Recommended repair book + thoughts on this issue

[Transit-man-van]

The other day the van started making a clattering kind of sound somewhere in the front of the vehicle either under the wheel wells or in the engine section.

I was hours from home so I got rather concerned thinking I would be stranded somewhere.

I stopped at an opportune point and took a look under the van and under the hood and did not see anything obvious. I wouldn't have a clue how to troubleshoot anything in the engine but there was nothing that was plainly wrong to the naked eye.

Thankfully when I started driving again the sound just went away after a while and didn't return upon driving a further 6 hours or so. The sound was like the tinkling sound when you are driving over loose ground though I am sure that was not the issue because it happened for several miles over various surfaces. I can only think it might have been something caught that I didn't see which somehow dislodged itself. Just want to check it could not have been a mechanical issue but since it magically disappeared with no issues for the numerous hours of driving thereafter it leads me to think it is not that?

This has got me thinking though that the workings of the van are mystery to me with no idea what is going on.

As I have done my own leisure electrics and camper build I feel some rudimentary knowledge of the mechanics would be a logical progression. I guess some breakdowns will still require intervention of a professional but it is good to have a better idea of what's what and to be able to manage one's own affairs to some degree.

For those already with mechanical experience do you feel confident that you could diagnose most issues while on the road and fix common problems? Also will maintenance before travel avoid most major breakdowns? Right now I feel like I am just keeping my fingers crossed between mot checks that nothing considerable is wrong with the vehicle.

As such what would be a good one stop shop book for this? Someone on another forum has recommended haynes repair manuals though they said they used for cars. Is this a good recommendation specifically for the transit connect. The advantage of the van being so popular is it must be well documented.

[metalworker0]

No ones uploaded the official ford one yet ..so you are stuck with haynes or this forum

There is an official ford USA one in book / paper form ..but don't think it covers your engine...can be bought on USA ebay

noise is probably a heat shield, they rot through at the mountngs and rattle and vibrate

They can be repaired

the are almost same on every car or van
see youtube ----------------heat shield repair


all the best.mark

[Transit-man-van]

No ones uploaded the official ford one yet ..so you are stuck with haynes or this forum

There is an official ford USA one in book / paper form ..but don't think it covers your engine...can be bought on USA ebay

noise is probably a heat shield, they rot through at the mountngs and rattle and vibrate

They can be repaired

the are almost same on every car or van
see youtube ----------------heat shield repair


all the best.mark

You said the official ford one hasn't been released yet...but mine is 2007!!! Or you mean the more recent ones?

Haynes should be fine?

As to the heat shield thing why would it come and go? Maybe bits falling apart and coming away? It was gone for a few drives but noticed it a rattle return for a little while last drive. That above theory would make sense if plausible. Shall look up and see if it seems similar sounding to my issue.

[metalworker0]

what i meant or said; is that no ones uploaded it or shared it FREE..i was talking about the OE digital format official ford manual

They have done in the past, the links don't work anymore ..but those who down loaded it and still have it on their computer , have not come forward , and said "yes i have it" will share ..no one .

The Haynes book ..paper book ..is only available for the mk1

The Haynes manual for the mk2 is only in digital format...and called Autofix

USA; have a OE ford huge thick paper manual that only covers USA spec petrol engined models,.

There are digital mk1 manuals on ebay and on the net ..that you can download and pay for they are in pdf form

heat shields ..yes they are intermittent, usually resonate with engine vibration ..was mentioning this first, as its the easiest to spot and remedy. so was ruling that out before we went on to other causes .

march 2nd was my answer ..now may 18th

all the best.mark

[Transit-man-van]

what i meant or said; is that no ones uploaded it or shared it FREE..i was talking about the OE digital format official ford manual

They have done in the past, the links don't work anymore ..but those who down loaded it and still have it on their computer , have not come forward , and said "yes i have it" will share ..no one .

The Haynes book ..paper book ..is only available for the mk1

The Haynes manual for the mk2 is only in digital format...and called Autofix

USA; have a OE ford huge thick paper manual that only covers USA spec petrol engined models,.

