Common Problems with the AU??

[StevenAu2]

Another problem ive had to fix twice at about 12 monthly intervals is replacing the gasket(more like an o-ring) of the thermostat housing.
P!$$ easy job though!!!

[FPV8U]

OK guys noticed today that Mums AUII XR8's speedo was jumping when being accelerated, is this a common problem and what is the fix?

Thanks alot guys

[StAndArdAU]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

OK guys noticed today that Mums AUII XR8's speedo was jumping when being accelerated, is this a common problem and what is the fix?

Thanks alot guys

I had that problem too but found out it was the background bubbling (cheap replacement white gauges) and the needles were hitting. now it does it very subtly if i put the pedal down fast.

I last advised about a squeak with my rear right rotor etc. Well, it is not a common problem in this case cause the whole axle/hub set up is bent to the @%#$house! My guess is that the previous owner has had someone smack into the side of him and the problem is just starting to come through now. Anyway, Widowmaker in Caloundra are now going to replace the whole axle/hub for the right rear which shall keep me going until the AU is traded in on a new post BF model XR8 :eclipsee_ ...hope they build a good one!

Dave

[riro]

just had completely faded lcd display in my Au 1 same as 2 & 3 fixed by a real gentleman who knows how NOT to charge excessively $50 versus up to $300 for changeover try this link www.geocities.com/liquidxtal

[Mechan1k]

Maybe your jet in the converter needs to be cleaned ... maybe a diaphram issue in the converter as well ... as they get older they are not as tight.

[StAndArdAU]

i've got moisture build up in my front head light... how can i get rid of it?

[chief]

Originally Posted by StAndArdAU

i've got moisture build up in my front head light... how can i get rid of it?

PM "The Dok". He runs a business called the Headlight Hospital and can refurbish them and reseal them.


Also I thought this thread was for problem and solution not a general Q & A.

[eminvil_12]

if you want cheap leds go to 123leds.com or sickmods.net hes a great guy, and leds come with free resistors, contact him and he should be able to get you the right value.
dont go to dick smiths

sorry its a little off topic but most people like saving money, even if it is a little bit.
Should be able to get the leds shipped with resistors for under $5 opposed to DS's $3 for one led.

[Fez WQ]

Boot Hinges on the sedan broken fixed under warranty, and some bloke ran into me , under warranty would have loved to fix him up!!!!!. AU may be differnt in looks but excells in value and lasting well. Taxis drive them that says it all . I was in a AU2 the other day had done 750000KM+ and sounded in A1 condition. All AUs suffer form rust was you car often with a cap ful (50ml) of Kero in the water the car will last a heap longer. My paint protection place recomended it

[12]

Originally Posted by Aaron Hunter

AU may be differnt in looks but excells in value and lasting well. Taxis drive them that says it all . I was in a AU2 the other day had done 750000KM+ and sounded in A1 condition.

Have been catching a few taxi's in the last 2 months or so for work reasons. Been in Avalons', AU's, Camry's and BA's. Chatting to the drivers, I asked for their opinion on the late model taxis. The AU was highly regarded as the best. One driver in a Avalon absolutely loved the AU he had. He had AU-AU2-BA and now Camry. Hated the BA, and not impressed with the Camry. Every taxi driver I spoke to said the AU had been THE best taxi they've driven/owned. One BA driver said to me that his boss is so not impressed/mad with the BA, he wants to sell the lot of 'em and buy back the AU2 fleet he had prior. Never in my conversations did I mention to them I was a Ford man and a AU owner. Just smirked and nodded my head when they talked about the AU.

[xd5.8l]

They said the same thing about the EF- EL and the EB-ED before that. I think we're just gradually getting worse.

[BPXR6T]

I agree with those taxi drivers in a reliability sense. I owned an AU1 XR8 before my current BA XR8. The AU was totally hassle free. I can't say the same for the BA. I've been pretty lucky compared to some but my 15K old BA has just had the diff replaced! One of many common BA problems.

In my experience an AU, apart from the weak auto its as solid as a rock!

[paddle]

The only problems ive had with my 1998 AU Forte is the Water Pump which i noticed the noise about a day after a brought the car. I got it second hand with 203 thou on the clock.
When i got the Towbar put on i got him to check over it. He picked out that the Rotars were undersized and majorly out of shape.

I got the car yard to fix all of this.

[Dark Horse]

Yes a common problem regarding the BTR boxes in the AU are the seals, and also the from the speedo transducer.

[Stav]

Good man. This may be the likely culprit ...the speedo cog /transducer.The rear seal went and got replaced a year ago. Thanks.!! :sm_headba

[Stav]

Well the new second hand box went in last week.Apparently if the rear auto seal goes the tailshaft may thrash around causing bad wearing inside the main gearbox housing.

Today while driving around my brakes totally dissapeared.Yes no brakes.It seems the brake booster died and was hissing inside the car.I was lucky not to smash.The dam brake boosters are made of plastic!!! If your car is on 180,000 kms ,do yourself a favour and get another booster.If there was a lady or youngster on the car they could have been killed.

