The missus' ED Fairmont wagon...probably getting parted out

by **DJV8T5** » January 14th, 2013, 8:33 pm

A while back the missus had a VS 6 seater wagon, which was shit to say the least about it, had a few issues was a bit beaten up as to be expected with them. Then we found out that she was pregnant (again lol) so we needed to upgrade to something with more seats. After a while of looking around on carsales and ebay amongst other places, she located a half reasonable looking/sounding ED Fairmont wagon.

Seemed too good to be true. $1500 for the wagon with 167,xxxkms, 5 alloys, reg, RWC, extractors & 2.5" cat back and panel filter. Turns out that Mel (the missus) Aunt & Uncle were heading out to Traralgon for a job that weekend, and were able to look at the car while they were there. After going over it for her, they called me (I am better with cars than Mel is, and I know Fords fairly well) and said all was good except a ticking noise on start up, typical lifter noise - was the only issue. They drove the car back to their place in Mt Evelyn and we were going to pick it up from their place a few weeks later.

As shitty luck would have it, on the way down to Mt Ev to get the car, the VS cooked itself on the way down, at a town called Maindample (between Yarck and Mansfield) and did both head gaskets. I nursed it to Bonnie Doon after topping up with what water we had in the car, and called Mel's Uncle to come get us. We got to Mt Ev a few hours later, and the car looked better than it sounded in the ad.

All I have done since, is serviced it and a few small mods, firstly was 3rd row dickie seat, then thermos, followed by a serpentine conversion. Before I got to the serp conversion, one of the relays died for the thermos, so I fixed the wiring and arrangement up to make it look a whole lot neater and cleaner. This weekend just gone, I located an EF manual conversion for $400...a steal I thought. So the T5 will be the next and most likely final mod done on this one.

Some pics are in order of this one

On the way home from C4C:

3rd row seats

Thermo wiring
Old:

New:

And current pics

Coming soon

Thinking this mod may also lead to an EF/L console, and maybe hand brake if I cbf.

Hope you like it

by **SnipeZ** » January 14th, 2013, 8:49 pm

Looks mint. A steal with such low kms.
I want the gear boot

Cheers

by **DJV8T5** » January 15th, 2013, 6:50 pm

I didn't know that was the gear boot with it til I picked the kit up...was stoked when I saw it though. Need to grab an EF/L Fairmont console or similar with full electrics to do the conversion. Then I will get it dyno tuned at work with a J3 to finish it off properly cos I have access to it all

by **SnipeZ** » January 15th, 2013, 6:55 pm

I'm jealous.
The boots are so hard to find these days. Ill have to get one made up.

Cheers

by **DJV8T5** » March 14th, 2013, 9:15 pm

So I had to do front wheel bearings in this last week, had damage to the drivers side outer race, will put up pics later.

On another note, has anyone else had issues with EF A/C pumps seizing? The shaft in the A/C pump on the wagon has seized and killed the A/C, I changed the clutch on the front hoping that would fix it, but that has seized too. It throws sparks and smells like weld when you flick it on. I have another pump I am going to change out this weekend.

This thing also managed 195,000kms last week, so it wont be long before it's 200,000 birthday (incl manual conversion) so I will keep an eye on the oil cap for signs of custard which hopefully wont happen given it gets serviced every 5,000. Will be using an Xtreme HD clutch which should be fine for the life of the car given how it is driven.

More updates when they happen

Cheers

by **ROOSTA** » March 15th, 2013, 10:53 am

Nice clean ED wagon mate..

Cheers,
Nik

by **DJV8T5** » March 15th, 2013, 5:57 pm

Cheers Nik, just got told today that the odometer stopped working. I will have to look at the tags on the diff when I put it on the hoist to do the A/C pump and get the ratio off it so I can order a new gear for it. I think I have to take it out and pull it apart to see what is broken first...might see if I can find my dash out of my ED and re-adjust the kms to suit this car. Will figure it out after work tomorrow.

by **sexyr6** » March 15th, 2013, 6:32 pm

Nice buy mate! looks very tidy, i'm kinda partial to cardinal red Fairmont wagons my self :good:

by **DJV8T5** » March 21st, 2013, 2:53 pm

They are a pretty nice wagon to drive around in, I would prefer the 50/50 Ghia seats, but they can wait. Found out that it has a 3.27:1 diff when I did the A/C pump. Easy enough job, just didn't want to do it. Hoping to have the odometer/trip meter fixed soon, just gotta get the bits for it.

