justind

Sorry people I am unable to make it as well. I have some visitors staying the weekend whom I haven't seen in a long time. I am dissapointed to miss this cruise but I will try to make the next one. Sorry for the late notice. I only found out today.

the rev limiter cut out at approx 5900rpm. As to why it is sometimes less or more than that the only explination I can think of it is linked to the variable cam timing so depending on a host of factors including fuel used this figure may change. I have experienced the rev limiter cutting in at a range of 5700rpm to 6200rpm depending on the day. Not that I make a habit of this kind of driving but I occasionally like to give it a bit of stick. I HAVE A MANUAL.

I have not had this problem, but with the brake shudder issue the pads were replaced after I insisted that they do it free of charge. The story goes. Brake shudder machine disc approx 8000kms brake shudder replaced discs approx 12,000kms told at 15,000 service pads will require replacing in 5,00kkms told dealer not good enough pad wear due to brake shudder issue and should be replaced by ford free of charge. they told me not possible as they are not aware of wear rates in this new model. I said bullsh*t check your computer for a taxi or fleet car and tell me how many kms they have done before replacement of pads. They did average for auto transmission 45-60,000kms Mine is manual they agreed if I do not get 45,000kms out of pad they will replace free of charge. brake shudder replaced pads and machnied discs approx 19,000kms(free of charge) brake shudder machined discs approx 38,000kms brake shudder replaced discs approx 45,000kms Pads currently 20%worn. The same should apply to clutch related issues. You may have to insist on it but certainly should be covered by Ford motor co.

Having spent many years driving in Europe I have to say this is one of my pet hates as well. If eveyone followed the Keep left unless overtaking rule roads such as the Hume could have the speed limits safely increased to 120-130km/h. This and the no undertaking (overtaking from the left lane as the PR$CK in the right hand lane won't move over) we would all notice a sharp decline in accidents/frustration/speeding and a host of other things. I personally think the majority of road users here in Austarlia needs to go back to a driving school and start again. Some one once said to me if there weren't so many d$ckh**ds on the road there would be no need for any speed limits. The simple truth is if everyone drove according to the conditions(trafic/weather/road surface/time of day etc) and had a mutual respect for others on the road there would be no need for any speed limits anywhere. The amount of accidents I have seen particularly on country roads which are attributed to speed actually come down to someone seeing a 100km/h signpost and the driver trying to do 100km/h on road surfaces/corners that cannot be done at those speeds. Speed doesn't kill it is the drivers lack of respect for all of the above that does it. If you think about it I don't think I have seen one "Speed Kills" ad that really is attributed to the speed. Most of them come down to neglagence from the driver. From one of the first I remember where someone kills a man in the emergancy lane(what has speed got to do with that they souldn't be there) to the one where the driver swerves to miss a dog and kills a kid(again what has the speed got to do with that.) The kid shouldn't have been on the road. Vic road law states you should not swerve to miss animals. I just don't see how you can blame the speed when the drivers were clearly doing the wrong thing.

Available all dates. Just confirm a date and I will be there. May I suggest that the meeting place in Cranbourne be in the Bunnings carpark. It is just a little easier to get out of as a group. Again this is on the corner of Sth Gippy Hwy and Thompson RD but on the other side of Thompson RD. The entrance/exit is between Bunnings and Hungry Jacks on the STh Gippy Hwy. I only live around the corner from here and often it is painful to exit from the Safeway Carpark by yourself. I think it would be near impossible to stay together as a group from there. I will also be bringing my wife and two kids.

I have had something similar. Starting the car large backfire smoke from under the bonnet and into the cabin through the vents. Same starting difficulties and rough idle. Two out of the three times it was a loose vacuum hose that caused this and once with no explination at all. I sent it to the dealer who asked to have it for two days to fault find it.(free loan car of course) They found a faulty coil pack and removed and cleaned the variable timing gear. Problem seems to have dissapeared since. Hope this helps?

From what I have read so far the 4th of july is out. School holidays. The 11th at the end of school holidays someone said would be good. So the vote should be on the 11th 18th or 25th For Sundays or 10th 17th or 24th for Saturdays. I have no preference as I am free at this stage for all these dates.

I have been getting about 13.5 to and from work. I usually give it a reasonable squirt at the lights. On a highway cycle I get 10 at 110kms. Turbos run econimical in the hwy cycle as it recirculates alot of the unused fuels. These figures are from the trip computer but if you set up a spreadsheet and track actual consumption rates as I have done I have found that in my normal driving to and from work I am actually getting around 12.3 and about 9 on the hwy cycle. Fords figures arn't that far off for a manual using true consumption figures. With the spreadsheet I found the DTE to be highly innacurate sometimes 100km out depending on driving style for that tank.

