Common Problems with the AU??

[AC]

Originally Posted by AC

I've got a problem with my climate control system in the Fairmont.

When its on the windscreen, it sometimes surges, or drops off when braking.
When you turn the fan speed down, it wont go any less than 6.
And when you push the off button, the fan keeps going.

Then when you turn off the car completely... Fans keep running.
Usually solved by flicking the ignition on and off.

I've tried pulling the unit out and checking over it, nothing appears odd.
Except when i put it back in the LCD screen is now very dark.

Any ideas guys ?

Thanks.

Problem solved.

It was the fan controller unit behind the glove box.
It backs onto an opening in one of the pipes which also can get leaves from the outside drawn into it.
The leaves get caught in the cooling fins of the controller unit and decompose with time and condensation from the air con, which made the alloy oxidise and one of the metal bits rust, causing it to malfunction.

Another one for the books, so to speak. :

[Arch]

Originally Posted by LG

There is a guy on ebay, that puts his service up for sale to fix the screens. And i've heard of quite a few that have done this and the screens have been fixed with no problem.

Here is the add: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....515112631&rd=1

Or his actual site: http://www.geocities.com/liquidxtal/index.html

He is in Victoria for those who wanna know.

Thankyou for this recomendation. I now have a climate control unit where all the LCD bits work. I live in SA and they gave me a loan unit while they fixed mine up. When my fixed unit came back I simply posted their one back to them in Melbourne.

All in all it cost me $117.00 all up ( labour, postage etc..) and is a much cheaper option than buying a new or secondhand hand one.

Thanks again
Arch

[Benn]

had the same trouble with my ute.
removed the lining, cleaned back and sprayed with black paint. Came up sweet.

[Cespenar]

Two small items that have deteorated: The O ring for the Cruise control on/off switch. This might let dust in and cause a $400 replacement.
The spring for the door handle, the one that holds it firm. It costs approx' $45 for the whole handle from Ford. (The chrome Ghia one). Better than trying to fix a busted spring.

[Homes]

I've had an AUII Futura 6cyl for almost 12 months now...i never knew about the steering rack recall...and neither did the previous car's owner. Steering broke the day after i bought it...fixed now & all is good, but i'm still paranoid about it.
Other than that : the clip on the sunglasses holder is a bit iffy - doesn't close very well, don't think i've had a problem in the time i've had the car

what is required to replace the bottom fitting in the AU Boot lid.?

What alternative is there to using ford plastic studs to hold in the front wheel splash guard. I had my left wheel guard tear out just days after I hit a large dog with the bumper bar right hand front corner. I levered out the dent but had the guard tear itself to bits going up a driveway.

I am getting a new plastic splash liner but don't want to trust just plastic studs to hold the replacement in.

[Legs of Steel]

Originally Posted by mitchelliib

Hey,

Having alot of trouble with my AU 1 tonne ute, its a 2000 model.

Whenever the car heats up the engine dies! then it wont start for about 5 minutes after that. It broke down about 7 times on the way home the other day. I had it completely re-wired at the auto elec because the fuse box was stuffed but that didnt fix the problem.. but yeah it only seems to happen on a hot day or when the car has been going for a while.. Im thinking something to do with the fuel lines??? any help would be great coz the mechanics didnt!

I had the same problim... RACQ said it was a faulty crank angle sensor... replaced but did not fix the problim... Auto Leaders worked on it for 5 hours and found the wires from the crank sensor had rubbed through on the air con bracket.

[redxm]

AU3
78000km
Back door actuator dies, about $180 from ford. They dont make ones for AU anymore, you have to buy a BA one and a conversion harness
battery holder in remotes, 2 seconds with soldering iron
handbrake sqealing in reverse, adjusted at service time
Ive just noticed rust around the boot struts & I really need a carport as the paint on the spoiler is all bubbled

[Papa Smurf]

One that I don't think is here. When purchasing Door Vertical moulds on all AU's, remember to remove the greasy substance off them before you try to fit. The stuff on there is NOT something that needs prepsol or some other petrol based goody to get it off, just PLAIN old warm water and soap (or car wash).

