Common Problems with the AU??

Also, is a diff whine a common problem with the AU(2)'s?

Mine is starting to make a slow whining noise around 2k rpm (highway). Release acceleration and it goes away, full acceleration and engine noise etc makes it harder to hear, but at 2k-3k rpm it's noticable. I'm only assuming it's the diff to...

[b2tf]

Nup, silicone spray is different to WD40. Should be able to find it at Bunnings etc, i think that 'Australia Export' company (the one that makes all the cheap spraypaint) make it, but not sure. Youd definately be able to get some either ther or Repco though.

Diff whine - ive heard of some AU's having it but not many. Perhaps a trip to a diff specialist will help you work out what is causing the noise (if it is the diff).

[TURBOTAXI]

I bought an ex taxi AU 12 months ago with 748,400 kms. I do preventative maintenance myself. The car has done 42,000 k's in the last year. nothing has gone "wrong" with the car. I have just fitted a turbo kit.
The one cheap fix I would reccomend to anyone - The front end in the AU is said to be good for 300,000 k's, to re-do a front end costs $700 - $800. I bought a second hand front end (control arms, upper and lower ball joints, shocksetc...) out of a wrecked car (40,000k's) for $300, rattle gun and some isolator rubbers and tie rod ends later, you have a new front end for about $360. You will still need a wheel aignment.
I dont like ford service. They once chrarged me $92 for a quote! besides that in my experience they simply replace rather than fix. There are some mechanics who have been around the block (a few times) who will run rings around the dealerships in price and ingenuity.

[Pete A]

I owned a AUII XR8 auto for 4 years - just bought BAIIXR8
The AU was generally very reliable - but had a few niggling problems which were mostly resolved during warranty

Noise in rear end when backing off the throttle - slowly got worse eventually changed the slipery diff and OK from then - this is a common problem with the AU's

Sometimes a loud clonk when tranny changes from 2nd to 1st at low speeds - this was a limited factory recall - only if you complained. A new throttle body on the tranny . OK from then.

Rear top shock mounts went - started banging. Changed and fine since then.

Hand brake not releasing properly - they never were able to fix it!

Never broke down on me and got a great price when I sold it privately! I hope the BA is as good as the AU was, but not off to a good start.

[Pete A]

Yes - is is a common problem - mine was replaces at about 40,000 kms - make sure they use the propper diff oil! I believe it's a special kind for those 2000 model diffs.

[Steve_T]

Pete A, based on your post count, welcome to the forums!

You mention using the correct type of diff oil in your post. Are you saying that most/some of the AU diff problems are actually just caused by using the wrong oil and if so maybe that they don't come with the correct oil from factory? Or were you just mentioning the oil as a side-note to the problem ie. not directly related to it? (I suppose this depends on the diff too now that I think about it - diffenent AU diffs used different types of oil and/or additives. This brings me to ask another question for everyone - which AU diffs were affected by these 'common problems' I hear about? eg. AU1/2/3, just 6cyl diff or 6cyl LSD or V8/XR live/LSD or IRS w/LSD or just all or 'em were bad or what??

As a note, I haven't noticed any problems with mine yet (XR8 ute - LSD live axle). Car is only 27,000 odd kays though. I did dump the factory oil and fill it with fresh SHC ID when the car was pretty new though for what it's worth.

Steve.

[Sylox]

Mine was fine @ 90k Au2 xr8 ute Mal Wood inspected the gears and said they were in top condition

[TCK-098]

Well my first Au was a lemon 99 build 1 tonner seriously when i bought it in july 2004 till the time of its departure in november 2004 it spent nearly every week at cumberland ford for something anyways i told them from day one the T5 that it had was stuffed well when it decided to spill its guts across Appein road at 90kms and turn up barely going they still said that there was no problem.

never buy a ford form there unless you want to be F-------- over,

Well since getting the 98 Au fairmont i have now it has had the CV,s replaced,CD stacker replaced,exhaust,waterpump,thermostat and the car has only 120kms top car as ive driven BA and i reckon they are overated as id prefer my AU anyday.

