3.2 Ranger ad blue system fault

[Conor Wright]

1 minute ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Not normally one to talk money.

But I bought it outright, no credit.

I like to hear things like that. A man after my own heart! 

Never bought new when it comes to larger equipment but never went down the finance route either. It does mean you're working with sub optimal kit for longer but also, I think, you value the kit more when you do buy it.

In your position it makes a bit more sense to splash out. Less so imo if you're stretched to make repayments.

 

 

[doobin]

5 minutes ago, Conor Wright said:

I like to hear things like that. A man after my own heart! 

Never bought new when it comes to larger equipment but never went down the finance route either. It does mean you're working with sub optimal kit for longer but also, I think, you value the kit more when you do buy it.

In your position it makes a bit more sense to splash out. Less so imo if you're stretched to make repayments.

 

 

I've never had an issue with financing all manner of kit that earns a day rate, but I have never been able to bring myself to finance a new vehicle that I would barely do 10,000 miles a year. Recent years excepted, the depreciation from new unless you are doing starship mileage has been a killer.

 

Trust me, I value my kit on finance. I'm still paying new price, just over a longer time period! So I keep it well maintained.

 

Trucks don't earn the money (by which I mean you have to have one, everyone in this game does). Stuff like grinders, diggers and loaders earn the money.

Edited December 28, 2022 by doobin

[Conor Wright]

1 minute ago, doobin said:

I've never had an issue with financing all manner of kit that earns a day rate, but I have never been able to bring myself to finance a new vehicle that I would barely do 10,000 miles a year in, due to the depreciation.

 

Trucks don't earn the money (by which I mean you have to have one, everyone in this game does). Stuff like grinders, diggers and loaders earn the money.

Sometimes I like to say **************** it and not work for a few weeks, instead doing unpaid jobs at home. Not having finance means I don't have to worry about cash flow if I take a notion and decide to spend 6 weeks building a greenhouse or just jumping in the camper and not caring when I get back.

I can see why most people go down the finance route. I find having a target like a bigger chipper or whatever a good motivator to get jobs done and money in the bank. There is definitely a cut off where machines become too expensive and the work they do too tight in terms of % to not go the finance route. Smaller kit a man can use alone is the best combination of value for money and profitability in my opinion. 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

29 minutes ago, Conor Wright said:

Sometimes I like to say **************** it and not work for a few weeks, instead doing unpaid jobs at home. Not having finance means I don't have to worry about cash flow if I take a notion and decide to spend 6 weeks building a greenhouse or just jumping in the camper and not caring when I get back.

I can see why most people go down the finance route. I find having a target like a bigger chipper or whatever a good motivator to get jobs done and money in the bank. There is definitely a cut off where machines become too expensive and the work they do too tight in terms of % to not go the finance route. Smaller kit a man can use alone is the best combination of value for money and profitability in my opinion. 

 

Paying a couple of payments on a machine if one decides to bunk off work is doable.

What to do with an employee is a far bigger conundrum.

 

[doobin]

44 minutes ago, Conor Wright said:

Sometimes I like to say **************** it and not work for a few weeks, instead doing unpaid jobs at home. Not having finance means I don't have to worry about cash flow if I take a notion and decide to spend 6 weeks building a greenhouse or just jumping in the camper and not caring when I get back.

I can see why most people go down the finance route. I find having a target like a bigger chipper or whatever a good motivator to get jobs done and money in the bank. There is definitely a cut off where machines become too expensive and the work they do too tight in terms of % to not go the finance route. Smaller kit a man can use alone is the best combination of value for money and profitability in my opinion. 

 

Yup, looking forward to paying all mine off for this reason. Luckily so far it’s more than covered it’s cost each month. 