by **staunchxr** » March 22nd, 2013, 9:15 am

did you guys sing were going to bonny doon ? lol

all good down your way i hope champ with the bad weather, awesome wagon

by **DJV8T5** » March 22nd, 2013, 7:01 pm

Been having a few issues with the R/H/R window, and being electric I was expecting an expensive venture to fix it. In my running around today I located a new window reg for $40 from a local wrecker (was expecting a bit more like I have been previously quoted). So I got that and swapped them over and upon getting the old one out, I found this:

I am pretty sure this had something to do with it...

All fixed and working now, but I think the L/H/R will be the next to fail given some of the noises it is making. I know where I will be going to get the other one.

Also has anyone else had issues with the seat height adjuster? Something is wrong with the mechanism on the drivers seat and I am not sure if it can be fixed. Either way Mel (my missus) found some Fairlane seats in Melton for $50 that we will pick up next weekend, and I will put them in once we get home.

by **sexyr6** » March 22nd, 2013, 8:43 pm

yeah the height adjusters are a bit dodgy, they are made out of die cast ally, and bend over time, this causes the locking cogs inside to become misaligned and slip past each other, causing the seat to go to the highest position, I have bent them straight before and seems to work for a while. they are not hard to remove just pop the plastic cover off and IIRC there is one ten mm bolt in there.

by **DJV8T5** » March 23rd, 2013, 8:31 am

Is that the stuff inside the cover on the end? Or the bar under the seat?

by **sexyr6** » March 23rd, 2013, 10:05 am

the leaver on the side of the seat that you lower and raise to adjust the seat height.

by **ozeford** » March 25th, 2013, 3:37 pm

Nice wagon mate, defiantly a steal, keen on pics of the manual install, wanna do this also in the year after me au engine conversion, auto pissing me off.

Also plan to do a EL Interior Conversion with handbrake setup, though keeping the EB steering collum so I can use a Boss Kit etc, any engine mods coming for this thing?

by **DJV8T5** » March 25th, 2013, 6:25 pm

Probably no engine mods for now, 5 kids keeps the cash flow down pretty well. Manual conversion will be pretty easy, I will be spending $500 on clutch (Xtreme HD) & pedal & pin kit cos it is the easiest way to do it. That and manual pedal boxes are weak as piss. If the engine dies in this it will probably get an AU donk (E-gas for 10.7:1 compression ratio) and maybe a cam then, but no major work as it is the troop transport. We may not keep this in favour of my V8 wagon or maybe a Patrol (Mel is keen on Territory but meh). It all depends on what crops up in the near future with vehicles that I am trying to finish or possibly shifting to suit my wants better. Either way we will have a wagon with 8 seats for the forseeable future, either this or mine.

by **ozeford** » March 25th, 2013, 8:34 pm

Yeah know what you mean with kids have 3 of my own, just now I wish I had money to do a manual conversion with me au conversion but oh well other things need attention first anyhow, V8 Wagon Sounds good especially if that's manual too

.

by **DJV8T5** » March 26th, 2013, 4:57 pm

I wont know if it will go manual til it has been painted and then taken to Cavehill Automatics in Lilydale to check out/service the auto. If she's dead, then I will put the manual in it and will do the ED after that. I will be fixing the odometer tonight if the missus ever gets home

by **DJV8T5** » March 26th, 2013, 7:45 pm

So I pulled the cluster apart (oh what fun) and found that the problem with the odometer/tripmeter not functioning was this:

something so small is such a PITA.

What it used to look like:

What it now looks like:

I had to pull it out 2x cos it wouldn't count the first time, so I pulled it out turned it a bit so it started counting, then put it back and it all worked fine.

Also got onto the seat height adjuster...problem is the gear on the seat has worn teeth, so it doesn't have much grip, so I put the handle/adjuster back on in a different spot and it works for now.

