Diary of an Ordinary Van

[Vee4]

The Transit is no ordinary van, of course. This one is a base model with a few factory options - nothing flashy, just a 115/T280, dark Blazer Blue (much the same colour as my old Mk5 which was Ontario Blue). It will be a working van, a tool of the trade, and in that sense it will be ordinary.

I was wondering if it would be of interest to members if I wrote a 'blog' of my experiences with the new vehicle, confined mostly to technical issues. There have been various comments from owners on the pros and cons of their Mk7 vans, but they are scattered around the Forum. One function of the blog will be to provide links to these contributions. Members can add their questions, comments, and suggestions as usual – after all, this van was partly designed by the Forum. Hopefully, it will not be too busy. I should only have to write: "Took it in for its 15000 mile service. Took it in for its 30000 mile service" and so on. If I had written one for the Mk5, that would be about the extent of it. Somehow, I think that life with the Mk7 will be more 'interesting'.

Why it was time for a new van:

a) The anticipated life of the Mk5 at time of purchase was 10 years or 200,000 miles (in fact, it made it to 12 years and 271,000 miles).
b) Threat of London Low Emission Zone extension in 2010 (although now postponed until 2012, see link below) rendering the Mk5 obsolete.
c) Fuel price rises to GBP1.30 per litre and above in mid 2008 prompted the search for something more fuel-efficient.
d) Work needed on the old van in the next few months: rusty rear doors, wheel arches, and brake pipes; need for new battery, exhaust system and clutch; etc.
e) The Scrappage scheme and lower rate of VAT made the financing easier.

Link to Scrappage Scheme:
viewtopic.php?p=417715#p417715

Link to London LEZ update:
viewtopic.php?p=497735#p497735

The Mk5 is a tough act to follow. It fitted like a glove – or more likely, I grew to fit it. Let’s see if the Mk7 can measure up.

Link to ‘ideal Transit’ post:
viewtopic.php?p=439046#p439046

I'm not sure if I have the format just right here, but I will tidy it up as I go along. Commissioning the van took quite a while: inspecting, testing, deciding where to put the TomTom and the phone holder, etc.

Updated LEZ info: 27 Dec 2009
Minor text edits: 13 Feb 2010

[Luke]

so your mk5 is going in for the scrappage

[Vee4]

so your mk5 is going in for the scrappage

Yes, it's gone, sad to say. There will be rich pickings for the scrappy, as I kept it totally 'stock' and treated it carefully. Despite that, the rust was becoming a problem on the bodywork and chassis. I enquired with the dealer who bought my Mk2 for GBP50 and it sounded as if he would offer me about GBP200 for the Mk5. The Chancellor offered me GBP1000.

[Luke]

i see why people do it but its just a shame to see them crushed whats basically a decent workhorse for somone just starting out you must feel the same having had the van for so long

anyway best of luck with the mk7 hope it serves you aswell as the other transits you've had

[Vee4]

Some initial observations (it’s a T280/115PS/FWD/6-speed):

a) 60mph (GPS) in 6th gear, approx. 1900rpm.
b) 70mph (GPS) in 6th gear, approx. 2250rpm (Mk5 was approx. 3250rpm in 5th gear).
c) On 100-mile trip (mixed A-road, town and village), trip computer registered 40mpg.

First fault:

a) Screen washer reservoir leaking where pump motor joins on.

Software issues:

a) Trip computer reverts to temperature display when ignition switched off – does not stay on last-selected function.
b) Ford 6000CD RDS did not remember the FM station frequency used by the time it reached the end of the journey – jumped back to the frequency programmed at the start of the journey. The old one used to remember that.

General comments:

a) I agree with emmbeedee’s comment about the LCD display contrast:
viewtopic.php?p=428311#p428311
b) I hear the thumping noise described by Dementinator:
viewtopic.php?p=411929#p411929. It sounds like the fuel tank acting as a bass wobble board.

A question:

a) What is the function of the U-shaped finned cooler behind the fuel tank? Is it cooling fuel returned to the tank?

[Vee4]

i see why people do it but its just a shame to see them crushed whats basically a decent workhorse for somone just starting out you must feel the same having had the van for so long

anyway best of luck with the mk7 hope it serves you aswell as the other transits you've had

Thanks, Luke. I agree that it would possibly have made a good project for a youngster, much the same as my original Mk1 was for me. The way work is now, I need a van to be 'user transparent' and just to be there and working. The Mk7 may fail on that criterion due to failure of its complex systems, of course! Time will tell.

