Common Problems with the AU?? - Page 13

lohnro · 04-03-2007, 03:11 PM

Got it. I have removed the door trim. Thank you very much. Your instructions were spot on.

ntguy · 04-03-2007, 11:10 AM

AU, check your engine and chassis earths!!

Is this only for I6 or V8`s too??

302XLS · 10-03-2007, 12:49 AM

Problems...... hmmmmm where to start lol.... have had the car back for warrenty work with the instrument cluster with a faulty ground..... never fixed... the fan on high has stopped working....been replaced twice..... have had the power steering rack fall off and this is the best part.... cost me $200 for a tow truck, another 1500 to repair with a re-manufactured power steering rack, was told it was due to the people that have done my lowering removed a bolt..... HAHAHA what a load of crap..... two years later i got a recal notice from ford for this problem, but of course i don't have the receipt anymore and the dealership doesn't have a record of the work that was done..... ford denied all resposibility and basically told me too bad.

blackers10 · 12-03-2007, 04:43 AM

is that the permanant fix lil monty?

does that fix the distance to empty etc display also??

Lil Monty · 23-03-2007, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackers10

is that the permanant fix lil monty?

does that fix the distance to empty etc display also??

You bet! It is actually one big display with 42 pin connector, that resides behind a plastic divider so it looks like two displays...

I dont think the original manufacturer used enough heat or pressure to secure the ribon.

Even if the display ribbon does detach again, you can always redo the procedure. As previously noted, due to the generous length of shrink ribbon, you can trim back the ribbon to virgin material, peal back the protective coating, clean the contacts and re-apply!

I have ordered 4 off t5 t6.5 3 led wide angle bulbs to replace to original t5 bulbs as I also suspected that sometimes au fords electrics go into over-voltage, extra heating the unit and blowing the T5's filaments, which would also explain why the au's eat h4 bulbs for breakfast... That was until I replaced my headlamps with Phillips Long life All Weather (Green/ Yellow colour) lamps, (no longer in production), which I have stocked up on!

robertjp · 12-03-2007, 06:46 AM

Has anyone got this problem with there climate control. The controller will set a fan spped which will only go higher, not lower and remains on when the car is turned of. Pulling out the fuse is the only way of turning of the heater/cooling fan. Is the fan speed controller the same across the AU's or is the one for the climate control models special in some ways?

Looking forward to your replies.

The Monty · 23-03-2007, 09:48 AM

Thats awesome info Mini me, I mean lil monty, lol.

mitchelliib · 05-04-2007, 09:14 AM

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!

**Stav** · 07-04-2007, 11:32 PM

There are aftermarket drive belts for the six which are overtight.These may lead to front cylinder bearing failure due to excessive force. If you get a new belt and its a little difficult to put on then throw it away or go and get your money back.

Legs of Steel · 24-12-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

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.

**Mechan1k** · 17-04-2007, 08:48 AM

The connections get a bit of a dodgy connection ... and the contacts in tne connects need to cleaned ... usually unplug and a plug back in will fix it as it will get a better contact again.

I was going to clean my contacts ... but found the connecters under the back of the ute are watertight connects that "pop" together ... but after a few unplug/plug/unplug/plug back in ... it seemed fine for a while .... but there are a few connections here and there that need to be done.

MYEBII · 18-04-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

The connections get a bit of a dodgy connection ... and the contacts in tne connects need to cleaned ... usually unplug and a plug back in will fix it as it will get a better contact again.

I was going to clean my contacts ... but found the connecters under the back of the ute are watertight connects that "pop" together ... but after a few unplug/plug/unplug/plug back in ... it seemed fine for a while .... but there are a few connections here and there that need to be done.

Ford do have a TSB on the ba regading this problem,not sure if it will fix it on the au

**Mechan1k** · 18-04-2007, 05:25 PM

I know there is a fix for the contacts in the plug on the senders ... you need to pull the entire connector apart and move the contacts slightly so they have a tighter connection when you plug it back in.

But this doesn't always fix it ... it's usually a case of replacing the senders in the end ... cos if water does get into the back of the sender mechanism they eventually fail.

DODDO · 18-04-2007, 07:48 PM

Hi
I've owned my AU1 for 2.5 years and before that my parents owned it for 3 years.
It had done:
Discs machined at 40,000k-Warranty
Gearbox rear seal at 50,000k-Warranty
Radiator repalced 70,000k-Out of warranty
Waterpump bearing noisy 110,000-Fixed myself
Belt Idler bearings noisy 110,000-Fixed myself
Power steering hose weeping 120,000-Fixed myself
Diff bearings noisy 135,000-Had rebuilt (and its not from burnouts, its never done a smoke show)

Its been a great car to us. Ive come back from QLD not long ago. I drove the 12 hours straight, only stopping for 1 Fuel stop (i could have go nearly all the way there on 1 tank, but i dont like getting below 1/4 tank)
Its a great car, great on Fuel on the highway got 7.8ltrs/100k. REALLY happy.
Not so good on fuel around town gets around 13ltrs100k.
I recommend the AU to anyone. If you treat it right, it will treat you right!

philt · 22-04-2007, 04:35 PM

Hi All,

My first post. I am a long time reader taking advantage of all the info you guys supply. I, like you all, am an AU owner (I have my third one)and I have had all the elec window probs, coolant leaks, front end knocks etc etc like you all.

