Common Problems with the AU??

[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

Let this be a warning to others...

Changed front right wheel bearing on my Series I AU as per RonWest's informative and helpful instructions listed in the "tech" section...

All went well until replacing the brake caliper. Upper caliper bolt went in and was torqued to 30nm. Lower caliper bolt snapped off waaaay before 30nm was reached. So... now I have a brake caliper that can't be removed because of the snapped bolt.. Only one thing to do - disassemble brake caliper. Start by releasing bleed nipple. Then undo banjo-bolt. SNAP. Banjo-bolt broke in half.

Now, before any of you assume they were over tightened, read on...

The snapped lower caliper bolt was undone and removed from the stub axle by nothing more than a cheap set of multi-grips.
The remains of the banjo bolt was removed by hand.

It's now Saturday night, in Devonport Tasmania. Being on this lonely isolated island with no suppliers open past 2pm on Saturday until Monday means I'm stuffed.

Lessons learnt:
1- Make sure you have replacement parts for all bolts, a good set of mult-grips, and a drill with a some appropriate tappers if all else goes pear shape!
2- Consider another model of vehicle with slide-in replacement wheel bearings (TD Cortina, anyone? lol)

[GhiaGrifter]

Seen a few threads with this problem but my browser search didnt find it here so I'll go with that.

Some of the AU's have a bizarre design fault.
If one, or both, of your brake lights are out (bulb blown), Cruise Control will stop working. No joke.

I can confirm this as of this morning. I knew I had one light out and have been driving around, then Cruise stopped working. When I tested my lights recently I realized I'd been driving around for a week or so with NO brakelights other than the high-tail one (Brrrrr).

Replaced both bulbs, now dont scare cars behind me so much and have Cruise Control fully working again.

Model: 2001 Tickford Fairmont 2AU

Cost: $2.50 at Repco
(Make sure you narrow down the exact model when you go in, the manual is a good thing to have, just in case voltages/amps/wattages vary).

Jon

Power steering rack has itself AGAIN! Had it replaced less than 6 months ago with a reco/change over unit. It's leaking again!

[blackers10]

id go back to where you got it from and get it replaced FREE
as thats just not acceptable

Originally Posted by blackers10

id go back to where you got it from and get it replaced FREE
as thats just not acceptable

I noticed that it's they pressure switch that's leaking. Had it replaced when I got the rack done.. Was told that Repco switches are prone to "letting go unexpectedly" (FFS, why did they use a Repco switch to begin with, then? :togo: )

Because it's the long weekend, I can't get in to get in fixed until, at the earliest, Tuesday... Talk about being ****ed off at the moment! :

[bisho]

i have a S111 au xr6 and for a while now it was hard to start when it was cold when hot no problem. so one day we went out and the battery itself so nrma come out put new battery in it all good now starts like a champ.
apparently the battery was on the way out and wasn't sending enough charge to the computer.

[5.0 ED]

I have a Series 1 Fairmont Ghia V8 and problems thus far have been

2 lower rear ball joints - pressed them out and fitted new ones.
front brake shudder - surface discs and put in softer pads
bad idle behavior problems cause by cam that i put in
broken maf sensor which i dropped
one rack boot

Had a rather stange climate control problem where by if i set it to say 20 degrees on a 16 degree day it would put out full hot air until inside cabin would get to about 40 degrees and then it would turn air con on full cold in a nasty and very annoying cycle.

Fix - well i check for bad earths and other problems etc. couldn't find anything and then someone suggested to reset the climate control by hitting off and the button with the person sitting down together. all fixed.

[Nunnya]

Did you sort the keypad issue out? Maybe I can help, if required.

[Nunnya]

Originally Posted by Robe

This was probably an excellent resource when it started but now with nearly 400 posts on a really wide variety of issues it is getting to be a bit too much to troll through.

Can I suggest that we thank this thread for its service to AUs and put it to bed? Then we can tackle these sort of Q and A matters as individual topics.

G'day Rob, just read your post from last year, but gotta disagree mate. I only joined today, but have had a ball reading the 400+ posts, and have picked up heaps.
One huge gain for me is the climate control display unit repair. Mine's been rs for ages.
One thing puzzles me though, you don't really read all 400+ do you?
Surely you'd only read the latest? Leave 'em, I say. Keep on rockin' King!

[Mont5.0]

Originally Posted by mulletmun

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.

I also did this Yesterday. What a ripper of an idea. Did all as described and my unit is now like brand new!! THANKS LIL MONTY!

[ford_maiden]

well i have a V8 AUII fairmont ghia

if i drive ot a little bit mean it gets hot- as it should- but as i go to pull it up it wont down gear i think, it shuders and carries on it will drop top about 200 rmp and then pick up again be fine

my electric windows are tempremental

the display panel thing sometime works

and sometimes my seat will decide to adjust it self while im driving

[MrXr6Tickford]

well i had my diff replaced 4000km's after i bought it (I've only had it since end of november last year) I think ford reco'd it as it was under that 3month - 5000km warrenty.. but lucky i have a harrier warrenty and it comes under that. But the new diff has been whining a fair bit now and espically when i back off from the throttle... does anyone else think i might have a stuffed diff again? :

[davor]

ABS not working
Can anyone help me with the following ABS problems:
The ABS on my Ford Fairmont, AUIII (Dec. 2001) is producing strange noise when in action. The noise is similar to noise caused by the traction of two metal objects. This started to happen several months ago and was happening only when I was slowing down and pulling to the right. Now days, the noise is regular when ABS is in action. In addition, occasionally (more often then not), while driving, both, ABS and the TCS (Traction Control System) indicators, are up (the lights are on) on the instrument panel. I fix this by stoping and restarting the car (I call it resetting). My mechanic did not find anything visibly wrong and the brakes work fine.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[mefozzy]

I have a 98 fairmont & would like to know how to programme the smart lock remotes can anyone help.

