A Ford Joins My Garage: Ford Figo Petrol (1st Gen) Ownership Review

[mayankdixit]

DIY Replacing broken Mud flaps of my Figo

This peculiar thing I have observed in all the Figos around me. All have 2 or more, broken mud flaps. Some have all of them broken. Mine has 3 broken. How did it happen ? Maybe its the speed breakers, or maybe the potholes. Don't know, but I have yet to see a Figo with all its mud flaps intact !!
I think OEM mud flaps were/are hard plastic. So they did not bend. They broke !! I was looking for Ford soft rubber mud flaps which will bend as they are flexible. But they are very costly. Ford introduces them in the 2nd version, as an improvement.


Old mud flaps

cracked plastic

Mud flap gone, only clips remain !!!

this side broken too

1 Intact mud flap

All cracked, about to fall down

existing clips are badly rusted

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

I know your driving style and how you treat your rides sir, but thing is even when I drive when we have a very good road, where we cruise in 80-100kmph, there is a sudden pothole, which can damage many things, specifically in a Ford.
That's why I just reminded you.

Mudflaps try other compatible aftermarkets. It is basically the ground clearence of Figo and design. I think only n 2015 Figo they made available rear power windows switch in rear, else it was either manual/ switch on front (like alto), if I remember correctly.

 

[mayankdixit]

I know your driving style and how you treat your rides sir, but thing is even when I drive when we have a very good road, where we cruise in 80-100kmph, there is a sudden pothole, which can damage many things, specifically in a Ford.
That's why I just reminded you.

Mudflaps try other compatible aftermarkets. It is basically the ground clearence of Figo and design. I think only n 2015 Figo they made available rear power windows switch in rear, else it was either manual/ switch on front (like alto), if I remember correctly.

Thank you for your reminder. Appreciate it.

I think only n 2015 Figo they made available rear power windows switch in rear, else it was either manual/ switch on front (like alto), if I remember correctly.

Correct. My Figo has manual rear window winder. I don't mind it. After changing electric window winders in my past cars, I am more than happy to see a manual window winder. One less headache for me to worry about.

 

[mayankdixit]

DIY Replacing broken Mud flaps of my Figo

Continued:



After much effort I was successful in procuring Ford genuine accessory .I wanted 2015 updated soft ones. These are better than the original hard plastic.
Pics comparing old and the new

Obviously I discarded the old clips as they were rusted badly

New clips installed

Old hard mud flap had multiple cracks

Genuine Ford accessory

Front 2

rear 2

size comparison. New one looks bigger

After installation pics front

Looking smart eh?

Since these are soft rubber, they bend on scraping speed breaker and will not crack. Hmm..time will tell, how long they last. Lets see, cost me a bomb.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

Fingers crossed.
How's the gear lever action? Does it shift always properly from N to First gear, and First to second? I remember Ford Fiestas having the gear shift issue, in betwwen, which is taken care of by often replacing the bush (Not sure whether it is only for diesel)

 

[mayankdixit]

Fingers crossed.
How's the gear lever action? Does it shift always properly from N to First gear, and First to second? I remember Ford Fiestas having the gear shift issue, in betwwen, which is taken care of by often replacing the bush (Not sure whether it is only for diesel)

So far gear shift is okay. I am aware of the bush issue. Was seen in Figo too. I have opened the outer box to inspect the ending gear linkages. So far nothing out of the ordinary, except maybe a little rusting on the attachments.
Still I have procured a spare bush, just in case.
I am surprised that you are aware of it. By any chance did you own a Ford in the recent past ??

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

I liked that question @mayankdixit sir. My buddy has a Ford Fiesta 2009 1.4 Duratorq. It is still used as our beater car. It has gone through a lot, turbo issues, injector failures, PCM failure, and the worst when service cnetre here didn't fill engine oil at right level, had a crankcase damage.
Still amidst all, it runs so well, just that we don't strain it by taking on it for long drives, as a sole car.

