Welcome back.I hadn't logged in for
so long that when I ran into Acorn this morning I couldn't remember my name on the Forum!
I found it in this thread....
So far the Transit has been great, 40,000 trouble free miles.
The porch and deck gray paint has weathered. The 2004 Sprinter now looks like a military vehicle, but no rust pops. My 2006 is still white (with minor snow leopard repair motif).Whoa...I see Vic painted the Sprinter!
Not yet. Most all of February though. Maybe we can get together if you're in the Keys. I'll e-mail you. vicKnights Key now?
Correct. Gas Transit engine, transmission and rear end are also used in the Ford F150. The 3.5 and 3.7 engines and the transmission are used in the Mustang as well as other models. The Transit diesel is not used in any other Ford models so it will have the same lack of support that other small volume vehicles have. I doubt that most Ford dealers have a tech qualified to work on the 3.2 diesel.Last I recall the full sized Transit gas engine models share a common power plant with Ford pickup trucks. That should provide some parts availability and technician familiarity. Flashy, shiny pickup trucks remain popular around N. America. I wouldn't think that applies to Ford Transit North American diesel models.
vic
The 2.7 02-06 Sprinter engine in a Wrangler would have been nothing short of awesome. Much more torque, and probably average over 30 miles a gallon.I still believe that having a vehicle with a power plant that is shared with other models gives a leg up as to service as opposed to some low volume production model specific unique engine.
A historic example is the 2001 - 2010 Dodge Sprinter with diesel engine. With the exception of a few Jeep models, the engine wasn't generally familiar to Dodge dealerships and technicians. Maybe with time that would have improved, but the Daimler-Chrysler divorce means we'll never know for certain.
Last I recall the full sized Transit gas engine models share a common power plant with Ford pickup trucks. That should provide some parts availability and technician familiarity. Flashy, shiny pickup trucks remain popular around N. America. I wouldn't think that applies to Ford Transit North American diesel models.
I have no real data.
vic
But their operating diagnostic system is IDS so is Lincoln, Landrover, so is Jag!Correct. Gas Transit engine, transmission and rear end are also used in the Ford F150. The 3.5 and 3.7 engines and the transmission are used in the Mustang as well as other models. The Transit diesel is not used in any other Ford models so it will have the same lack of support that other small volume vehicles have. I doubt that most Ford dealers have a tech qualified to work on the 3.2 diesel.
Well, FWIW, our Sprinter does that too. I had the alignment checked and it is dead on.On the tire wear, I've had this same wear on my pickups and the Sprinter. The front passenger tire wears on the outer edge a lot faster than the other tires wear anywhere. Is this just the nature of the beast, or have I coincidentally had the same exact alignment/camber/toe-in problem on all my trucks for the last 30+ years?
Same with my T1N. Same with my Toyota Tacomas. That's why I'm wondering if it's a truck thing.Well, FWIW, our Sprinter does that too. I had the alignment checked and it is dead on.
I've accepted that as a fact of owning a van since first owning my 1974 Dodge B100 Tradesman. I usually keep the front tires a bit high in pressure. Recently, based upon comments here on the Forum, I've been running all the tires a bit lower. It does seem that I'm getting a bit more outside wear again....
On the tire wear, I've had this same wear on my pickups and the Sprinter. The front passenger tire wears on the outer edge a lot faster than the other tires wear anywhere. Is this just the nature of the beast, or have I coincidentally had the same exact alignment/camber/toe-in problem on all my trucks for the last 30+ years? The cars never had this wear pattern.
Its a fact of any vehicle with a leaf sprung solid rear axle if you drive on roads that have crown (ie they are sloped to the right for drainage). The solid rear axle with leaf springs does not have enough compliance and so twists the vehicle slightly when driven on a sloped road or one with asymmetric crown. The result is more steering input to the left than a car with independet rear suspension. Combined with the slight twist which causes the vehicle to list to the right the outside edge of the front passenger tire wears at an accelerated rate. I rotate tires on trucks every 4k miles and every 7k miles on independent rear vehicles.I've accepted that as a fact of owning a van since first owning my 1974 Dodge B100 Tradesman. I usually keep the front tires a bit high in pressure. Recently, based upon comments here on the Forum, I've been running all the tires a bit lower. It does seem that I'm getting a bit more outside wear again.
vic
Thanks for confirming my observations with a tangible explanation!Its a fact of any vehicle with a leaf sprung solid rear axle if you drive on roads that have crown (ie they are sloped to the right for drainage). The solid rear axle with leaf springs does not have enough compliance and so twists the vehicle slightly when driven on a sloped road or one with asymmetric crown. The result is more steering input to the left than a car with independet rear suspension. Combined with the slight twist which causes the vehicle to list to the right the outside edge of the front passenger tire wears at an accelerated rate. I rotate tires on trucks every 4k miles and every 7k miles on independent rear vehicles.
It helps to rotate the fronts across the vehicle to the back and rotate the backs straight forward to the front.