Ford Falcon 2000 Problems

The AU was a much-maligned car, mostly for its looks. If you can accept the styling, the AU is a sound car, but readers of this column will have read many readers' letters complaining about their Falcons. I strongly recommend you get it checked by a mechanic.

THE price is about on the mark for the AU II, so it sounds a good buy. Look for power-steering oil and radiator leaks, and make sure the auto shifts smoothly and there are no noises when you drive it.

CARS today are much more sensitive to noise and vibration, and tyres wear in relation to their position. They typically wear on the outside shoulder and in the direction of rotation, so swapping a tyre from one side to the other means it is rolling in the opposite direction and that might set up an annoying vibration, which may be why Ford don't recommend it. There is no reason you can't swap tyres from side to side if that's what you want to do. And using plugs isn't illegal, but certainly not recommended. A good repair is a patch-plug -- a patch that repairs the tyre on the inside and plugs the hole to keep out moisture.

I DON'T believe we ever said the AU I is a bad car. What it does have is poor resale value, which makes it a poor buy, and we have said that. We have also criticised its styling, but that's a matter of opinion. You're entitled to yours.

THANKS for the advice. I'm sure other owners will appreciate knowing there is a problem and that Ford acknowledges it. Unfortunately, carmakers often don't do themselves any favours by either denying there is a problem or being ignorant of the problem's existence and the solution their engineers have developed. It would certainly be better if carmakers came clean and fixed the cars affected instead of hoping owners won't complain.

DEFINITELY tow it in Drive, and I would think of adding a transmission oil cooler. It's also a good idea to service the transmission and replace the fluid.

THE recall, applying to AUI and AUII Falcons built between June 1, 1998, and May 22, 2001, relates to a steering rack mounting stud. Ford says over-tightening of the stud could cause the stud to loosen. In extreme cases, the stud may fail and affect steering. Two cases of loose studs and one case of a missing stud have been reported, but Ford is recalling all cars to take precautionary action. Vehicles built in the period outlined used a Loctite threadlocking compound, which could be degraded if the stud was over-tightened. Vehicles built after May 22, 2001, are not affected.