 

[mayankdixit]

I liked that question @mayankdixit sir. My buddy has a Ford Fiesta 2009 1.4 Duratorq. It is still used as our beater car. It has gone through a lot, turbo issues, injector failures, PCM failure, and the worst when service cnetre here didn't fill engine oil at right level, had a crankcase damage.

Customer only fills fuel and drives the car. It's always the service centre which ruins a car.
I live by that Moto. And hence my passion to do everything myself, as much as possible.
And I have been proven correct numerous times,on my visits to ASC.

 

[mayankdixit]

Customer only fills fuel and drives the car. It's always the service centre which ruins a car.
I live by that Moto. And hence my passion to do everything myself, as much as possible.

And if you want to service your car yourself as much as possible, you need to have good quality tools. Hence the need for a Tool collection.
Its not a Mania for tools, as some people might mistakenly think of, its the necessity.
I cannot work upon my car with kaam-chlaoo (= just passable quality) tools. I need good ones, and in case of Tools , well , surplus is not bad, not bad at all.

 

[mayankdixit]

DIY Opening up the cowl area in Figo to inspect and clean thoroughly

Water seepage issue in the passenger compartment. Whenever someone washes the car or there is rain, water enters the driver and passengers footwell. And it gets filled up fast.

The solution I have found out was lots of dirt and leaves collected in the cowl area, blocking the rain gutter. As a result water was entering from the fresh air vent, inside the passenger footwell. I don't know for how long the leaves were collected, as most had shrivelled and it became more like muddy substance with intermixed rotten leaves etc.

Here are the pics:

first remove the wiper stalk. Looks easier but actually this is the difficult part. Bolts were jammed. Fear of breakage on excessive force loomed large.

Cowl opened

After removing dust

This grime on the edge of glass was preventing water drainage

water drain totally blocked

this side drain is partially open still

Hole at the bottom for drainage

water channel is just behind air intake pipe

Hand was not able to reach inside these small multiple alleyways. Look at the grime on the bottom edge of glass

 

[deville_56]

Hole on the plate over RH strut also gets clogged easily and collects water.

 

[mayankdixit]

DIY Opening up the cowl area in Figo to inspect and clean thoroughly
remaining pics:

Always make a mark with chalk or crayon for the wipers, will be helpful in installing it back

Marked the wiper point at E8

water plaque marks at the windshield bottom

Note water plaque marks at the windshield bottom

Lots of mud deposits below cowl plastic

Finally cleaned and all installed back

 

[mayankdixit]

DIY changing Stabilizer links ( link rods) on my Ford Figo.

On examining link rods closely, found the rubber bushes damaged and the grease long gone. Changed the rods after procuring them from the market. Genuine Ford Figo ones are rare to find. It's always Rane or Euromac available in the shops. After some effort got the genuine Ford ones.
I am not sure that after market ones are good or bad, but in the market they are 1/3 the price of genuine ones. So yes a lot of money can be saved by that choice. But I was not confident so went ahead with Ford ones.
Caution: Lift the tri link/suspension little bit with a 2nd jack to fit the link rods in the allotted holes. Otherwise it will be very time consuming process.

Pictures:
Old ones

Rubber boot is cut, and no more any grease left

Here the rubber has become loose, and water goes inside while washing etc.

 

[mayankdixit]

DIY changing Stabilizer links ( link rods) on my Ford Figo.
Caution: Lift the tri link/suspension little bit with a 2nd jack to fit the link rods in the allotted holes. Otherwise it will be very time consuming process.

There is an allen key hole of size 5 is provided on the front side of stabilizer link.On trying to loosen up the nut sometimes the whole ball joint rotates . If this happens you cannot remove the stabiliser link at all.
Hold the 5 no. allen key tightly to fix the ball joint and then rotate the nut. it will come out easily.

 

[mayankdixit]

There is an allen key hole of size 5 is provided on the front side of stabilizer link.On trying to loosen up the nut sometimes the whole ball joint rotates . If this happens you cannot remove the stabiliser link at all.
Hold the 5 no. allen key tightly to fix the ball joint and then rotate the nut. it will come out easily.

Some pictures of both new and old will clarify further. It can also be seen that older part is damaged too much.

Allen key hole is clearly seen in pictures below.