RE: the wheel bearings - I took some photos of the damaged race, and this is what was making the noise:

RE: A/C pump replacement - I have to replace the pump again, as it has a noisy pulley bearing. I might replace it and move the pump on or bin it. Not sure yet.

by **DJV8T5** » March 31st, 2013, 1:42 pm

Mel found some seats on ebay, offered the guy $50 for full NA seats, so I cleaned them up this morning and put them in (after cleaning the carpet underneath first - it was filthy)
Dirty floor - after I picked up most of the crap

Clean floor - I love having a Kirby

New seats

Also picked up a set of 5 19x8 ROH Drift R wheels off gumtree, and 2 tyres off misk after seeing 215/35/19's on 2 of the rims. pretty good (~80%) tread all round, no tyre on the spare. I might save these for my wagon yet, depends on offset. I will have 2 215/35/19 Hancooks to sell soon though if anyone wants a pair cheap.

by **DJV8T5** » April 15th, 2013, 12:47 pm

Getting stuff ready for the 200k service...clocked 199k over the weekend on our trip to Melbourne. Picked up the slotted rotors (fronts are wiper slot rears are std slotted) and some police spec pads.

Hopefully next week I will have the rest of the parts (need to get top hose and heater hoses - they are a little crunchy to the touch) it will be going for the service and need another wheel alignment with camber adjustment after the guys at Bob Jane showed the results of the last attempt at wheel alignment that they weren't happy with.

by **DJV8T5** » April 29th, 2013, 7:29 pm

So a little over a month after I fixed the window reg, it appears that that reg has failed again

Somethings are made to piss us off I guess. In other news, last week the wagon it had 200k birthday. It is due for the major service (rotor button, dizzy cap, leads, plugs, coolant, brake fluid, brakes, a few hoses, still waiting on replacement A/C pump) and I will do both rear window regs as the passenger one is making noises that make me think that the wire is frayed but not quite broken, and I cant be bothered taping more windows up. Hopefully have everything organised for the service in the next 2 weeks.

Hope to have some good news on it in the next few weeks

by **DJV8T5** » May 3rd, 2013, 6:21 pm

Picked up another A/C pump for it from the wreckers today...$50 which is pretty good considering some of the other wreckers up here want $220 for a 2nd hand pump (you would have to be pretty dumb to pay that for a 2nd hand one IMO). I have been sick last night and today so I don't know when I will get it down to the workshop to fix it all up. Gonna be a few hours work in it but meh, better on a hoist than on the ground

by **DJV8T5** » May 23rd, 2013, 5:22 pm

So long story short, the car got it's 200k bday a little late (2000kms) and I have just changed a few extra bits as well.

Pics of new rotors
Fronts:

Rears:

Wasn't too happy to find a screw missing from the passenger rear rotor, but not much I can do just yet.

Been hearing some noise from the idler and tensioner pulleys, so I replaced them this arvo with metal ones. Idler bearing was making noise, but I decided to replace both while it was off.
Pics of damage to tensioner pulley:

by **DJV8T5** » June 6th, 2013, 4:37 pm

So I had the work truck (Kia K2700 II - POS) from Friday til Wednesday and the missus stayed at my place on Monday or Tuesday night...cant really remember...and I told her before I went to bed that she had to move her car cos I wasn't playing musical cars in the morning (at 6am it wouldn't have been much fun). She backed out and being a bit too impatient, managed to scratch up the guard, smash the indicator, damage the headlight mounts and also damage and half rip the front bar off. Haven't got any pics yet cos I'm a bit lazy (she is borrowing one of my ED XR indicators atm so it is drivable) but I fixed it up as best I could be bothered. Will get some pics of damage and bits that fell off soon.

by **DJV8T5** » September 9th, 2013, 8:52 pm

wow I have been slack on this. I did end up getting another paid of clear front indicators for it, with an aftermarket L/H indicator and a genuine ED XR R/H indicator...for $30 posted, so I still haven't done anything about it.

More recently this car has had issues with running, then randomly dying. So on the weekend (Sunday to be specific) I cracked it cos Mel was complaining about stuff on the car, so (5000km late) I serviced it with the help of my Dad. I sorted the oil & filter and the old man fixed the L/H/F wheel bearing, which lost the bearing cap about 6-7 weeks ago and has had all sorts of wonderful things like water and dust contaminating the existing grease (what was left of it anyway). The bearings weren't bad so they were just regreased. We did also find this build up on the plug for the dizzy

Later on (while we were preparing to do the last few visits before we left) the car up and died again. I guessed it was the TFI module or hall effect sensor given it would start after 15-20 mins. I got the shits with everything, and after lots of ringing around found a dizzy & coil at Repco in FTG. I got the dizzy out, and the 10000km old cap and rotor looked like this

The coil wasn't too much better either

I thought this was a bit odd for something so new, as none of my other cars have done this before. I replaced the coil too, which was actually not that hard when you get the bottom bolt from underneath. The coil didn't look great, the dizzy wasn't great either, but not bad. I pulled the TFI module off to have a look, and I am pretty sure this was the issue, as all the paste that is normally there was pretty much powder now, which means I guess that it has had a lot of heat over its recent life.