There are digital mk1 manuals on ebay and on the net ..that you can download and pay for they are in pdf form

heat shields ..yes they are intermittent, usually resonate with engine vibration ..was mentioning this first, as its the easiest to spot and remedy. so was ruling that out before we went on to other causes .

march 2nd was my answer ..now may 18th

all the best.mark

Hi, sorry I am still not clear what manual you are talking about with regards to OE? Is this something different from the standard user manual for the van?

If it is just the standard manual I already have the paperback copy which came with the van papers when buying it (2nd hand).

Isn't the haynes one better though since it is specifically about dismantling and putting it back together and all the processes that go in to that whereas the user manual just tells you about what the van is comprised of, not how to maintain it? Unless the one you are talking about is something completely different.

Indeed, I have not noticed the issue since posting which made me not come and check the thread however still interested to look into this.

[metalworker0]

My answer was based on ..the fact that you did not say the year of your van ..and searching your posts revealed ..you'd last asked questions about a 2007 connect.

so without that info ..i based my answer on that .


Owners or Workshop Manuals ?

The one that came with the van will be the "Owners Manual" -"USER MANUAL" this is not a repair manual. it is a guide to driving and looking after van.showing you how to check the oil , change a tyre etc

Owners manuals are everywhere and are available to download for free,, you'll probably find one a the ford site.

OE - means "Original Equipment" ..a part, a book, an accessory or whatever, made and produced by Ford

A Repair manual if OE Ford, can be called :
Workshop manual
Factory workshop manual
ROM -Repair and Operation Manual

Think the American OE genuine Ford paper workshop manuals on USA Ebay will be for nothing exceeding 2012. far as i can make out, they did carry on making PAPER wiring diagram books though right up to and probably exceeding 2021. but will be little use to you, if you live in the UK . as based on petrol models.

all the best.mark

[Transit-man-van]

My answer was based on ..the fact that you did not say the year of your van ..and searching your posts revealed ..you'd last asked questions about a 2007 connect.

so without that info ..i based my answer on that .


Owners or Workshop Manuals ?

The one that came with the van will be the "Owners Manual" -"USER MANUAL" this is not a repair manual. it is a guide to driving and looking after van.showing you how to check the oil , change a tyre etc

Owners manuals are everywhere and are available to download for free,, you'll probably find one a the ford site.

OE - means "Original Equipment" ..a part, a book, an accessory or whatever, made and produced by Ford

A Repair manual if OE Ford, can be called :
Workshop manual
Factory workshop manual
ROM -Repair and Operation Manual

Think the American OE genuine Ford paper workshop manuals on USA Ebay will be for nothing exceeding 2012. far as i can make out, they did carry on making PAPER wiring diagram books though right up to and probably exceeding 2021. but will be little use to you, if you live in the UK . as based on petrol models.

all the best.mark

Thanks for the clarification. What of the more accessible Hyman's book? Now that you know the year is that one suitable for my connect? Don't have the exact specification handy but it I know it says 230 tdci on the van if that helps.

[metalworker0]

YES plenty of haynes book form paper manuals that cover 2007 connect on ebay

but if you have a later one later than 2013 (I'm answering everyone not just you)
then :
Haynes; when they became digital, changed name to Autofix for manuals

example - 2017 connect manual -Available in online access format with immediate digital delivery. ONLY

haynes ebay sales page
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394955367717?

By the looks of it

it will not have in it....how to rebuild engine

The instructions are no longer step-by-step

Seems to concentrate on diagnostics and fault finding

Will it have how to change a wheel bearing, track rod end , steering rack, drive shaft ..or service brakes, change water pump , timing belt, clutch ???? don't know

maybe someone here who has paid and already has it, can add to this .

all the best./mark

[metalworker0]

here are all the manuals by Haynes for the mk1 2002 -2011

eBay listings

link above is not working , it will not accept my link
SO
put these words into ebay search exactly as as Ive typed with brackets and the hyphen is important as it excludes autofix its a "minus autofix" MINUS IS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE "A"


search words
transit connect haynes manual (02-11) -autofix

all the best.mark






all the best.mark