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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ultima
        
(Message started by: Malcolm73 on Sep 8^th, 2012, 3:21pm)

Title: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ultima
Post by Malcolm73 on Sep 8^th, 2012, 3:21pm

My car is a 24V Ultima which has had the automatic gear box removed and possibly dismantled, also the main radiator has been replaced, and the failing crankshaft belt pulley (Vibration damper protruding) which was replaced with a second hand pulley in better condition. All the above work was carried out some months ago by a member of “The Federation of Automatic Transmission Engineers”.
Prior to the above works being carried out my car was running perfectly.
I now have the following major problems along with numerous others, damage etc.
1) Steering is vague and a pot hole causes my car to deviate. Front suspension arms are fairly new (Although a local garage originally tightened bolts with wheels hanging, corrected after two months). Just in case, both rearward facing bushes have also now been replaced. Wheel bearings checked with electronic stethoscope, wheels changed diagonally, tracking checked three times! M.A.F. cleaned. My question is:- By removing the auto box, or work in similar area is there any way that this could affect the steering, wiring etc? My auto box company did succeed in disconnecting wiring to the horn etc.
2) Prior to receiving attention the gear lever worked perfectly notching smoothly and solidly into P,R,N,D,2, & 1., however on having my car back from the auto box specialist there is ¾” fore and aft movement at positions ‘R’ and at position ‘N’ (Neutral). On one of my trips back to the “Auto Box Specialist” their mechanic put my car on the ramp and showed me worn links from the bottom of the cars gear lever to the actuating arm on the side of the gear box and said that was the cause. Having thought about it for some weeks (Months?) I ask myself, if that is the case then why does the gear lever latch correctly with no forward/backward movement at locations in ‘P’ ‘D’, ‘2’ & ‘1’ but not at the other two locations?
I also have vibration which varies with speed and gets intolerable from 45 M.P.H. upwards.
An electronic stethoscope has also been applied by another garage to the rear differential where there may be some bearing noise.
In this saga I understand that the Auto Box specialist may have sent my car to yet another garage, possibly to balance the prop shaft. On my car’s last return to me the hand brake lever which usually had about three clicks was now near vertical and unsafe. The cause was rear brake cable inner rusted solid and N/S calliper H/Brake mechanism faulty. Needed new cable and calliper, now fitted by another garage. Presumably my car was parked in the rain in a car park without using the handbrake.
If there a knowledgeable 24v owner(s) within a sensible distance of Stourbridge I would very much appreciate a meeting as by using numerous small garages I am not making any sensible progress. Just to make life interesting my solid state C:/ H.Drive in self-assembled desk top has failed!!! With some luck I just happened to have a recent Norton Ghost image on D:/
Malcolm73

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by Jeff on Sep 8^th, 2012, 8:19pm

To be perfectly honest malcolm, if I was in this situation I'd simply find another car. Only snag there being they don't come up that often.
Just seems like a simple solution to what sounds like a host of troubles. I've had 3 scorps and they have all been very reliable, none costing more than a grand...and they are less than that these days...

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by a900one on Sep 8^th, 2012, 9:40pm

One on ebay.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160877404845&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by Malcolm73 on Sep 9^th, 2012, 11:02am

To Jeff and a900one. Gentlemen, thank you both for replying. The car offered for sale at Peterborough, to within a few hundred miles is the same as my present car.

There is a picture of my car on this forum, taken at the rally at Weston during 2005 in which four cars are lined up all of which are painted in Curiass. One has a registration number starting with ‘E’ as does my wife’s first name.

I probably hold a few records. My car formerly belonged to the Ford organisation and was offered for sale late in 1997 with about 5,800 miles at £19,250.

Has any forum member owned a Scorpio for longer, paid a higher price for a Scorpio, or have a birth year earlier than 1932.

Jeff, you are correct. Sensibly I should buy the Peterborough car suggested by a900one.

Regards, Malcolm73’s

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by leewar on Sep 9^th, 2012, 10:29pm

Gearbox possibly dismantled ??? Did they not tell you what they had done/what were you charged for??Do they belong to this so called organisation and if so you can check. Warranty on the work done????? Just a few thoughts to go on with. Lee

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by Mike H on Sep 10^th, 2012, 11:11am

Doesn't sound good at all.

Why was transmission removed if "was running perfectly" before?

Unfortunately (I'm going by only what I've read here of course) removing / replacing transmission is not as straightforward as it would first appear, the gear selector lever has to be readjusted correctly else it won't select the positions properly; also, prop-shaft to differential flange joint is balanced and must be be put back exactly the same as it was before it came off (e.g. put realignment marks on both flanges before separation), even the bolts may be different weights, this is most likely what the vibration is all about.

The 'light steering' may be due to the variable speed power assist not making it feel stiffer at speed? Just a wild guess

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by Malcolm73 on Sep 12^th, 2012, 11:59am

Thanks for the replies. The main part of my original question was concerning the possibility of the steering being adversely affected by removing the auto box, also the sloppy movement of the gear lever and associated linkages This is really important as I have an apointment in the next few hours with the top managemnt of the auto box company.

My Scorpio will never be replaced with another Scorpio because I know the history and care that my car has received during my ownership, for example 3,000 mile maximum oil changes, bodywork attention by, in my opinion one of the best in the country during October / November 2010. My car was with Tim for nearly two months, not working on it all that time because Tim had other projects ( Type into Google "Dudley News Ghostbuster Ambulance").

I am going to try one more small garage for assistance concerning in particular the steering.

Thanks for the interest. Malcolm73

Title: Re: Auto box, steering, noise & more -24v Ulti
Post by Mike H on Sep 14^th, 2012, 11:50am

Only if steering gubbins was disturbed, possible if engine and g/box needed moving or to get access, just guessing.

The gear selector prob just sounds like wasn't adjusted properly on the rebuild, but then how would they know probably, it is quite vital though, adjustment procedure here:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/autotrans/SelectorAdjust.pdf

HTH