[Mechan1k]

So far I have noticed the fuel gauge problem on my EGAS AUII XLS.

Only sometimes it will just go dead empty and show DTE - 0 ... but slowly climbs back up to the right capacity (takes about 30 min to do so though).

Has happened a few times ... once after stopping really hard ... strange ... other times it just shows empty when starting ... I turn the car off and then on again .... and it rights itself.

[MrAUII]

Problems I have had with my AUII 2000 are:
Welsh Plug at back of block behind gearbox leaked coolant quicker than I can pee. Cost of part was $3, labour hundreds as gear box had to come out too. Replaced all 6 steel plugs with brass and while everything was out and apart all seals etc were replaced. All up $800.
Shockers absooutely screwed
Rotors completely warped but i do play footy in the hills.
Little clock in dash the numbers stop displaying 100% and only could see bits and pieces of number.
Steel frame piercing through seat.
The door locks are another problem. When you press the lock button on remote a door doesnt lock but you hear the lock motoring. Well something is stufed and ford charge $200 then what happens two days later another door goes.

[Timeshift]

Originally Posted by MrAUII

Steel frame piercing through seat.

....... :|

[TCK-098]

yay just got rid of my tickford springs as car sat to hi to my liking and put in some king springs anyways IRS yay top shock mounts are kaput.

[richo77]

how do you know when your mounts in your rear shockies are finished? I think mine are on their way out, i'm hearing a knock over bumps which sounds like the boot lid isnt closed properly or the spare wheel is loose (its neither)

do you reckon this would be covered under ford's extended warranty?? i would think they would be but wouldnt be too surprised to hear that they arent!! :

[Timeshift]

Originally Posted by richo77

do you reckon this would be covered under ford's extended warranty?? i would think they would be but wouldnt be too surprised to hear that they arent!! :

The good old "wear and tear" excuse... my money is on that they won't.

[DJM83]

its good to have so many answers to our probs ive had my car 2 wks luv it only it has a rough idle problem also i think we need to start a forum on Venom AU XR's cause there seems to be a few

[kiwi]

Fold down your rear seats. Where the metal hooks stick out to latch the seat back there is some christmas tree clips holding back a carpet cover. Rip those out (They are cheap to replace if you wreck them) and expose the top of the strut. Put your finger on and top and give it a wiggle. You will hear your clunk.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by TuffEDXR

ialso i think we need to start a forum on Venom AU XR's cause there seems to be a few

Yes you are definitely right. : I'll put that down as a common problem with the AU - there isn't enough of them. :1syellow1

[richo77]

Originally Posted by Timeshift

The good old "wear and tear" excuse... my money is on that they won't.

well your nearly right... i took it to ford and they looked at.. the invoice says "check for rattle going over bumps - add washer to rear shock mounts - road test and advise owner'... result: F'all difference, in fact i think it got a little bit worse.. back she goes..

one good thing about this extended warranty - they are replacing the high pressure line in my power steering which is leaking (the solid metal line not the rubber one).. i'm told its a $400 part................

[Timeshift]

Originally Posted by richo77

well your nearly right... i took it to ford and they looked at.. the invoice says "check for rattle going over bumps - add washer to rear shock mounts - road test and advise owner'... result: F'all difference, in fact i think it got a little bit worse.. back she goes..

one good thing about this extended warranty - they are replacing the high pressure line in my power steering which is leaking (the solid metal line not the rubber one).. i'm told its a $400 part................

Yeah that sounds like good ol' Ford. Do something to give the impression that they are attempting to fix a problem when it does nothing to help the deeper issue and give you the runaround with multiple visits.

Re: Power stearing - so they bloody should :

[richo77]

yea its a fun game and we all have to play by their rules if your stuck in the warranty sham.. i think i shocked the service advisor when i said 'i think its the rear shock mounts' when i took it in.. jaw dropped and then a scowl as in 'dont tell me my job'. i love this forum!

