Ford Sierra-A few problems!!

[sheffcortinacentre]

Is that it!!!

[Royale80]

That’s it! 

[Royale80]

Thought I'd better get on with it. Passenger side done. Funny rust on transmission tunnel-thought a hole would appear-but its double skinned and the outer skin has gone. Drivers side about third of the passenger side to weld.

[Royale80]

After my mammoth (to me) welding session on the Sierra in July/August-had to weld drivers side floor and inner sill and passenger floor-it's now passed its MOT. Should have put it in in August-but didn't bother. Needed a car after the BMW fiasco so put it in-failed on suspension arms and broken spring-changed those and now passed.

Need to fit new rear arches next.

Must praise Parts in Motion who delivered the parts in a day-all for a total of £66.

 

[Datsuncog]

Result!

Top pic looks almost like it could have been taken in the early 2000s... it's got that 'of the era' appearance that few Sierras have nowadays.

Glad it was worth welding - enjoy!

[Royale80]

Sierra has been fine over the last few years until this week.  Top gear is failing to engage on the auto box.

Some suggest a wiring problem, speed sensor or vacuum leak.  Ive checked the wiring-a bit iffy but difficult to change. Have a new speed sensor so will try changing this first.

[Bren]

Does it have a trip computer?

[sierraman]

Those boxes used in those are pretty low tech, at least whatever it is is repairable. 

[Bren]

Speed sensor wenr on our granada.

Trip computer went on the fritz and no fourth gear. Back in the day I had to get one from Ford stealer.

[Royale80]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

Speed sensor wenr on our granada.

Trip computer went on the fritz and no fourth gear. Back in the day I had to get one from Ford stealer.

Thanks Bren

No trip computer- but will have a go changing the speed sensor.

[Noel Tidybeard]

is this the gearbox that needed to be slightly over filled

[grogee]

From memory the Ford autobox of this era had brake bands that required periodical torquing up. Although I was advised to 'do not touch' on my Granada since it was functioning OK. 

I think the problem is that there is a Ford torque spec based on a nice clean thread and gearbox which doesn't translate well after 20 years of rust and crud accumulates. 

[Royale80]

Update. Took the speed sensor out and it would only turn with a bit of resistance one way-other way was totally free. Took it apart and theres a 2mm square serrated shaft that joins the splined end to the gubbins inside.  Pulled it out and pushed it back in a bit harder. Put it back in and it now works. Thought I'd get another but they are as rare as rocking horse poo. If it breaks again I'll put a bit of epoxy on the end.

[Royale80]

Another MOT for the Sierra-needed a bit of welding on the rear seat belt mounts and a CV boot-cost £270. Couldn't be bothered trying to weld upside down in the cold.

 

[danthecapriman]

Well done on the pass👍

I don’t blame you not wanting to lay underneath it welding in this shitty weather either.

[grogee]

51 minutes ago, Stevebrookman said:

Another MOT for the Sierra-needed a bit of welding on the rear seat belt mounts and a CV boot-cost £270. Couldn't be bothered trying to weld upside down in the cold.

 

You've earned the right to pay someone else for the welding. In the spring you can get in there and check the rustproofing and amend as necessary. 

Plus £270 is quite good these days for that amount of work. I bet most people won't bother getting the welder out for less than £200.

[Royale80]

More welding on the hottest day of the year!

Thought I'd put a bit of schutz on the rear wheelarches but found  a few holes. Not the best welding-but it will be well hidden!!

I'll check the other side next month!!

 

[Royale80]

Sierra hasn't been used that much in the last few months. Booked it in for an MOT but cancelled it as I poked a suspiciously rusty part of the fuel tank which resulted in a slight (!) leak! 

Have had a good spare for 4 years but never got around to fixing it. 

I put some sealer until it gets warmer which seems to have worked.

Started it up for a while and shut it off. Came back after a while and noticed a big puddle of auto transmission fluid under the front. It's coming from the additional Kenlowe cooler I fitted 25 years ago when I towed a caravan with the car.

Will just remove it from the cooling loop now as theres still the original one in the rad. Bloody cars.

[Rightnider]

Wonderful to see an old Sierra soldiering on. 

[bunglebus]

Did the tank on my dad's Sapphire, think it's fairly straightforward other than getting the filler tube connected back on

[comfortablynumb]

MK2 son has swapped his a number of times, his started life as a 1.8 cvh, currently has a carb'd 2.9 V6, he swaps between an injection tank and a standard one, takes him about half an hour now