Ford Fairmont Problems

A misfire under load is often suggestive of an ignition or fuelling fault. You can check the performance of the fuel pump to see that it's delivering the volume of fuel it should, but don't ignore things like dirty fuel filters as a cause of poor fuel delivery.

That said, this engine is particularly susceptible to failures of the ignition coils. In fact, most mechanics who know their way around this engine will suspect faulty coils before anything else. It's not a terribly expensive fix even though there is a separate coil for each cylinder, but nine times out of ten, this will be the problem in a misfiring Falcon or Fairmont. The other piece of advice is to ensure you only use the genuine Ford ignition coils rather than a cheaper, knock-off coil.

Many car-makers of this era were fitting stereo systems with security codes to deter thieves who were having a field day at the time breaking into cars to steal the radios. The idea was that without the security code, the stereo wouldn't work and was, therefore, useless to the thieves. So why steal it in the first place?

Great theory, but in practice, these codes have become a nightmare for subsequent owners. That's because every time you need to change the car's battery, the stereo has to have the security code re-entered before the radio will work again. If that's what's happened in your case, then you need to search through the glove-box for all the original owner's manuals and delivery documents to see if you can find the code (usually a four or five-digit number). If you can find it, great, you simply punch it into the stereo and it should be off and running again.

If you don't have the code, you'll need to contact Ford's customer service division or even a dealership. In some cases, they can quote you the security code over the phone (if you can convince them you're the car's legal owner) and you've provided the car's VIN. What's also possible is that they'll need the serial number of the actual radio which usually means removing it from the dashboard.

Sadly, Aussie cars like the Ford Fairmont just aren't being made any longer. As you've correctly identified over many years and almost 300,000km, this big, rugged, relaxed type of vehicle was perfect for travelling in Australia, but the onslaught of SUVs and the death of the local car-making industry put an end to these big sedans.

There's nothing wrong with a Kia Sportage (in fact, it's a good choice) and you might find the effortless turbo-diesel version suits your needs and preferences quite well. You may also appreciate the higher ride height and easier entry and egress. But what you won't find in any mid-sized SUV is the same dynamic feel of a conventional sedan like your current Ford. This is not to say modern SUVs don't drive well; they do, and improved fuel efficiency and different packaging is all part of where the Australia car-park is going.

If you're not venturing off the bitumen, however, there are a few alternatives to an SUV in the form of some very accomplished medium-sized sedans. The Hyundai i30 Sedan would be one and, if you want to retain the rear-wheel-drive feel and big performance, then the Kia Stinger is another alternative to an SUV.

The other alternative would be to take the time and effort to seek out a later-model Ford Fairmont with fewer kilometres on its odometer and start over again with the packaging you clearly already enjoy.

Even though the car isn’t moving, putting it in gear, does place some load on the engine. The rule of thumb is that a miss under load will be ignition related. These engines are well known for failing coil-packs which, essentially, provide the spark for the engine. If these aren’t operating correctly, a miss can certainly be one symptom.

But a better approach would be to have the car scanned electronically. At that point, the car’s own computer will very possibly throw up the answer to what ails it. That will save you a lot of time and money changing parts that were not the problem in the first place.

A faulty body computer is the most likely cause of this behaviour. It’s a common enough fault with this series of Ford Falcons and it often requires the body computer to be replaced as well as the ignition keys to be re-coded to the new computer. Unfortunately, it’s not a cheap fix, although you could try a second-hand computer from a wrecking yard. There’s every chance, though, that it could develop the same problem sometime in the future.

Sometimes, the codes spat out by the on-board computer can be quite vague. But this isn’t one of them; in fact, it’s quite specific. Checking the code against the translation reveals that code 0705 refers to a faulty signal from the transmission-range sensor. This sensor sends information to the engine and/or transmission control module and is responsible for those computer modules knowing what the driver is asking for via the gear selector. Without a correct Park or Neutral signal from the transmission-range sensor, the engine won’t crank and start. Beyond that, the gearbox may select the incorrect gear thanks to the incorrect signal being sent. Replacing the range sensor is probably the fix you need to look at.

It has to be an automatic transmission fluid. Your local auto parts and accessories shop would be able to offer you a choice of suitable fluids, but one you could use is Castrol Transmax TQ 95.

The service refill capacity for your car is six litres.

You could look at a later Falcon if that’s what you like. Try an FG model. If you want reliability then look at a Toyota Camry, or perhaps a smaller car like a Toyota Corolla or a Mazda3.

It won’t be the distributor or the spark plugs. If it happens when you turn the key to the start position to crank the engine it could be the starter solenoid.