But I have a funny problem. I have just got in my car this arvo and the "restraints system malfunction warning indicator" light flashed then stayed on. It normally stays on for 8 secs when you start then it goes off. But mine is staying on.The book says take it into you Ford dealer ASAP (it says this for all light malfunctions).

Has antone else had this happen to them and does anyone know what this means as I am selling this car this week and I want to know if this may be costly.

Thnaks again guys for all you help.

Phil

**Mechan1k** · 24-04-2007, 10:10 PM

I am presuming the airbag light is flashing a code ... mine does it in wet weather as well.

It usually means an open circuit ... most of the time it is due to a dodgy connection with the connectors under the front seats. Either that or the clockspring on the end of the steering column ... but it doesn't look like a spring though.

Other than that it's due to a bad connection or bad earth.

Also heard it can be due to a dodgy connection with the seat belt wiring in the B-pillars as well.

When the airbag light is illuminated ... it means it will not go off in an accident ... at first i though it meant it could go off without warning (breathed a sigh of relief after reading the manual though).

There's a list of about 40 or so codes.

To decipher the code when initiall turning the vehicle on ... example for code 18 ... the airbag jewel will flash once ... then pause ... then flash 8 times ... then pause again and repeat the process 3 times ... then it will stay on solid.

There is an incomplete listing on the forum somewhere (I have seen it ... can't remember where) ... Ford will have the full listing though.

**Stav** · 25-04-2007, 08:50 PM

The dam thermostat goes on them.If the top water hose is cold and the bottom is hot then the thermostat is cactus.

The dam head bolts which are supposed to be torqued down and left seem to come loose. If you do your cylinder head...retorque the head after 1 week

Ol’dad · 18-10-2020, 06:57 PM

I have a 2000 Fairmont.
The digital cluster showing the A/C temp, inside or outside air and the odometer works but there is not bright. Unless I shine a torch light on these displays I can’t see them.
Any suggestions on how to increase the brightness?

hellrc5 · 18-10-2020, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’dad

I have a 2000 Fairmont.

The digital cluster showing the A/C temp, inside or outside air and the odometer works but there is not bright. Unless I shine a torch light on these displays I can’t see them.

Any suggestions on how to increase the brightness?

i d guess those globes responsible for the background illumination of your cluster and AC panel are gone and need replacing

Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk

Ol’dad · 18-10-2020, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellrc5

i d guess those globes responsible for the background illumination of your cluster and AC panel are gone and need replacing

Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk

Do you know if it’s a reasonably easy job to change them?

mangold05 · 28-04-2007, 10:37 AM

AU1 fairmont... Just replaced lcd dash display for multi function computer/air control etc, Ford wanted nearly $900.00 for new one. Got exchange unit with 12 months warranty sent up from Melbourne for $120.00 off ebay site. Could.nt believe it, works great and includes ford bulbs that cost $10 each. Happy as Larry

**Mechan1k** · 30-04-2007, 11:21 PM

Stav ... I have a custom setup now in the ute ... when I turn A/C on in warmer weather ... I have all fans come on high-speed ... not just when you select Fan speed 3 and above ... it comes on straight away ... and does make a hell of a difference.

Not sure on the exact work done ... but 2 extra relays were used and wired up to the existing thermo relays and also the A/C compressor as well.

**Stav** · 01-05-2007, 09:14 PM

Interesting mate. I saw my dads 1992 fairlane and its fan is on from the moment you turn the key. I have 3 fans on my car. The 2 standard ones and a third which I installed. I am going to buy a thermal switch and have them come on when I see fit. They definately come on too late imo so I want this puppy alot cooler in normal operation.

My engine bay gets very hot with extractors and now I know why e series are much much cooler in the engine bay..

slo351 · 01-05-2007, 09:13 PM

im looking at a AU xr8 230k's on it.. blown head gasket.. simple fix or more than likely cracked head ?
cheers Ash

spikeman · 02-05-2007, 03:43 PM

Hi everyone. I'm new here, so no yelling at me. Yet anyway...

I have a 2001 AUII Fairlane V6 with 111,000 on the clock. About 3 times last week, the car went into neutral when I was driving. A few presses of the 'go' pedal and all that happened was the engine reving. After a few seconds, it re-engaged and off I went again.

I thought all was fine, as I had only been driving the car for a couple of minutes and put it down to the engine/gearbox being cold.

It happened again yesterday, once again after I had been driving only for a couple of minutes.

Question is, is this something I should be worried about? Is it something anyone else has had problems with?

I think all the mechanicals are the same in the Fairlane as in AU Falcons. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Love this forum.

Cheers!

Casper · 02-05-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spikeman

Hi everyone. I'm new here, so no yelling at me. Yet anyway...

I have a 2001 AUII Fairlane V6 with 111,000 on the clock.

We promise not to yell at you if you promise to never refer to the engine as a V6 again.

I6 as it is an "Inline" 6, not a V configuration like the Holdens.

spikeman · 02-05-2007, 03:53 PM

Oh yeah. My bad.

:

Stormboy · 15-05-2007, 07:19 PM

sounds like your gear box slipping check fluid is full and have a service done on it catch it quick and all should be good

slo351 · 02-05-2007, 08:48 PM

i would be checking the tranny oil and seeing if it's got enuf..

KR1STO · 16-05-2007, 05:53 PM

LIL MONTY..... just wanna say thanks heaps man. just pulled my climate control apart and followed your steps and 20 mins later its perfect....we'll see how long it lasts i suppose.. i'll keep you informed...thanks again man...