Had massive issues after the coil and dizzy were replaced, could not get the timing right and the car was being a pig about it too. I should have figured that something would go wrong after the dizzy and coil swap went so easy. Dad and I couldn't get the car to go into diagnostic mode to reset base timing, and ended up taking it up to the auto elecs in Croydon to get it sorted. After a lot of screwing around by them they got the timing set right, but the idle was up around 1500rpm. Took them about 1.5 hours to finish it all, but they ended up having to adjust the idle screw to drop the idle. The car isn't 100% on what it was before the issues, but at least it is alright. We think it may need a cat now cos it is a bit rattly and not sounding right, also needs cat gaskets. Hopefully there will be no more issues like this in the near future, might get a J3 in there to help out with some timing setup and a dyno tune.

by **DJV8T5** » September 27th, 2013, 9:27 pm

went to do some lawn mowing at the missus' place today and saw this -

It was there this morning, and gone by lunchtime. No idea how, where or when, but it is gone. Will need to find another. Anyone else heard of these trims just falling or breaking off? Anyone know where I can get one in good nic?

by **DJV8T5** » October 24th, 2013, 6:27 pm

So yesterday the handbrake started playing up, had a look today, to find that the drivers side rear section of cable is damaged. I need to know if anyone has one lying round in good condition? I need to source one soon to fix it due to the car being the main transport for the kids. Any help on this would be great, cheers

by **DJV8T5** » November 2nd, 2013, 10:46 am

Finally got round to fixing some of the issues happening with the car, replaced the tailgate window trim, handbrake cable section that was busted and the sun visor clip as that broke yesterday. The joys of Pinch-a-Part being round the corner from Dads place in Kilsyth. And all for under $20. Hardest part was taking the tailgate trim off the other car without breaking it, most of them are so old and brittle that they break now anyway.

by **DJV8T5** » November 25th, 2013, 6:14 pm

So today the Mont decided to die..massive vibration, lost most of the water. I think that it has done a head gasket and maybe balancer (vibration) as well. Not sure what to do, I can get an AU E-GAS motor for $215 with all bolt ons, or I can do the head gasket. Not sure which way I am going to go with it, given I am going to have to do it as no one else will. Probably end up with AU motor but have to wait and see. Going to put a massive dent in finances. Just what we need right now

by **DJV8T5** » December 25th, 2013, 10:40 am

Not much to update on this after the last issue, which turned out to be a head gasket and injectors, was 'fixed' it has been ok but not quite right. We were in Melbourne last weekend and I decided that the exhaust leak from the cat needed to be fixed, so I went and got a new gasket for it and replaced that, only to find when I got back to it that the exhaust hanger had had enough of life and decided to die while I was gone (I wish it had done so before I left so I could have made 1 trip to MoParts instead of 2). Fixed it all up and it sorted a few issues that had arisen, but I think it still needs a new cat as it has some serious rattles in it under load and I think the ceramic in the cat is breaking up.

this was part of the noise/leak issue - 2 gaskets that had seperated and were too small for the exit of the cat

and the hanger that died - no wonder the exhaust was lying on the ground when I got home

by **DJV8T5** » January 16th, 2014, 1:27 pm

so...having a few more issues with this, since the head gasket has been done, the car overheats. Frequently. I have just changed the thermostat for a lower one (similar to what was in it before the head was done) and new radiator cap today, but it is not making any difference, still having issues with overheating. I also had to flush the coolant out of it, as the mechanic did not listen to me when I said no coolant after head gasket - they also mixed the old coolant and new one, not even same stuff. One thing I have been taught and learned over the years is you do not mix coolants as they can react with each other and cause massive engine problems

by **DJV8T5** » January 16th, 2014, 1:39 pm

Basically just wanting to know if anyone has experienced this problem and can give me ideas and things to look at to figure out what might be wrong with it because I am stumped right now, I am going to change the 2 sensors in the lower thermostat housing (coolant temp and I am unsure what the other one is) to see if it is just a dead/faulty sensor, but any idea would be great.