[Timeshift]

Originally Posted by richo77

yea its a fun game and we all have to play by their rules if your stuck in the warranty sham.. i think i shocked the service advisor when i said 'i think its the rear shock mounts' when i took it in.. jaw dropped and then a scowl as in 'dont tell me my job'. i love this forum!

He probably assumed that you are like the 99.9% of people who get their car serviced at Ford who know how to check their oil and radiator and that's it

I have a 2000 AUIIs. The shocks feel very hard on rides. Can hear clanks when i go over a bump and all my body parts are thoroughly shaken.

Is this common with sports suspensions or does it need to be fixed.

Also my indash CD player is gone. Doesn't like any CD. Tried all kinds of random combination. Had a problem for an yr before it gave up. It is easy to replace the player with another off the shelf unit

Suggestions?

Originally Posted by bdmat02

I have a 2000 AUIIs. The shocks feel very hard on rides. Can hear clanks when i go over a bump and all my body parts are thoroughly shaken.

Is this common with sports suspensions or does it need to be fixed.

I get the exact same thing. 2000 AU2 forte.

I'm curious whats the cause/reasoning for this, as when I get my suspension done very soon, (koni sports, king ssl) I don't want to find that my entire cabin rattles and shakes bad due to a poor build quality.

[slim]

If the Konis are adjustable wind them down to minnimum stiffness,mine were set too hard and flogged out the top shock mounts way before you'd expect them to wear out

[MrAUII]

Originally Posted by bdmat02

I have a 2000 AUIIs. The shocks feel very hard on rides. Can hear clanks when i go over a bump and all my body parts are thoroughly shaken.

Is this common with sports suspensions or does it need to be fixed.

Also my indash CD player is gone. Doesn't like any CD. Tried all kinds of random combination. Had a problem for an yr before it gave up. It is easy to replace the player with another off the shelf unit

Suggestions?

Sounds like the shocks could be stuffed.

[buckshot]

130,000 km later um er nothing wrong, gone wrong, and hopefully nothing will go wrong

[fipcee]

AUIII, XR6, 76k, had it for 3 months now. Going well, due to take back to.."dread" Ford to get her service. My problems are diff whine low down, annoying but getting used to it, and the main one is that when I accelerate hard (I have to get across 3 lanes of traffic in the mornings) and turn right it feels like there is a "locking" at the rear right of the car. After getting across the traffic and turning and accelerating nothing much happens (really feels like a massive brake lock) until I put the boot in to it and then there is a big "bang" and all is fine. This has happened 3 times and I am certain that it aint good. Does any one have any thoughts on the problem? I really want to be armed for when she goes for her service and to date this is the best place to get info from that I have ever encounted. People are honest and there are no hidden agendas. Thanking ya awl in advance

[fipcee]

Oops sorry to all. I have just read the first post by Casper that stated this is not a " I have a prob what is the cure" area me. Therefore if any one has had the problem I mentioned in my previous post I'd love to know what u did to fix it. :nutsycuck

[FAIRMONTAU2]

Fipcee my AU2 beam axle had a 'diff whine' turned out to be the dreaded noisy NCT5 tyres. Swapped them over and it mysteriously went. Just a thought, but the other problems definatly sound diff orientated. The diff may need the pre loads adjusted.

Originally Posted by bdmat02

I have a 2000 AUIIs. The shocks feel very hard on rides. Can hear clanks when i go over a bump and all my body parts are thoroughly shaken.

Is this common with sports suspensions or does it need to be fixed.

Also my indash CD player is gone. Doesn't like any CD. Tried all kinds of random combination. Had a problem for an yr before it gave up. It is easy to replace the player with another off the shelf unit

Suggestions?

I have an auII also. I was having the clank sound over bumps etc and just assumed it was shocks/struts so I took it to brakes plus and they were gonna charge me some ridiculous amount and I didn't have enough cash to get it done so I took it down to my mates burson and he ordered parts and took it to a local mechanic and he told me it was all fine what actually needed replacing were the engine mounts. Cost me $150 to get those done. No more clunking sound.

Stock cd player sucks. Replace.