From what you descibe it sounds like the route I suggested in the first place. The opinions and poll showed interest lies elsewhere. I thought we had decided on a location and we were just setting the date? Was I wrong in that assumption? George your the one who started this off. Time to take charge and get this sucker on the road so to speak. It seems as if people are going back to the beggining and revisiting the route options. As with the last cruise I am happy to provide assistence in the way of routes/maps and have my vote on the final dates/location but unfourtunatly I am unable to organise and take charge of such an event as I have too many other commitments with work and family.

Most weekends are good for me. After 04/08/04 I am tied up for 3-4weeks

The Great Ocean Road has been kicked around a few times. The biggest put off to this lovly streach of road is the amount of traffic especially the Caravans which can turn a great cruise into a boreing 2nd gear only drive. I am all for doing a cruise that side of town when the weather warms up but would prefer not The Great Ocean Road. I would love to cruise down there on my own where I could take the opportunities of overtaking when they arose and enjoy the road for what it is.

I am happy with whatevre the majority decides

Another good drive in that side of town is to Korumburra. The drive there is scenic but fairly straight. From Korumburra to Warragul there is a quiet windy road (not too windy) about 45kms long then you could return from Warragul down the princess. From Cranbourne return trip is approx 180kms. Bear in mind those who come from the other side of town will easily double this for the day so those who live this side should be considerate of this. In the warmer months we should do the reverse and head towards the other side of town Gelong way perhaps someone from that side could look out for a good run for say late October early Nov. Anything later is too close to Christmas and I know I am fairly commited with family and work fuctions till late Jan. Not too sure of what is around there in the way of BBQ etc but my wife and I went to Coal Creek it is a historic village in dire need of some TLC. I was quite surprised to see how poorly maintained it was and the highlight of the day was just to go for a cruise in the T. The historic village although nice again was a bit of a let down. http://www.coalcreekvillage.com.au/ See the site above for more info on Coal Creek

Date depending I'm In.

I had to get the boot lid adjusted. My dealer sent my car to a pannel shop to get it done and all paint related stuff was fixed. I assumed this would have been Fords policy. I wouldn't accept it if I were you

Finally got my 45k service $193 dollars. As far ast Etheridge Ford goes I can say that my experiences with them has passed beyond all redemption and I would strongly advise anyone not to use them. I belive that the person from Etheridge Ford probably is sincere in his remarks but when unless he is the guy at the top there are many things he would not be able to control nor chnage. I pity anyone who deals with the team at Etheridge Ford they were nothing but rude and arrogant towards me and my wife when we wanted to purchase and this last incident with servecing pricing even if fixed up after complaint is just proof of the kind of people that run this place. Sorry mate sometimes the truth hurts

Great day! Good to catch up with some of the people I met first time round and good to see new faces. Sometimes it is good to have a face to a name. Looking forward to the next one.

lillydale

Bringing My Wife and two Kids

Bdennis, I have a friend who just picked up his T two weeks ago. He is a member but is having trouble finding this thread. I am not sure of his member name but he will definatly be joining us on the 16th. Just put him down as Eddie.

The globes are seperate and can be replaced seperatly. FYI it cannot fall out forward so hitting the brakes will never cause it to pop out. The way they lock it in you would have to damage the front skirt to get it to pop out the front. It is designed to be pushed in then taken out the car form the hole created by the removal of the air dam.

get the dealer to do it. The hole you see is an adjustment hole that allows you to align the fog lamp. The black/grey plastic sheet that covers the bottom of your engine needs to be removed. A lot of those plastic screws and a few small bolts. Because it sits on the inside lip of the front spoiler it is quite difficult to remove. Unless you put the car on stands or have a pit or hoist it is near impossible to get the right angle to do it yourself. The fog lamp is just pushed into some plastic guides and is a tight fit. You can actually do it without removing the front skirt but again it is very tight and you need to be as flexible as the rubber man. I have done this myself and will never do it again. Too much of a hassle. I had a big stone break one of my lamps and decided to replace it myself. Next time the dealer get the job.

no none here usually secound turn of motor

I ran my original tyres as per the placcard on the door. I got just over 30,000kms on them. They were about 260 to replace but I got a special on the P Zero Nero's and will never go back to the OE Tyres. FYI I got the P zero Nero on special for 290 ea but recomended retail at time of purchace were 512

Not rrying to be a smart a*se but what about tyre pressures. An under or over inflated tyre will always wear quicker. My Missus says what pressure? If I didn't Check it it would never be right. Even after sudden temputure changes tyre pressure can drop 6-8 PSI it is something that really nedds to be monitored at least weekly. I recently bought tyres for my T and was told by Bob Janes that the standard 28-32 PSI would wear alot quicker on 17x45 and recomends 36-40 PSI and says you would get at least 10,000km extra out of your tyres running at higher PSI. Basically was told to ignore the sticker on the drivers door as the tyres would wear too quickly in 45 profile.