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Title: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Zombie on Apr 21st, 2006, 9:44pm .. So I have a lot of questions. Hello everybody! It's a 1996 2.9 12v Ultima Estate auto that has done 63,000 miles. The mileage seems genuine. It has a main dealer service history up to 2001, when it had done 43,000 miles. and the interior is not particularly worn - everything works and the climate control is effectively cold. The engine seems oily, I think both the rocker cover gaskets are leaking (no mayo in the water or oil cap) - as long as it is just that, I am not too concerned. The one thing (aprt from 17 MPG) that is worrying me is the gearbox. It seems a bit slow to engage in first, when pulling away at times, and the oil is grey rather than red. I suspect the transmission fluid has not been changed for years! IS it possible it may just need an oil change, or should I start looking for a new gear box? :-[ I am hoping it will not come to this, as I was thinking of getting an LPG conversion done. |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by mr._floppy on Apr 21st, 2006, 10:08pm Welcome to the boards. Nay, nay, lad, at a measly 63K miles the autobox should be as fit as the proverbial whatsit. :D Certainly a fluid and filter change will prolong its life even more ( circa £140 from a reputable auto specialist ) . Our more transmission savvy members will give you some tips and ideas on tackling the autobox lag. |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Zombie on Apr 22nd, 2006, 12:05am The joy! I thought I was faced with the prospect of throwing cash and credit cards at a garage till I squeeked! This gearbox service plan is good news. Anyone know a good Gearbox Specialist in or around Northampton? |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by DJWerkz on Apr 22nd, 2006, 12:20am Do not use MK Gearbox in Milton Keynes should your investigations into getting the gearbox done take you that far ;) |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Zombie on Apr 22nd, 2006, 12:34am Thanks for the warning (I assume they screwed you or a loved one!) Are auto gearbox additives, that claim to help renew old oil and bands?, any use? I would assume they are not. I once put Slick 50 in a Lancia Delta and it blew an O ring soon after,... Oh the horror, the misfires, the new engine! |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Snoopy on Apr 22nd, 2006, 6:50am It is a personal thing but I personally would NOT recommend the use of ANY sort of additives . Oil companies spend £Millions in development and research and if they were that good they I am quite sure that they wold be using them in the oil they sell. Try an oil change, it doesnt cost s fortune and may well improve the performace of the gear box. The 12 v has the the older ALDe box in it and is a good strong box ...(Crossing fingers and toes and clasping lucky charms) The rocker covers are usually a source of leaks and are easily replaced as DIY job the Offside one is more awkward than difficult and the nearside one is really easy . You can source them from most Motor facotrs at a few£'s . Get a good full service done Plugs leads Oil and filter and AIR filters and there are two in the box A big one and a small one change the rotor arm as well and then see if that improves the MPG Servicing the 12v is a really easy DIY job . One last thing check the thermostat is working OK as if it is open all the time then that can cause LOW mpg. |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Spannerdemon on Apr 22nd, 2006, 7:11am My last but one car was a Granada 2.4i Auto with 76,000 miles on the clock. When I got this, it showed exactly the symptoms that you describe. Very slow pulling away in "D". I took it to a local Auto Transmission Specialist. He told me the box needed replacement at a cost of just over £1,000. My local garage changed the ATF fluid, and filter for £45.00 The gearbox never gave me any more trouble. I too had been having nightmares about forking out mega-bucks to get the gearbox replaced/repaired. Mr Floppy is spot on. Get the fluid changed, and carry on living. Servicing the 12v is a doddle. That's one of the main reasons I bought this particular model. Like a big Lego/Meccano Kit!! I can't afford expensive garages. Frankly I don't trust most of them anyway. Enjoy your car. I too am a newbie, having bought my Ultima 2.9 12v in March. Love the car, and this site has been one of the best I've ever found on the web. A real credit to the guys who created, and run it. :) |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by sector-9 on Apr 22nd, 2006, 11:20am on 04/22/06 at 07:11:01, Spannerdemon wrote:
Sounds about right - they get a grand off you and a good gearbox they can flog on with next to no work needed on it. In the meantime you lose a bunch of cash and get a gearbox off a 140,000 mile car that may have had internal bits replaced, but probably not! Garages - I don't trust any of them to be honest when it comes down to making money - that's one of the reasons I do everything myself >:( (and yes, I would attempt to fix the auto box myself too, even at risk of knackering it completely - a s/h replacement would be cheaper than what garages quote and I'd have all the spares & experience from the other). Darren |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by mr._floppy on Apr 22nd, 2006, 8:05pm BTW, I'm liking the idea of a LPG conversion. The way the petrol prices are going ( 95.5p and rising ) it may be cheaper to run the goddam thing on calor gas or Methane >:(. |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Spannerdemon on Apr 22nd, 2006, 8:16pm Don't you think it will be like diesel? The minute people start to save money on fuel (any fuel), the government slap more and more tax on it. Diesel used to be relatively cheap. Now it's dearer than petrol. Not because it needs to be, but because it's become more widely used. Wonder if I could run my Scorp on Coal or Peat. Big chimney out of the sunroof, box of matches in the glove compartment to light it? ;) 8) Peat Tax...............Coal Tax...... :-/ |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by scorpio_man on Apr 22nd, 2006, 8:18pm hi there i've been running on gas since oct 2003. best thing i've done to the car!! 39.9p a litre from asda/morrisons. http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/lpg2_3.htm http://www.autogas.co.uk/news.php?id=1144922672 |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Zombie on Apr 22nd, 2006, 11:25pm Thanks for all the advice. I got the car taxed today and so went for my first proper drive in it. After struggling to get it to reverse off my drive ??? I went straight for the nearest A road and gave it some welly, the gearbox operated fine once it was going. Then I used the breakes and I nearly lost my grip of the steering wheel due to severe break judder. Warped discs. I stopped off at the nearest Kwik Fit and they also found that my tires were severely scrubbed on the inside edges due to worn lower suspension arm bushes. 4 hours later and £465 poorer (new discs, pads, bushes and 4 x pirellis to replace the cruddy remoulds) I drove away. The gearbox has not misbehaved once since I got the breaks done! I am now hoping that the broken breaks were sticking and causing the problems I was having. Fingers crossed because I may have to drive 130 miles in it tomorrow. |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by mr._floppy on Apr 23rd, 2006, 4:31pm I'm amazed kwik-fit had the correct wishbone bushes in stock ( just an oil filter for a Scorp has to be specially ordered at my local KF outfit ), just my natural garage pessimism but, are you sure they fitted 'em ? :-/ |
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Title: Re: Just got a Scorpio.... Post by Zombie on Apr 23rd, 2006, 6:02pm on 04/23/06 at 16:31:20, mr._floppy wrote:
Good question and your pessimism is well founded. They had to order them, then the wrong ones arrived. Its going back in Tuesday to have them fitted. They did say they may have to get them from Ford. |
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