How many k's is too many?

[HP-0351]

hi,

a mate is looking at buying a 1999 Fairlane Ghia, its an ex hire car with leather and 17' wheels all in good condition.

he is a little worried about the km's it has done...302,000

is this too many k's for the 4.0L six?

it's also on LPG, he can get it for less than $6k as the owner is moving overseas...

what do you guys think?

cheers

roy

[FPV 5TH]

Sounds like a decent buy to me for under 6K. Still be a cheapy even if he had to buy a reco engine

[HP-0351]

how much would a reco engine cost?

[Gobes32]

The motor will handle the k's easy so long as it is serviced. The transmission would be a worry and little things like the brakes, suspension, bushes etc. Little things you don't think about but can cost you if not careful.

[savagE]

Depends who you go to and what you get done etc. Anywhere from $1-7k.
Our diesel engine was $7000 but that was complete reco with fuel pump etc.


My XE has done 407,000km and the odometer stopped when I bought it. Owner said it is the original engine. I believe that because it has the original 4.1L sticker still on it.

Still goes well and doesn't blow smoke. (Its a grandpa car however, burnouts aren't a reality)

[HP-0351]

how many k's do you think the engine will have in it before reco?

i guess most of the k's its done were cruising driving people around so i think he will be safe with it...but you never know so i dont want to give him the wrong advice...

[Falcon_Phill]

You cant really say. My 40 year old car has 80 000 on it, and it could do with a reco. Yet my 20 year old car needs a reco and its only done 189 000. It depends how its been treated and serviced.

[Fairlane]

Should be OK, but dont let him pay to much for it.

Ive been in plenty of ex-hired cars and they run into 450,000 pretty well, the are driven on long runs and very well maintained. So 300,000 klms is no big worry, but yeah dont pay too much for it as some suspension work might be needed and perhaps a gearbox, but as for motors they go for a long time.

[HP-0351]

just spoke to him and he can get it for $5k flat!

is that too much?

[Gobes32]

My god, sounds too good to be true. An AU Fairlane Ghia for 5k!!!!! Who cares about the k's. Tell him to keep 2 grand aside for anything that needs to be fixed/replaced and happy cruising!

[HP-0351]

its true alright and i will be going with him to see it tomorrow...

anything in particular to check on these cars?

thanks

[MrXR6]

I used to drive many different hirecars in Sydney. Apart from the the top range longwheel based models from the red camp, I loved driving the LTD/Fairlane from Ford. The only problems I encountered were the boot hinge bolts coming loose. (remember that the boot will get a workout, especially if it was around the city doing airport transfers - some travellers bring a lot of luggage that needs to be stuffed in somewhere) They are hard to locate - however I will say you need to remove the rear trim panel from the inside underneath the rear window to access them.

The other problem was the radiator, for some reason the top and bottom tanks seperate from the core of the radiator. It basically involves removing and replacing new.
Otherwise they were a great car.

Good luck with the purchase!

[HP-0351]

thanks for that, will be sure to check those out...from your experience do hire cars get maintained well?

[MrXR6]

Depends on the owner of the vehicle. If it is on a fleet then yes, if it was a owner driver possibly has been. The best way is to check the log books and look for the stamps from a Ford dealer - at least this way if parts were replaced there is agood chance they were replaced with geniune Ford parts. The Dept of Transport has a requirement that they are serviced regularly as the car is regarded as a public passenger vehicle and needs to be maintained accordingly. A hirecar would certainly have been looked after - most of the hirecars I owned/drove were washed (everyday in some cases) and polished every other week. Hirecars aren't usually hammered, like say a taxi would be.

PS. Just though of another area to look at - drivers door sag. As this would have had a fair bit of opening and shuting in its life. Also watch for the usual holes around the dash and trim - maybe had a two way radio fitted.