[I6corp]

Originally Posted by useless

Well the new second hand box went in last week.Apparently if the rear auto seal goes the tailshaft may thrash around causing bad wearing inside the main gearbox housing.

Today while driving around my brakes totally dissapeared.Yes no brakes.It seems the brake booster died and was hissing inside the car.I was lucky not to smash.The dam brake boosters are made of plastic!!! If your car is on 180,000 kms ,do yourself a favour and get another booster.If there was a lady or youngster on the car they could have been killed.

:( mate that sucks, what happened? Did u hit something? how bads the car?

ur not having the best of runs witht the AU

[Stav]

Today the new second hand booster died again.Lost my braking while driving out of Sydney to Parramatta. I managed to get it to Greenacre wrecking yard and got another booster. The guy said to me that the AU 2 came with a much larger brake booster but the bolting pattern was different.He said he has never sold an au2 booster but hundreds of au1 ones.

I think ford should recall all AU1 cars and do a free upgraded brake booster. I wonder how many smashes have occured from this design fault?

[jmc-007]

Originally Posted by useless

Well the new second hand box went in last week.Apparently if the rear auto seal goes the tailshaft may thrash around causing bad wearing inside the main gearbox housing.

Today while driving around my brakes totally dissapeared.Yes no brakes.It seems the brake booster died and was hissing inside the car.I was lucky not to smash.The dam brake boosters are made of plastic!!! If your car is on 180,000 kms ,do yourself a favour and get another booster.If there was a lady or youngster on the car they could have been killed.

plastic what happend to steel ?

not cool

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by useless

Well the new second hand box went in last week.Apparently if the rear auto seal goes the tailshaft may thrash around causing bad wearing inside the main gearbox housing.

Yes and at 111,000 k's the rear seal on mine decides it's time to pull up stumps. Slight oil leak is noted in garage, and slightly louder than normal driveline noise noted whilst motoring.

New seal, filter and gasket for a service, BTR box is examined to be in pretty good nick and we're away _Oo===oO_.

[red_devil]

I have an AU2 ute, 5 speed manual, pacemaker extractors, other than that basically stock.
The thing is, is it accelerates like a pig. It is as torquey as anything, but I also have an EA 5 speed multipoint wagon which accelerates from a standing start to 100 a lot quicker. Like, close to two seconds.

I have also owned an auto EL on LPG which was quicker too.
At higher speeds it's not as bad. It's just at low speeds its like it's bogged down. It's behaving almost like the timing is too far advanced. But, as I understand, the ignition timing is not adjustable.

The spark plugs (gapped correctly), oil, oil filter, leads and air filter are all brand new.

Any ideas?

[clontarf_x]

It's an AU 0-100 in 8 seconds. Look at getting it chipped and then your in the business

[Papa Smurf]

Touch Wood, I have an AU XR6 with the original booster. 128,000 klms on the clock and I love my car. I am it's third owner adn this is in immaculate condition. It had ONE item replaced under the new car warranty and that was it.

EA falcons had booster trouble too, they were Steel.

One thing I haven't noticed here either, Door locks? (not Barrel and Keys). We have been replacing these things for YEARS on AU's and BA's as well. Ford is up to it's 5 modification on them and MAYBE, they have FINALLY gotten it right.

Front Hubs were a problem on AU's for a time and Rotors. It's a pity but this is what happens when you design a car in a hurry then allow it on the road and have the OWNERS do your fault finding.

BTW, the OTHER OZ built car with a pussy cat emblem has its share of faults too.

[Timeshift]

The actuators in the rear doors of the AUIII.

I bought my car last year and since then, both rear doors had stopped locking when I centrally lock the car. First time was under warranty, all good, second time it wasn't so following advice from here I just took the door cover off and detached the metal rod, therefore the door can only be opened from the inside and not the outside.

That's an overpriced $300 that Ford quoted that i've saved :hihi:

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Timeshift

The actuators in the rear doors of the AUIII.

I bought my car last year and since then, both rear doors had stopped locking when I centrally lock the car. First time was under warranty, all good, second time it wasn't so following advice from here I just took the door cover off and detached the metal rod, therefore the door can only be opened from the inside and not the outside.

That's an overpriced $300 that Ford quoted that i've saved :hihi:

Just hope you never accidently flick on the child locks or you'll never open the door again. May be worth a bit of tape on them to ensure they are not moved into the "lock" postition.

[Timeshift]

Originally Posted by Casper

Just hope you never accidently flick on the child locks or you'll never open the door again. May be worth a bit of tape on them to ensure they are not moved into the "lock" postition.

Good idea.

So, if that were to happen, is it really "never again"? Or will it just cost a hefty penny to get it open again?

Couldn't it just be a case of getting the handle off the door and working from there...?

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Timeshift

Good idea.

So, if that were to happen, is it really "never again"? Or will it just cost a hefty penny to get it open again?

Couldn't it just be a case of getting the handle off the door and working from there...?

It would disable the inside handle.... and the outside is already disabled. The doorcard cant be removed if the door is cut so you would have to cut through it to get the door open I guess. Minimum would be replacing the door trim I guess.

[Bucknaked]

Another Common Problem with the AU is they need petrol.

[Stav]

300 dollars is simply criminal!!