[Stubby]

I know this is probably not what you Ford geezers need to hear but ....None of the above problems happen with my 71 plate Navara Nguard .  Approx 230HP ( with Tunit box and blue tooth throttle repsponce billiedoo )  Add blue has never been asked for after 5K but I put some in anyway so it have may been close . I love this truck . Don't do much towing but average MPG ( albeit on the onboard read out ) is is around the 34.7 mark .

Edited December 29, 2022 by Stubby

[william127]

1 hour ago, Stubby said:

I know this is probably not what you Ford geezers need to hear but ....None of the above problems happen with my 71 plate Navara Nguard .  Approx 230HP ( with Tunit box and blue tooth throttle repsponce billiedoo )  Add blue has never been asked for after 5K but I put some in anyway so it have may been close . I love this truck . Don't do much towing but average MPG ( albeit on the onboard read out ) is is around the 37 mark .

No ad blue after 5k! Bloody hell, my 2.0 ranger needs 10 litres every 3k. Most annoyingly, it starts bleeping on start up/the light comes on at 1500 miles adblue range remaining. I like to fill it up when it has 500 miles left, so it'll take a  10 litre can in one go. This basically means the warning light is on nearly 50% of the time😒😒

In terms of mpg it's averaged 25.6, mostly local driving, towing about a quater of the time, mostly 2-2.5 ton.  I'd say that's no better or worse than my defenders, discos, troopers or old hilux were, it's just the nature of the driving I do. 

 

It's the first brand new truck I've had and I severely doubt I'd have another new truck. It's a lease (lets not get into the pros and cons of that, but it was genuinely right for me at the time), going back in 18 months and I'll be glad. 

As for actually owning a 'modern' truck, having something say 4 years old, so out of warranty but basically current scares me- vehicle is still going to be very costly to buy, whether outright or financed, but if something big, engine or gearbox goes you're looking at thousands and thousands to repair it.

So what do you do, stay on the cycle of buying new every 3 years to stay in warranty or risk owning out of warranty,  with the small but possible chance of a very big bill🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

 

Now the cheap finance/covid price boom has ended and prices are turning the options of older vehicles are opening back up and that's probably the route I'll go back to, just suits me more.

But then you get into the new issues of ulezs.....arghhh (not that I'm too worried about them, it either goes on the price of the job or I don't do it😅👍).

 

Wouldn't it be nice to have a job that you just needed 'a car' for....

 

 

 

 

[PeteB]

GreenMech buy the 4x4 Crewcabs over three years and try to keep for 4. Pandemic and the economy means that these are 5 now and we do run the risk of something awfully expensive happening! Mine has a right whine which doesn't change under lateral or engine load and now has the EML on and might be AdBlue related...

 

I kept an Isuzu Rodeo 3ltr for 5 years and did 265k miles and she was reliable. 

[monkeybusiness]

I’ve got a new 2.8l hilux and that used all of its adblue in the first 1500 miles (and it’s a right ballache to refill as it goes in under the bonnet and is only supposed to be topped up during the 10000 mile service). It’s bloody thirsty too if used for towing - I’ve binned it off now, it’s become the wife’s car.

My MAN TGE is coming up to 8000 miles and I’ve not put any adblue in it yet. It’s doing exactly the same work as the hilux and is pretty thirsty but it’s a great thing.

I had 4x Navaras before the hilux and the last of those (newest shape but no adblue) was the best truck I’ve ever had - kicked the arse out of the current Toyota if I’m honest. 

[Johnsond]

Update on the Ad Blu saga, truck has been in 6 times now since the chassis swap with warning lights and ad blu service request etc, it’s had software updates etc and multiple resets, I’ve had it to an independent specialist who found multiple body control module faults which he put down to wiring loom ( below tub)  issues, something he’s seen on a few Rangers. Anyway it’s in today and latest is they now say they can’t find any of the faults the independent did but say it needs an blu injector which plus diagnostic at £144 is a stinging £682 in total. I’m pretty sure this won’t fix it long term but have run out of patience big time. Looking very likely it’s  valet and polish up with a view to sell time.