Gareth's 2004 SWB Med Roof 85PS Transit

[ake]

Still looks crackin

[transitandy]

looks nice m8y

[Kidman]

First thing i've had to buy for the van in a while apart from normal service items, the water pump started to leak, i knew i was losing a little water so kept an eye on it and caught the drip one morning, one new OE pump later, and the 2nd thermostat, vacuum filled with correct Ford coolant and its all safe now, i had a Ford tech do it for me, only £60 labour!

One bonus is the warm up is very quick, i know its warmer anyway but it took 2 miles to reach operating temperature! Gauge was rock solid in its usual spot on my drive home yesterday.

Front arches are being cut out and replaced end of the month and just generally tidied before the winter. Now at 145k.

[Kidman]

Its been an eventful month for my usually reliable van.

It was becoming more reluctant to start from hot or cold, although it was always able to start on the first turn, it took 6-7 cranks sometimes before it would catch.

More investigation found the filter minder (which was just over 2 years old) had developed a crack/pinhole somewhere at the base, allowing air to enter the fuel, which was causing the starting issue. It never seemed to cause a problem when running though.

I have done a temporary fix for now, and glued the base of the filter minder which has restored normal service.

The van definitely gave me a fright on Saturday morning, just 1/2 mile from home i pulled away from a junction in first and it made an almighty racket and drop of power. I suspected the worst but fortunatly it was the advance solenoid that had failed, giving full advance, the worst diesel noise i've ever heard!

It was a bit fiddly to do, inlet manifold off, starter off, and a few very tight bolts along the way but it all came together this morning and started perfectly, a very happy chappy! Cost for the kit was arounfd £100 from Ford, also fitted a new manifold gasket as i had previously reused it when i cleaned it all out at purchase time.

[Kidman]

Before the fix

http://youtu.be/L9oAguYt7ps

And after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2szNrcwrvbI

[Kidman]

Well, the time has come to move on, so my trusty steed will be up for sale very shortly..

[Hitch]

very tidy van. what price were you thinking?

[fumbduck]

And what will you get next?

[transitandy]

keep us updated

[Kidman]

very tidy van. what price were you thinking?

Its in the for sale section, £2800 with summer tyres on and no awning, bit more with the awning and winter tyres as they are like new and cost me a lot of money.

[Kidman]

And only another Transit could replace it, an 08 plate Mk7 in moondust silver which will better suit the image i'm looking for with the type of business i run.

[transitandy]

sounds tasty

[Transit 04]

Nice van mate! Were did you get that milners diesel sport from?

[turboben]

is this gareth off the srf website by any chance

nice looking van mate

[Kidman]

Now that would be a coincidence wouldn't it!