We get lots of mechanics and Panel beaters telling us we sent them a defective one

[BOON250]

Well had my AU for almost 3 months and it seems to be on a mission to p**** me off this week. Cruise randomly switches on/off. Cruise +set button packed up. Temp gauge reading erratic. Idling rough when cold. MDC on the fritz. and to top it off the rack has started leaking badly. I guess its all easy fix stuff but to happen all in one week Geeezz :

[last fairlane]

Originally Posted by kjau99

That is awesome, thanks for that!! I need to get mine fixed cos it drives me up the wall looking at it like that! When Ford said I needed to replace it at $800 I thought yeah right, but now I can fix it at last!!

Hi had mine done by the melbourne mob on ebay cost $120 had no a/c for a week waiting for c/o unit to arrive easy to remove just use screw diveron far left of unit prise off cover and unscrew the philips screw and slide unit out
hope this helps JOHN in QLD

[SSD-85]

Hello all, there is a problem with my au2 xr6 vct im finally starting to get sick of, when i start it up it has a lot of difficulty turning over, it doesnt happen everytime, its purely random, hot or cold, flat or hill, doesnt seem to matter, i have a suspicion its the battery, but my previous car; an au2 fairmont did the same thing, ive had an au1 and an au3 without any such troubles. i use 98ron fuel if that helps. any advice would be a great help since i dont imagine the guys at ford having a clue...

[poolkeeper]

Originally Posted by WeHaveIgnition

Hello all, there is a problem with my au2 xr6 vct im finally starting to get sick of, when i start it up it has a lot of difficulty turning over, it doesnt happen everytime, its purely random, hot or cold, flat or hill, doesnt seem to matter, i have a suspicion its the battery, but my previous car; an au2 fairmont did the same thing, ive had an au1 and an au3 without any such troubles. i use 98ron fuel if that helps. any advice would be a great help since i dont imagine the guys at ford having a clue...

I have the same problem, I replaced the battery still does it.

[Sleeperau]

Originally Posted by WeHaveIgnition

Hello all, there is a problem with my au2 xr6 vct im finally starting to get sick of, when i start it up it has a lot of difficulty turning over, it doesnt happen everytime, its purely random, hot or cold, flat or hill, doesnt seem to matter, i have a suspicion its the battery, but my previous car; an au2 fairmont did the same thing, ive had an au1 and an au3 without any such troubles. i use 98ron fuel if that helps. any advice would be a great help since i dont imagine the guys at ford having a clue...

I would take a look at yout leads & coil. People usually forget about them, they don't last forever. Leads usually start to go downhill at the 100k mark & age will also affect them.

[Nutcase]

Radiator developed a pinhole leak which seems to be common on the AU. Took it to an Adrad reseller for a replacement, about $260 for a new Adrad radiator fitted and the cooling system flushed and filled with new coolant and pressure tested. They offered to come and get me from my home about 15 mins drive away when the car was ready.

[congo3sr]

Originally Posted by Nutcase

Radiator developed a pinhole leak which seems to be common on the AU. Took it to an Adrad reseller for a replacement, about $260 for a new Adrad radiator fitted and the cooling system flushed and filled with new coolant and pressure tested. They offered to come and get me from my home about 15 mins drive away when the car was ready.

now thats service. :

AU Series I, 4.0
(all distances are approximate)

LSD - Severe knocking and binding
150,000km - Replacement of diff carrier and bearings

Starter motor
150,000km - Intermittant failure of unit - Would fail to engage (solenoid and electric drive motor)

Leaking power steering rack (from RHS seal)
180,000km - Remove rack, flush the pump and replace entire rack with change over unit. Also, replace sensor. Check around. Replacement units can cost about $350 supplied, not fitted (I checked with my local Repco and they quoted $500, supplied only, not fitted). I managed to get one for $200 with 12-month warranty.

Front hub carriers (LHS & RHS)
200,000km - A clicking noise (kinda like putting playing cards on a push-bike spoke) and vibration under braking. Attributed to worn hub carrier bearings.
NOTE: Check eBay for replacement units - Mechanics I've spoken to reckon they can only get them at about $300 PER SIDE (non-Ford OEM, supplied only, not fitted)... I picked up a pair (non-Ford OEM) from a supplier in Sydney for $160 for a pair, delivered through eBay.

