Ok, had the car for 3 weeks now. Got some noises I have questions about, as well as a few other issues. 1st issue: The stupid gas tank issue, guess a year wasn't long enough for Ford to figure this one out 2nd issue: CD player just crapped out on me for a few days. It said "CD ERROR" and then wouldn't do anything. Couldn't eject or anything. About 3 days later it just started working again. 1st Noise: A few times, when I've either slammed on the brakes, or when, like tonight, it was wet out, there was a really loud, unpleasant, grinding sound coming from them. It just sounded really bad. I never hear any other sounds from the brakes at other times, just under those conditions. 2nd Noise: While driving normally, not accelerating or anything, there is a small, I guess double-pop sound. Kind of like what my home theater receiver sounds like when I turn it on or off, only not very loud. It happens probably every 6 or 7 seconds. If music is on, I can't hear it. But since I listen to sports talk sometimes, or if I have the radio off, I have no problem hearing it. 3rd Noises: A few noises that for all I know are normal, but since I've never driven a Ford, or any car similar to a Mustang, I'm not sure. When I'm idling, the engine sounds normal, but after a bit there is I guess a clunk noise that happens, and then it sounds normal again. Then there is just the general engine noise. It sounds like the engine is working way too hard for the power that is coming out. Maybe that's just the fly by wire thing, I dunno. Anyone have any comments/ideas on the noises?
The radio is substandard. And let me remind you this is a brand new car...ANY more than three times in for the same fix.. lemon that thing and don't look back. The radio, well demand a aftermarket one! See what they say. You might be surprised. Don't take any dealer double talk of "It's normal"!! shi** lemon that thing. It's Just a car. Take no sh**. Learned my lesson. Make them fix everything...Don't wimp out.
Several of the "problems" are, as you suspected, normal behavior. 1) First Noise: The grinding noise and feeling when hitting the brakes hard, or in the wet, is the antilock brakes kicking in. They definitely make a grinding feel and sound when they activate, and especially in the wet, it doesn't take much to make them come into play. 2) + 3) The noise you describe in number three is the air conditioning pump clutch turning off and on. When the heater is set to defrost, the air conditioner pump cycles on and off to help dry the air, which clears the windows faster. Well, on the new Mustangs, when the A/C clutch grabs and releases, it makes a very noticeable noise, and even a small shudder in my car. This may also be the cause of your number two. For the future, note whether you ever get the noise when the air conditioner is off, and the heater control is not set to either of the defrost positions. I'll bet you'll find that you don't get the noise under those conditions. Owner1
The ABS brakes (antilock brake system) that you paid EXTRA for is the reason for the shutter. I definately did not get them cause I knew my wife would be driving it and those would only freak here out in a situation. I want my car to stop on a dime. Only they are good if you drive a lot in snow an ice or rain.
If you were really worried about your wife freaking out in a panic stop situation, you'd have opted for ABS brakes so she could at least STEER the car during that panic stop. While it's true that early ABS systems were rather crude and lacked responsiveness that would allow them to stop as fast as conventional brakes that were properly modulated - Automotive technology has gained a lot over recent years. ABS Brakes on today's cars will (without a doubt in my mind) stop as fast as standard brakes that are properly modulated. The key here is "Properly modulated". In a panic stop situation, very few people are capable of proper brake modulation. It's bringing the brakes to a full 10-10th's of their friction potential without locking up a wheel if even for a split second.
I had a Ranger that made the same noise/grinding from the brakes when wet. It's just that the brakes are wet. It's not ABS or anything (my Ranger had no ABS), it's just wet brakes. The popping noise from your speakers you're hearing I hear in my Civic sometimes too. If you are carrying a cell phone it that interfering with your stereo. It does it to my computer too. Oh yeah I also get the wet brake grinding in my ABS equipped Civic as well.