[kensington]

I have had the entire console electronics (dials, trip computer, all warning lights, gauges etc) fail on my AU series 1 ghia. Ford aparrently no longer makes/supplies this as a unit which has made replacing the entire unit a difficult option. Would it be possible to repair this problem or has anyone else had similar problems?
Currently what is wrong with the unit causing this failure is unknown but is more complicated than the Ford service centre is able to diagnose. Any suggestions or comments would be helpful as I do not wan't to have to go down the route of trying to fit used parts if avoidable.

[blackers10]

dont VDO manufacture the dash cluster??
if so .. give them a ring.. they may be able to repair it for minimal cost..

[BIGJB]

Originally Posted by kensington

I have had the entire console electronics (dials, trip computer, all warning lights, gauges etc) fail on my AU series 1 ghia. Ford aparrently no longer makes/supplies this as a unit which has made replacing the entire unit a difficult option. Would it be possible to repair this problem or has anyone else had similar problems?
Currently what is wrong with the unit causing this failure is unknown but is more complicated than the Ford service centre is able to diagnose. Any suggestions or comments would be helpful as I do not wan't to have to go down the route of trying to fit used parts if avoidable.

This happened to 1 of the boys at work.... I know this sounds silly but it was caused by a faulty taillight blowing the fuse.... worth a look.

[Dauphin]

I might create a "problem timeline" page at aufalcon.com as part of the technical information section. I was wondering if someone(s) might be able to list the kilometres at which specific items start being a problem or need replacing, etc?

Thanks,

Andrew.

[tickford.xr6]

i just got a tickford xr6 ute and on the id plates its got au on one and on the other its got au2 whats the deal with that?

[xr8man83]

problems with my au2 xr8 ute has been.

Starter motor died at bout 90,000kms dont ask ford for a price I nearly had a heart attack when they said over $1600 haha

water pump died a horrible death at about 100,000kms Gasket is tricky to clean off it took a couple of attempts.

there is a little o-ring in the power steering pump that lets go and you have to cut away a nut that is held on by a by a circlip on the inside so you cant undo it which is real handy haha and replace the o-ring nut thing and circlip doesnt cost much just one of those frustrating jobs

and now my ABS light comes on when i get under it and i loose my ABS the brakes still work just no ABS i still am trying to figure out this problem and will post again when i have unless someone has had this prob and can put me in the right direction???

[CYCO TROOPS]

Yes Stav, that makes two of us, its sooooooo damn annoying!!!

[QUOTE=Stav]The AU boot release on my wagon powers down after several minutes and I cannot open it from the switch. QUOTE]

[bljohns85]

I have also had a few issues with my au it is the AU1 XR6
at 120,000 klms the timing chain snapped pushing pistons into valves,
one of the windows clips had broken therefore no window,
clutch buggered out on me(just recent)
floor pan cracked near seat mount on passenger side,
and also having problems with my throttle body when idling down it will stick on 1100 rpm then idle down properly it takes about 3 seconds though and thats not good when im changing gears....

ongoing cost, decided to do a full rebuild on the ol girl when the timing chain snapped the price of that was $2400.00 could have got a reco for cheap but I love my engine and my au!!!!!

[bljohns85]

that doesnt sound good mate maybe someone has churched it up to be a tickford? and what year model is it? and also did you do a revs check?

[patto619]

got a 01 au II xr6 ute.
just brought it other day.

problems when i brought it were.
Brake Lights: Both were blown, hope there isnt a electrical issue, just hope the guy i brought it from didnt notice.
Front Headlight: One was not working, had a look at globe and it was fine, checked behind and just had a loose wire.
Passenger Door: Wasnt opening from inside, pulled interior out of door, the cable had fallen out of mount, pushed it back in and it was fine/

Now i just need roadworthy, rego, and new tires.

[Swedishmoose]

Originally Posted by auslandau

Have an AU 1 guia and only problem has been the windows sticking, as previously has said. But the rear diff is starting to make the 'Taxi whine' and is a bit annoying, and at only 90000 km but apart from that is the best Ford I have had for lack of problems.......touch wood!!!! With the VCT, it does hoon along a bit as well :voldar02:
The wagon is an AU 11 dead standard and just came back from a quick trip to N.T. and back to Melb, with again no probs. Windows are bit annoying in that one too!

Hi there....


when do I have to get that "taxi whine" checked ?..or...when do I definately have to get it checked ?
Mine does it to, but the rear diff is dry ...mine has got 125000 km on the odometer...



The Moose