Oh, and I forgot this...

Coil-pack and HT Leads
170,000km - Sudden onset of an ignition miss without warning (miss occured at all speeds, and was not dependent upon engine RPM). Costanzo Ford (Greensborough) identified fault - I was initially concerned because a friend had replaced a coil pack in their Mazda MX5 for $500 - Was plesantly suprised that coil pack and leads only cost $350 fitted. Was even more suprised that Costanzo Ford were able to fix the problem on Saturday for me, the day I was driving back to Wagga Wagga, NSW.

[mailmann]

My AU series 111 SR just lunched the rite hand ceal on the power stearing rack.This is the 2nd time in 13 mnths now!Lucky the 3 year harrier warranty is still current.Booked into the service people for another replacement rack on tuesday.The original rack failed at 80,000kms and it,s only just clicked over 98,000 kms.These racks are a real problem in the au,s.So all i,m waiting for now is the radiator to fail and i will have had just about every faiure listed in these forums.

[blackers10]

sorry to hear mailmann
but eh least uve replaced everything so should be happy motoring for a fair few more kays now!

[mulletmun]

Originally Posted by Lil Monty

Missing AU Fairmont/ Ghia Climate control digital segments? It's an easy fix!!!

1.0 Tools Required;
1.1 Phillips head and flat blade screw drivers
1.2 Cloths iron
1.3 Baking paper

2.0 Remove climate control unit from dash;
2.1 Removing clock surround, allowing access to retaining screw, remove screw,
2.2 Pull unit forward and to the left, unplugging 1 air sensor and 2 electrical plugs.
2.3 Unit should now slide right out

3.0 Dis-assemble control unit;
3.1 Depress and pull plastic retaining legs where appropriate
3.2 Slide unit out rear of casing.

4.0 Re-attach control ribbon
4.1 Pre-heat iron to sub steam temperature
4.2 Clean/ trim ribbon and contacts if required (do not use solvent as will destroy ribbon/ adherence)
4.3 Re-align ribbon with circuit contacts
4.4 Place baking paper on top or ribbon to stop ribbon melting onto iron
4.5 With moderate pressure, press iron onto ribbon and contacts
4.6 Check contacts/ test in car before refitting into casing.

5.0 Re-assemble in reverse order

gday all, had a go at this today took all of about 15 mins, i didnt even do the ironing bit, just took it all apart, and cleaned the inside of the glass etc, fired it up and it has dots, etc that i didnt know excisted, sweet, cheers lil monty.

[Tradewind]

Only had my AU S2 Ute since Xmas 07, got 130 000 km on it, has had a very tough life - started with an out back shire council!!

So far:

Freeze plug failure, let all water out instantly. Got a new Stainless plug for $4.50 and fitted it myself and refilled with coolant $45.00

The A/C seems to be getting suss, could this be the compressor dying? I was a touch noisey a while back but quiet again now and not working so well. A new compressor for the shopping list?

Replaced all the shocks/struts but I always do that when I get a second hand car no matter how good they see.

Also fitted RDA slotted rotors and Bendix Premium pads, the stock rotors were bit shaky when hot.

Thinking plug leads soon.

Replaced plugs with Iridium from Ford - another thing I normally replace anyhow.

Otherwise going well and very good fuel economy on cruise 12.7km/L

[coledog]

how do you train new keypad for an au series 2 futura sedan local dealer wants an hours labour

Originally Posted by coledog

how do you train new keypad for an au series 2 futura sedan local dealer wants an hours labour

If it's anything like the AU1, tell him he's dreaming : It takes about 5 minutes... I got a quote from Hillis Ford, Wagga Wagga for a new keyring fob - $90. After 2 minutes on eBay, I'd saved myself $70. Instructions for "training" a new keypad should be in the car's original handbook.

BTW, if you're in the NSW Riverina, avoid Hillis Ford - My second-hand AU missed the "major" recall fix : ... It wasn't until an official Ford letter letting me know that the work hadn't been completed did I get it done - at the superior Ford dealer in Culcairn (about 100kms towards Albury)!

[coledog]

i havent got an owners book and the au1 is not the same to train fob, unfortunately there is only 1 dealer in 130ks