[HP-0351]

just had a look at the fairlane and have a couple of questions

the car is on LPG and the ABS light stays on from startup owner says it has something to do with the LPG...dont make sense to me

also the traction control light is on all the time too

theres a noise from behind the dash that seems to me is the climate control flap or something like that...you hear it every now and then...

has a couple of light scratches on the paint.

interior is perfect no rips etc.

motor isnt noisy, no apparent leaks, no milky coolant etc.

we took it for a drive no squeaks, brakes seem good.

thats about it...oh has tickford alloys, rego til sept 07.

what do you think guys?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by GSV-871

the car is on LPG and the ABS light stays on from startup owner says it has something to do with the LPG...dont make sense to me

also the traction control light is on all the time too

Dont know about the ABS light but whilst on gas the Traction control is off, hence the light being on. Mine is the same (2000 AuII Barge)

Originally Posted by GSV-871

theres a noise from behind the dash that seems to me is the climate control flap or something like that...you hear it every now and then...

Mine does this just after startup, I think you picked it in that it's a vacuum controlled flap.

Originally Posted by GSV-871

what do you think guys?

For that price? GO FOR IT!

[TUF_302]

Our old XF has done just over 307,000ks and is still on original motor and gearbox and only minor things have ever been replaced.and the motor has not been reconditioned.

[HP-0351]

gaolane does yours still do that flap sound thing even whilst driving or stopped at lights? not constant but every now and then or only after start up?

also i noticed a red light that looked like a radiator with fan come on but then went away after a minute or so...when we stopped i noticed the coolant level was just over the min amount so could it have benn related to the sensor reading the level low over a bump or around a corner?

price is good but we dont to buy based on that only if its gonna cost a bomb later...

anyone know about the ABS light? whats it say in the manual? (owner left it at home)

thanks

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by GSV-871

also i noticed a red light that looked like a radiator with fan come on but then went away after a minute or so...when we stopped i noticed the coolant level was just over the min amount so could it have benn related to the sensor reading the level low over a bump or around a corner?

Just means you are a bit low on coolant, no biggie.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by GSV-871

gaolane does yours still do that flap sound thing even whilst driving or stopped at lights? not constant but every now and then or only after start up?

Only after initial start up.

[Vdouw]

My XH has cost me an extra 6,000 after i bought it not inc feul ... and thats in the last 18 months but it was in fare condition and had done 205,000 when i bought it ... its now done 226,000 and i'd keep the engine out of the old girl and burn the rest. but i am sure she was flogged before i bought her and had been serviced by a back yard mechanic

[needaXYGT]

my dads XF had done 460,000ks. He had owned it since new, it remained a very reliable car until the front end was smashed, never blew a head gasket or anything like that, the main things were the brackes and bushes. gear box and diff never realy needed a rebuild!

[Racecraft]

It is how it drives..

If it drives nice, doesn't squeak, rattle or shake chances are it has been maintained well.. If it has been neglected @ 300 000 odd kay travelled you'd feel it.

The most expensive component is the transmission.. If it engages sweetly and changes nice it has been reco'd or well looked after..

The engine being a VCT should be an easy propostion for an in and out for 1k.. That is only half of the cost of the trans so don't sweat about the donk

[ltd]

ABS light remaining on after startup is the ABS module. Expect to pay about $800.00 for a new one.
Traction control light does have to do with the gas, the ABS light is unrelated. If in doubt, ring your local dealer and speak to someone in service.

[HP-0351]

we will neg further on the price then...anyone know what the climate control flap sound/vacuum problem would cost to fix?

thanks roy

[stef4001]

have a look at the solnoids that control the flap.if it dose this check the connections mate and the plugs.i used to work on fords at the ford dealers.we had a few but easly fixed.stef

[HP-0351]

where are the solenoids located?

[BPXR6T]

Parents EF 4.0 wagon is well past 450,000k by now and still on the original engine. Has been running gas since new. Its down on power but still runs good. The only thing to ever go was the auto at about 350,000k.