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        General >> News >> New member, New car!
        
(Message started by: Jimlaar on Aug 18^th, 2012, 2:55pm)

Title: New member, New car!
Post by Jimlaar on Aug 18^th, 2012, 2:55pm

Hi guys I posted in the new members section but it seems a bit quiet over there so I thought I'd share my experiences so far with the latest edition to my fleet and say hi at the same time!
Just over a month ago I bought a P registered 2.3 Ultima saloon with an auto gearbox.
It was a part exchange at my local Ford dealers and looked pretty straight except for its centre caps being missing?!
I expressed an interest and as the garage know me I organised an overnight test drive where me and the wife did over 150 miles... in serious comfort! Everything seemed ok, several trim items were damaged, missing or not working but nothing I couldn't fix with a trip to a breakers and an afternoons work.
The gearbox oil I thought could do with a change and there was a whiff of coolant but I just couldn't trace it and although it was a bit low when we test drove it (I topped it up before hand) it lost nothing in the time we had it, on the test drive I tried every switch and button - the one I regret pressing the most was the electrochromatic mirror one - shortly after I heard a loud pop and the mirror no longer worked, next morning it had dripped onto the centre console melting the otherwise tidy interior trim! Aaaaarrrrggghhh!
I returned to the garage next morning and advised they remove the mirror to prevent further damage and then
I negotiated a price and soon after the dark green barge was mine, it has a biscuit coloured interior which doesn't seem that common, and the only options it seems to lack are a fully electric passenger seat and the wooden steering wheel!

The items I had to address were as follows:
Cracked o/s fog lamp,
x4 Missing centre caps,
Missing CD changer,
Bent aerial,
cracked and broken drivers electric window switch,
Rear view mirror,
Sunroof not working,
intermittant lights on the right side of the dash,
and finally a gearbox flush and oil change.

I trawled eBay for parts and then eventually found this site, I saw the mentions of Spikies so I gave him a call and negotiated a price for all the bits I needed.

Meanwhile I had the gearbox serviced and the diff topped up and made sure the car was given a once over, that was when the bad news came, the inlet manifold was letting out water at a horrific rate even though on our road test it was fine?!!!
I priced one from Ford and nearly passed out, then I called Spikie who said he had one in that was 12 months old for considerably less - I agreed to have it and the other parts when I made the journey to Essex the following Tuesday.

I pitched up at his barn around 12 and was greeted with an aladdins cave of parts as well as a warm welcome! We coo'd at his limos and had a brew, collected our parts and then made the two hour journey home (Which took some what longer as my vans exhaust parted company with itself on the M11!)

I sent the Scorpio up to my local mechanic and left him with a couple of jobs - the main one being the inlet manifold, 24 hours later I arrive back at the garage to find that not only has he done the inlet manifold and other jobs, he's fitted all the parts I had in the boot too!
The car runs like a dream now, I still need to investigate the sunroof and replace a front tyre that I personally are not happy with and also solder the dashboard to stop the light issue but other than that I am bowled over with the old girl and the level of knowledge on here!
Two articles of use already were the trip computer to Miles from KM's and programming my remote fob - the seats kept reverting to the previous owners setting (even though I had saved mine and my wifes to the memory) when we got in!

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by PJDavis on Aug 18^th, 2012, 5:07pm

Welcome welcome. You'll love this site and hardly a day will go past that you won't be in here for more news! We all like to help each other in here, and some of us have a mountain of spares. You'll need to get some pics of your car up on the site.
Peter

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Mike H on Aug 19^th, 2012, 10:48am

Greetings and congratulations! http://livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk/images/misc/th_greeting.gif

The plastic inlet manifold is a bit of a nightmare and well known for springing leaks so not much unusual there. Aren't I glad mine's the old metal one ;D

(Has been known for metal ones to be put onto the 2.3's)

Search here about sunroof, what usually happens is the steel surround around the glass rusts and expands, so it gets stuck in the roof hole. Then that strips the plastic gear of the motor. One solution that has been done is to swap it for a manual winder version, if you can find one. (The manual winder is easier to 'persuade' when difficulties arise.)

Find out where the coolant has leaked to and if it got onto any electrics clean and inspect thoroughly, the coolant can destroy the wiring apparently.

As you've found out it's one if THE most comfy cars ever made and an excellent mile eater, I luv doing long trips in it. ;D

Tons of cargo space as well, used see them fairly often on campsites a few years ago. When they weren't so rare that is.

