person. The perfect car on paper may present real-world compromises as you’ve outlined here and the only way to discover that is to try it for yourself.

As for buying a runout car, we’ve got no problem recommending it. You’re likely to get a proven vehicle at a keener price and one that’s still subject to that brand’s full warranty offering.

Ten years is a decent stint to own a car in the modern era. While factory servicing is always a good idea, finding a specialist repairer that you can trust to look after your pride and joy in the long run is a must.

The world is a much smaller place these days when it comes to sourcing parts and – outside a panel-bending bingle – a specialist garage is more than capable of caring for your car.

Question: I am about to change roles at work and will need a new vehicle for my commute from the Southern Highlands to the Illawarra, including regular nighttime driving on country roads.

Answer: My neck of the woods! There are some terrific roads between work and home for you, which makes the choice of car quite interesting.

You haven’t offered many other clues (preference for a particular style, number of seats needed and so on) so I’ll roll out three considered guesses and my reasons for them.

First, the Mini Aceman SE at around the $61,000 mark may only have 300km range, but its lower ride height, lighter weight and more driver-focused layout will make short work of the twistier roads on the way home. However, that relatively low range figure means you’ll be charging every day to be on the safe side.

The Kia EV3 Earth Long Range offers almost twice the range at 563km claimed, and is only a smidge larger than the Mini in all directions. It’s well appointed, comes with a long warranty and will do the 75km each way standing on its head.

If style and exclusivity is on your radar, then the Cupra Tavascan Performance might tick the right boxes. Decent range at 499km, genuinely interesting styling inside and out and excellent ride and handling would make the daily grind just that bit more comfortable.

Question:

The L60 comes with two battery sizes; 60 and 85kWh. The 85kwh would be around 600km WLTP range for the RWD and slightly less for the AWD.

Nio will probably make a semi solid state battery to fit the Onvo brand down the track for a bigger range. – Luke Fricke

Answer: Thanks, Luke… let’s see how close you are if or when the Onvo drops onto Aussie soil. But given its parent company NIO is all but confirmed for Australia, it could well be on the radar in the latter part of the decade. Watch this space!

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at

editor@carsales.com.au