New Fiesta Owners Beware !

[mikey4444]

I bought a new Fiesta in May, a 1.4 TDI, and I have been very happy with it, but a difficulty has arisen recently, which is potentially very serious.

About 3 weeks ago, it began to "chime" at me, when I first started the engine. The chime was the same as the one it makes when you have left your headlights on, and opened the door. But it only happened once a day, and not any other time that I started the car for the rest of the day.

After spending ages trying to find the cause by reading the the handbook, I finally found out what it was ! A few days before the chiming started, I checked the oil by reading the dipstick, and I must have forgotten to push the bally thing all the way home. It was sitting a little proud of its hole and the engine compartment was covered in oil !

I checked the level and to had to top up with 3 litres of oil. So that what was all that chiming was about. But there was nothing to indicate in the handbook that this will happen when the oil was that low, and no amber, or any other warning light came up on the dash, a design error if ever I saw one.

The dipstick is quite difficult to push fully home, so I shall have to be more vigilant in the future. All Fiesta owners beware !

[Hopkirk]

Thanks Mikey.

I have a 12 plate petrol one, but will watch out for that.

I notice there is no temperature gauge. Any idea what warning it gives for overheating?

[mikey4444]

Considering how lax it was in telling me I had two litres of oil left, it will probably be the sound of it blowing up !

Seriously, read the hand book and if you can work your way through that and find an answer, let me know ! JUst make sure that dip-stick is firmly home !

[wolf63]

A dipstick and his dipstick?

I know nothing about cars but do understand that the liquids that are put into cars are there for a reason. Surely the manufacturer should have made it clear in the handbook what the noise could possibly mean. - maybe make it more insistent.

[mikey4444]

Wolf...I agree and that is my point...no amber oil warning light and no explanation of the chiming either....up something creek, without a paddle !

[SpikeyBush]

Who today has read their handbook cover to cover? My first car was a Vauxhall Viva and I read the handbook completely in less than twenty minutes. Out of boredom because there were only three TV channels then. My current car is a Kia Cee'd and the handbook is like War & Peace. There was a whole chapter on bluetoothing my phone to it and even after reading that twice it took a lot of swearing and intervention by my son to get the two of them finally hooked up.