by **DJV8T5** » January 17th, 2014, 5:14 pm

so I changed the coolant temp sensor, and this car is still cooking. I am thinking there is still a major issue (related to the head gasket) that is making this overheat ALL the time...regardless of the heat wave. Seriously need to sort this and get it fixed asap

by **EBOOST** » January 17th, 2014, 8:50 pm

Fans working correctly?
Hows the water pump?
Does it lose any coolant?

by **DJV8T5** » January 18th, 2014, 12:46 am

no coolant loss, both fans working at high speed and with A/C. New thermostat (180F), rad cap, coolant temp sensor (small one). Checked cat, not blocked, inside looks like new actually. Going to check over the radiator on Sunday when I have some time. I have a spare EF/L radiator I can swap in. I did flush out the cooling system including heater core to get rid of the coolant that was mixed with the old stuff when the head gasket was done. All hoses are fairly new, definitely less than a year old, same with water pump, but I think that is ok because it seems to be pumping the water up to the thermostat housing pretty well. It really has me stumped at the moment.

by **DJV8T5** » February 3rd, 2014, 9:02 pm

So I had to put a new radiator in this today...the old one has a spot where there has been leakage for a while. I went to put the spare radiator in it and it was leaking between the core and the tank. Also when I was flushing the radiator out (the one from the car) I noticed the water was bringing oil out with it, I am pretty sure it was trans fluid as it was still a bit red, but that radiator is pretty well fucked now. Might see if there is somewhere that can fix the good (spare) radiator for cheap

by **DJV8T5** » February 4th, 2014, 11:35 am

so 2 months (give or take a week) and the head gasket has shit itself in cylinder 6...I know cos I took the plugs out and cranked it, only to cop a face full of water from #6. So long as I am not working this week I will go get it once I get paid. Thinking I will go grab an AU EGAS long motor from pinch-a-part ($140 I think...might be $180) so I will have that to go in once I get back. All I am going to do is water pump, intake gasket, exhaust gasket, rear main seal, balancer seal (if needed) and rocker cover (if needed), and I will service it as well. I will use the current accessories and manifolds cos they work just fine so they will stay. Really didn't want to be doing this, but I was expecting it as soon as I saw coolant in the car when it came back from having the head gasket done. I will pull the head off once the ED is running again and see where I am at. I really didn't need this expense 2 weeks out from AFD, but shit happens.

This is what happens when mechanics who know **** all about Fords don't listen to people who know better because of experience. Will see if they are going to cover some of the costs for us because it is their **** up.

by **EBOOST** » February 4th, 2014, 9:24 pm

Take it back and make them fix it.
I personally don't believe the whole coolant causing issues if put in straight away, it will if there has been something done wrong but if all done correctly then it shouldn't cause any issue.

The fact it has cooked itself a few times since would cause an issue.

by **DJV8T5** » February 5th, 2014, 10:20 am

some of the stuff in the coolant can eat away at the adhesive on the head gaskets and stops them from bonding to the head or block. And they didn't flush the cooling system out before they added their coolant to it either. Mixing coolants is a big no-no, because some different brands have stuff in the that reacts and starts eating out the water jackets and damages the radiator as well.

Not taking the car back because we cant afford to not have a car with enough seats for another 2-3 weeks. As soon as I get paid I will be going down to pick up a motor anyway. I cbf arguing with the mechanic who cant do a job properly the first time, and my missus was working there at the time too. Would you **** around an employee like that? Knowing they have 5 kids and need a car to get around? The car sat there for 7 business days last time before it was even looked at, which is piss poor if you ask me, especially when you are told it is urgent and needs to be running on multiple occasions. Not wasting time with them again. I already have to call and sort out other shit with them, but I wont take the car back anyway.

I get paid either Thursday or Friday so if I get to Melbourne on Thursday night I can be at pinch-a-part 8am on Friday and get onto it. Be home by 1.30 in the arvo and start pulling the motor out of the ED and prep the new one to go in. Have the new motor in and running by Sat lunch time if I do everything right.

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