Life Expectancy of an AU

[ben131185]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

I do. Now on 728,000klms. Gets looked at by mechanics, and they all say the same thing 'yep, nothing to do, it all looks fine!'

thats awesome.

[Dr Jekkyl]

Mechanically my AU1 fairmont is sound @ 260K. Engine oil and filter ev 6 months. Trans service annually.

Electrically it has some issues. Window switches intermittently failing, bulbs blowing, MDC display, etc. Nothing major.

I think the biggest problem for me is rust. It is not at any point major but there are multiple spots arising here and there. Hopefully there is nothing major going on that I cannot see.

I expect my AU to dissolve from the outside in before anything else!

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by ben131185

thats awesome.

Thanks mate. Yeah, I even had one taxi mechanic drive it after he replaced a power steer hose one day say to me "I used to always say I'd never own an ex-cab. Yours made me change my mind - it just drives so nice!".
It's not like i've thrown a lot of money at it either - I just haven't neglected it and I fix problems when (if!) they happen.

[dopeydazza]

Quick update from original AU2 410,000 post.
Now at 411,800 and in last 1,800 ks has really dropped the ball.
The coil pack and plugs went on a Friday night (a habit of gleefully driving through water) and heavy rains.
1 week later, the next Friday night reverse lights strangely stopped working, Monday morning go to work, car wont start.
RACV came out, starter fine, battery fine, Inhibitor switch has packed itself.
Coil pack and plugs with labour ($295), Inhibitor switch and labour ($200).
Tempted to start carrying bike on towbar holder as a 'just in case'

[Maka]

Now you've replaced those bits you should get another 200,000km at least out of your au, stay out of the water though lol!

cheers, Maka

[dopeydazza]

Just hit the 423,000 mark, since last post of September 2013 at 411,800.
Still a great big rattle somewhere in back after rear shocks & springs replaced. Think it may be trailing arms if it has any.
Some days air filter so clogged from **** roads here has no power and starts sucking oil. Then I clean filter or replace, and ZOOOM it takes off.
I love my ugly duckling. Did find a spot of rust underneath each tail light though, where water from boot seal meets dirt from under car.

[Professor Farnsworth]

my AU has around 275,000 on it, not sure as i have it stored somewhere at the moment. It's a 5L so it's just worn in now thankfully. Apart from the suspension bushings rattling like a cattle truck on bad roads and needing a new p/s pump and a couple of other things, it still performs perfectly and is a realiable car. They're great, and every time i see its big droopy love-filled eyes looking at me i get all sentimental

[89.SVO]

Originally Posted by dopeydazza

Just hit the 423,000 mark, since last post of September 2013 at 411,800.
Still a great big rattle somewhere in back after rear shocks & springs replaced. Think it may be trailing arms if it has any.
Some days air filter so clogged from **** roads here has no power and starts sucking oil. Then I clean filter or replace, and ZOOOM it takes off.
I love my ugly duckling. Did find a spot of rust underneath each tail light though, where water from boot seal meets dirt from under car.

Make sure the shock bolts a F'N tight. Or the shocks will rattle

[89.SVO]

I just bought myself and my fiancé new cars.
Mine: AU2 Forte in Congo green. needs new front and rear bumpers, and steering wheel. But rest of car in good nick, Original motor, still got 150psi across the board after a compression test. No interior rattles except for the top dash panel on rough roads. No rust in sills, inside boot, around tail lights.
And it has 365,000kms

Hers: AU3 Fairmont in white. Cruise, climate, traction control, ABS, electric drivers seat, dual airbags. Everything works (or in airbags case, light comes on when ignition turned on)
Needs rack, radiator, weld up crack in cat converter, balancer seal and chain tensioner re-sealed.
340,000kms.

Got both cars for $1000 combined. Both have 4 months rego each

[GasoLane]

We recently sold our AUII Barge to a very happy buyer from Syd (who came out with cash in an Identical 'Lane

He has about 6 of them on HC plates and said that ours, at 220,000kms, was only just run in.

Seems he has 2 that have just over 1,000,000 k's on them!

[sednwol]

Oil leaks seem to start around 180000Kmh.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by sednwol

Oil leaks seem to start around 180000Kmh.

that's like you saying you know how long every piece of string is

[Davehoos]

have 2 at 240 000Km the drive like new without oil leaks.
rust is just starting to be a problem.

had a few that I purchased in the past with over 600 000Km that had reco driveline.
these suffered from rear seat taxi abuse and heavy towing body cracks. drove like new.

[fordfalconed]

Gidday lads,

I have a Au SR Series3 sedan auto petrol 231K on clock, had to recently change coil pack, leads, plugs, radiator, thermostat, heater pipe to thermo housing green coloured "O" ring, water pump, new dayco belt drive, will need to change high pressure hose power steering as leaking away onto bloody alternator, have plugged exhaust 2 small hole spots (top of cat and centre large muffler with permatex exhaust grey coloured paste but will eventually change cat and rest exhaust, will eventually do fuel pump and fuel filter as preventative measure, slow leaking Autotrans extension housing seal so my need metal bush and seal renewal plus full autoX sevice, cheers

ps great purchase 89.svo

[Grippy]

With those items replaced, she will be good for another 231ks!

[fordfalconed]

Originally Posted by Grippy

With those items replaced, she will be good for another 231ks!

Yep I Hope so too thanks Grippy cheers lads go AU3

ps i forgot to mention importantly I had to also change the fans as the slow speed one did not work so I got a $65 fans from ford wrecker and now both work when I have the A/C on.

[89.SVO]

yeh I was very happy. I now have leather interiors for both cars. Fairmont Ghia interior for hers. AU3 XR8 interior for mine.
I also has a 255k AU XR6 HP engine and 5 speed conversion for mine. and a 3.45 live axle LSD.

[flooded one]

Both my AUs are in the 220,000kms range. Don't use oil or water. I reckon the mechanical side of things on them will out live the body itself. One has minor rust but I think that's a falcon thing personally