HTH

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by leewar on Aug 19^th, 2012, 3:15pm

Welcome Jim, The best site bar none for these super cars. All the info and parts from members you could want to keep your treasure on the road. One of our members, Rod, is in your area. Cheers Lee

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Jimlaar on Aug 19^th, 2012, 8:13pm

Brilliant! Thanks for the welcome guys! I've taken all your advice on board.
I thought I'd programmed my key as it used to revert to the old owners seat position when I unlocked it, now it just stays where we last left it?!! My wife jumped in earlier -(M2) moved the car and locked it up, I jumped in using the same fob and had to press for the setting (M1) that I thought I had programmed it for!!!
Has anyone got a beige/tan coloured centre console as mine has been damaged by the exploding mirror - I might be able to just get away with just the inserts, Spikie doesn't have one sadly :(
Lastly have many people tackled rear arch rot? Mines not bad but needs nipping in the bud before it takes hold! also what are your thoughts on undersealing?

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Simmo on Aug 20^th, 2012, 7:52am

on 08/19/12 at 20:13:09, Jimlaar wrote:

Lastly have many people tackled rear arch rot? Mines not bad but needs nipping in the bud before it takes hold! also what are your thoughts on undersealing?

The rear arches can be successfully done by using new parts designed for the earlier model. My estate was done with them and I know that Freddieboy has had his done. Mine were done by a friend of Gozz's who has a body shop in Peterborough. He also did the sills and made a first class job of it. I am due to take the car back up to him, I live in Sussex, shortly for some further cosmetic work. :)

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by lesterlad aka Rodders on Aug 20^th, 2012, 8:14am

Hi Jimlaar.
Where about's in 'Leicestershire' are you ?
I reside in the city, on the Ring Road halfway between the 'Pork Pie' roundabout and the 'Racecourse'

Pop in for a cuppa if ever your passing....biscuits are optional. ;D

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Simmo on Aug 20^th, 2012, 9:41am

on 08/20/12 at 08:14:46, lesterlad aka Rodders wrote:

He'll also be able to tell you tales about Gozz !!

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Jimlaar on Aug 20^th, 2012, 9:04pm

Rod it sounds like your on the Saff, I pass through there quite regularly!
I'm out at Market Harborough, who is this Gozz character then?!!

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by rich1 on Aug 20^th, 2012, 10:22pm

on 08/20/12 at 21:04:59, Jimlaar wrote:

Rod it sounds like your on the Saff, I pass through there quite regularly!
I'm out at Market Harborough, who is this Gozz character then?!!

You really dont wanna know ;)

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by lesterlad aka Rodders on Aug 20^th, 2012, 10:50pm

on 08/20/12 at 21:04:59, Jimlaar wrote:

Rod it sounds like your on the Saff, I pass through there quite regularly!
I'm out at Market Harborough, who is this Gozz character then?!!

Yes I'm on the Saff, easy to spot my gaff, just look for a load of timber in my front yard and a pub bench (made by me) chained to a lamp post at the side of the main drag, and MOM parked on the service road.

Gozz is a fine old(ish) chap,always ready to help anyone out the mire, at some point in his early days he would have saved you from a raging inferno with his trusty fireman's ladder, whereas more recently he would have transported you to a raging inferno in the back of his trusty Scorpio Hearse. ;D

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by Jimlaar on Aug 21^st, 2012, 9:33am

Unbelievable! I nearly bought a picnic table from you a couple of months back but it had gone on my return journey!
I'd commented on your cars to the Mrs too - didn't you have a Granada too?

As for Gozz, he sounds ace lol!

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by lesterlad aka Rodders on Aug 21^st, 2012, 10:39am

on 08/21/12 at 09:33:12, Jimlaar wrote:

Unbelievable! I nearly bought a picnic table from you a couple of months back but it had gone on my return journey!
I'd commented on your cars to the Mrs too - didn't you have a Granada too?

As for Gozz, he sounds ace lol!

Yes I had a maroon MKIII 4x4 saloon.

There will be more tables available as soon as I get the correct grade of timber, keep your eyes peeled, and don't forget to ask for a discount.
;D

Title: Re: New member, New car!
Post by gozz on Aug 21^st, 2012, 2:08pm

Gozz is a fine old(ish) chap,always ready to help anyone out the mire, at some point in his early days he would have saved you from a raging inferno with his trusty fireman's ladder, whereas more recently he would have transported you to a raging inferno in the back of his trusty Scorpio Hearse. ;D[/quote]

That's quite right Rodders,I've always had fire in my belly,now as a retired geezer I,m keeping up the tradition via 'firewater' from the offy 8)I don't think they'll be burning me,too bloody dangerous :o I'll have to be planted in a safe place !!
GOZZ.