The workshop manager at the dealership expressed surprise that I bought a new van - he still remembered that I gave a box of chocolates to the workshop to celebrate 200,000 miles.

As I always say: if I could have bought a brand new van exactly the same as the Mk5, I would have done so without hesitation.

[madmark_50484]

Vee4 after all the discussions of how these mk5's are more reliable than their counterparts and is the new van really more fuel efficent ? I know its different to your use but recently I had a mk6 luton while mine was fixed it did 17mpg mine cvan do more than that !! oh well its time to face simple fact times change

(or are you going to put that v4 in it )

[Vee4]

is the new van really more fuel efficent ?

I have to do my accounts soon (end of October deadline), so I will extract the figures to work out the average Mk5 MPG over 12 months. It will take a few tanks to get an average with the Mk7 and see how that compares with the trip computer's average.

I do feel bad about handing over the Mk5, but see my comments in reply to Luke, above. At least I timed it right - the Mk2 expired while the Mk5 was on order but not yet delivered, so I had to rent an Escort van for a few weeks!

[Luke]

you aught to waxoil the chassis, sills and arches etc. in the mk7 now while its brand new as you plan to keep it a long time

[Vee4]

you aught to waxoil the chassis, sills and arches etc. in the mk7 now while its brand new as you plan to keep it a long time

It's a good point. After my experiences with the Mk1's, I did a complete Waxoyl job on the Mk2, and it did keep the rust away (apart from the driver's side wing mirror mounting). Work got really busy and I didn't do the Mk5, thinking that it wouldn't have as much abuse since I owned it from new. I tried to get the dealer to steam clean inside the wheel arches at every service because I had observed rust problems there on other Mk3/4 vans. They didn't take me seriously and I let it slip. I now have my own pressure washer so I will do it myself on this van. Has anyone done a Waxoyl treatment plan for the Mk7 - critical areas, access methods, etc? I should do a search ...

Here's a good link, although not specific to the Mk7:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7617&start=0

[madmark_50484]

is the new van really more fuel efficent ?

I have to do my accounts soon (end of October deadline), so I will extract the figures to work out the average Mk5 MPG over 12 months. It will take a few tanks to get an average with the Mk7 and see how that compares with the trip computer's average.

I do feel bad about handing over the Mk5, but see my comments in reply to Luke, above. At least I timed it right - the Mk2 expired while the Mk5 was on order but not yet delivered, so I had to rent an Escort van for a few weeks!

I know itsn just sad to see a good van going to waste but I've heard a lot of good comments on the mk7 I think it'll have just as many problems as the mk6 but I've heard its a much better drive I guess you can confirm that

[MattBlackMinibus]

i see why people do it but its just a shame to see them crushed whats basically a decent workhorse for somone just starting out

How's the ambulance Luke?

[Vee4]

I've heard its a much better drive I guess you can confirm that

Initially, it feels unreal, like driving a simulator. The clutch is quite touchy, and there isn't as much 'engine braking' effect, especially in third gear. The driving position seems OK, visibility and mirrors not too bad although it's not as easy to judge the back corner because of the lack of sticking out bumper cap (I think that's what it is). These are initial impressions - I'll report back after a few more miles are under the wheels.

[MrMPuk]

What is the function of the U-shaped finned cooler behind the fuel tank? Is it cooling fuel returned to the tank?

Yes.

[Vee4]

Winter draws on ...

Time to try the heater - that seems to work OK.

Thin layer of dew on the outside of the windscreen this morning - time to try the Quickclear, I thought. Sat with the engine running for a minute but no obvious change. I'm sure the screen in the old van would have made some impression in that time, even though quite a few of the wires were out due to glass chips and cracks. Oh well, flip the wipers and set off. Resolved to devise a test. With that much current flowing, there must be a way to detect it - hold up a compass needle as in Oersted's experiment perhaps?

Just tried that, and Oersted was right! A colleague is a bit of a 'survivalist' and has a compass in his 308D camper. Placed the compass on the dash and confirmed indication of magnetic North as expected. Switched on Quickclear and the needle swung about 30 degrees - just like high school physics. I guess I need to be more patient.