[madhukarmohan]

I own a 2018 Ford Freestyle 1.5 TDCi, which has run 82,000 km. It’s been a reliable vehicle with excellent engine performance and mileage, and I’ve never had any breakdowns (touchwood). I have serviced it regularly every 10,000 km at the same service centre in Bengaluru. However, after the last service at 81,000 km, I began to notice two major issues:

1. The AC is no longer cooling as it used to. I have to set it to max AC with a high fan speed to cool the cabin.
2. There has been a noticeable drop in mileage in lower gears, particularly in bumper-to-bumper traffic and on ghat roads (On a rough estimate, the amount of diesel that used to cover 10 km now only gets me about 4 km).

I suspect two potential causes for this:

1. The clutch plate might need replacement. I haven’t replaced it yet, and the clutch has always felt a bit hard. During the 60,000 km service, a service advisor mentioned the clutch needed replacement, but I didn’t act on it because I didn't believe it. However, a different advisor assured me that everything was fine during the most recent service.
2. There’s a possibility that the service centre might have done something during the last service that triggered this sudden change.

I would appreciate your guidance on these issues, as I have limited understanding of car internals.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by madhukarmohan

I[*]The clutch plate might need replacement..

Well, one thing for sure, your problems can not be related to the clutch needing replacement. It might need replacement but it can’t cause these two problems you are facing.

I would get a few things checked. First of all does the AC have the correct charge? If it doesn’t it would not cool sufficiently.

Does your engine run hot too, do you a gauge? Both your problems could be sort of related to the radiator being clogged with dirt. Less drive wind coming through the radiator hugely means less air through the AC condensor too.

However, you are reporting a 60% drop in fuel efficiency as I read it? That is almost unheard of unless there is something major wrong with the engine.

Check the basics, clean air inlet intake filter, fuel rail pressure, clean fuel filter, decent spray in each nozzle.

God luck

Jeroen

[madhukarmohan]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Well, one thing for sure, your problems can not be related to the clutch needing replacement. It might need replacement but it can’t cause these two problems you are facing.

I told them to check the parts that you have specified. They have come up with the below parts that has to be changed. Are all of these should be changed?

[ruzbehxyz]

Originally Posted by madhukarmohan

I own a 2018 Ford Freestyle 1.5 TDCi, which has run 82,000 km. It’s been a reliable vehicle with excellent engine performance and mileage, and I’ve never had any breakdowns (touchwood). I have serviced it regularly every 10,000 km at the same service centre in Bengaluru. However, after the last service at 81,000 km, I began to notice two major issues:

If you don’t the service center, you can always go to another one just for a check up and understand what’s wrong.

You can also change your regular fyeo station and see.

You can get the following done to improve mileage and also AC performance:-

1. Check injectors.
2. Get the intake manifold - EGR cleaning done along with EGR valve.
3. Change the clutch parts if required.
4. Get the Radiator cleaned.
5. Get the coolant replaced.
6. Replace timing belt and check condition of the pulley + tensioner.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by madhukarmohan

I told them to check the parts that you have specified. They have come up with the below parts that has to be changed. Are all of these should be changed?
Attachment 2667416

I would check why they are changing the evaporator. It’s a pretty simple device. Either it works or not. In case of the latter it would be leaking. Which can be tested. And a leaky evaporator would ultimately result in the AC not working at all and all refrigerant disappearing from the system.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t see how the clutch can be the cause for the problems of the AC or the fuel efficiency.

The EGR valve could have something to do with it, but it should not cause this big a drop in efficiency. In most cases, just cleaning it should be sufficient. Why are they replacing it.

I am sorry to say, but I don’t see how any of this is going to help you with your problems. Good luck.

Jeroen