Tiggi Jenkins

Hi I'm proud (ish) owner of a StreetKA and I've owned the car since brand new in 2004. I have had a whole host of Fords but, frankly, the StreetKA has been littered with problems since I've owned it to the point at now, 9 years old, I've had to make the decision to keep it and run it in to the ground as I can't sell it.

Among my problems, it has had 2 new manicats (one fitted by Ford the other by a private mechanic), new clutch, HT Leads, Lamda sensor, ABS ECU and Pump and new front suspension parts of various things such as the wishbones and anti-roll cage linkrod arm bushes.

Now I have yet another problem. Despite no one being able to find it my ABS Light and/or Engine Management Light come on and go off and the codes are never the same, while I'm waiting on the vehicle electrician has anyone got any ideas. Also there is a tremendously noisy rattling from the gearbox/clutch area when the car is under heavy load. Having only done the suspension a month ago and the clutch was done just over a year ago, is it that I need a new clutch of is there something else someone has come across?

Thanks for your help. I love my StreetKA when she's working but to be honest she is a lemon.

Tiggi Jenkins

Thanks Zetec S Haley, I'm sure we'll find out the problems even if, Mick the Mechanic, has to rebuild her from scratch (I think he's almost done that anyway).

Mick thinks the electrics are down to the wiring between the ABS ECU and the Fuse Box being corroded and the rattle is the bolts holding the clutch housing. So fingers crossed eh.

I admit I love this car and the way she handles and it is great fun to drive but the problems have been beyond a joke and Ford Maindealers haven't been a great deal of help.

It angers me that when I bought my last car, which actually was an Alfa Romeo 155 2ltr T-Spark back in 1996, I had a couple of teething problems which Alfa bent over backwards to get fixed. Since 1996 the car, which is now driven by my hubbie who won't get rid of it, has absolutely mimimal amounts of work done other than a couple of age problems and servicing. Last year the wonderful Mick did all the wishbones, suspension bushes, brakes etc. and not because it was necessary but because he felt that the parts were fairly reasonable and at her age she could do with having it done. The Alfa is still in great condition and runs like a dream, yet I was warned by all in sundry not to buy one as they are crap and the service from Alfa is even worse.

This does make me laugh because Ford themselves have done nothing but charge huge amounts of money and the car works fine for a month and the faults come back. I know this will anger a few fordies here but after my experience with the StreetKA I'll never buy another Ford again. This is a shame because on the whole I do like Fords and was intending to get a Focus.