Some Quirks with the Ford Transit
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 567
Likes: 1
There's definitely no hood-latch control inside the cab. The UK post I mentioned before clearly indicated the key operation at the hood latch is strictly mechanical, no chip in the key is necessary for it to work, so a "dumb" (non-coded) key should work fine. Problem is here in the USA, finding a locksmith to cut a "dumb" key is a problem. I've read comments on the web saying you have to shut off the motor in order to open the hood, but I very much doubt that. Leave one of your keys in the ignition, use the other one to open the hood or gas latch or whatever. Definitely, you must have more than 2 keys for convenience and safety's sake.
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 567
Likes: 1
When I checked out the Transit Connect at the dealer, found one irritating thing. When I adjusted the tilt steering wheel, the plastic cowling between the wheel and the dashboard suddenly came loose & flew straight up & hit the windshield. I don't know the problem behind that. I just pushed it back into position, but didn't re-latch it. I have found another post on the web mentioning the exact same problem. A minor irritant, fixable with a bungy cord or duct tape.
New User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From Turkey w/Love
I've been driving one for about two mos. now. The key is definitely different. Its a solid piece of steel with little tabs on the sides at random spots. I asked about a spare key for myself( company truck). I was told it would be appx $58.00 for me from the dealer here in a Chicago suburb. The hood thing was a little puzzling at first. It may not be Minn. friendly only because you have to turn the key in two directions...lol.
Going from a full size van to an Astro van to this was a challenge. The interior is a car interior without the rear seat. It does have overhead storage but nowhere for any manuals. It gets a solid 20mpg with a full load and my fat *** inside EPA was 24 hwy. I love it for being to park it anywhere.
I hate it for being too small in the back. I have two sets of shelves, one at each side door. This narrows down the storage in the middle to 18 inches. Except for my tools, which are at the back doors, I have to unpack to retrieve anything else.
All in all its not a bad truck for the money. It fits a niche that the Chevy Astro van ans the Dodge Ram have left.
Rico
Going from a full size van to an Astro van to this was a challenge. The interior is a car interior without the rear seat. It does have overhead storage but nowhere for any manuals. It gets a solid 20mpg with a full load and my fat *** inside EPA was 24 hwy. I love it for being to park it anywhere.
I hate it for being too small in the back. I have two sets of shelves, one at each side door. This narrows down the storage in the middle to 18 inches. Except for my tools, which are at the back doors, I have to unpack to retrieve anything else.
All in all its not a bad truck for the money. It fits a niche that the Chevy Astro van ans the Dodge Ram have left.
Rico
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 567
Likes: 1
I asked about a spare key for myself( company truck). I was told it would be appx $58.00 for me from the dealer here in a Chicago suburb. I wonder what your company will do when someone inevitably loses their key.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Chicagoland
Has anyone had to do any work on theirs yet? I'd get a minivan for the family but it just hurts my brain looking under the "hood" and imagining trying to do any work under there. It looks like trying to refinish your kitchen though the mail slot. I sat in one at the Chicago auto show and I kinda liked it. I didn't realize they had them setup for passenger use from the factory but they do.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 425
Likes: 1
From: Fayetteville, TN
I went with a buddy of mine to test drive a connect to replace his Ford Ranger which was used as a work vehicle. This was in Colorado at 5,600 ft. and it was way underpowered with nothing in the vehicle. I couldn't imagine it with cargo. He wound up buying a Dodge Caravan Cargo. Plenty of power, 20 mpg+, and a lot more room than the Connect. I was on a plane with a guy from Ford the other day and he said they are gearing up a factory in the US to make the Connect and will offer it in a foot longer also. He also said they are going to produce the Transist, not to be confused with the Transist Connect. Similar to the Sprinter. Supposedly Chrylser will be bringing a Fiat van to the US to replace the Sprinter. No idea on when either will be available. I prefer a full size van myself but I can see where a smaller van is fine in some trades.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Summit-Waller
Our local Water Company bought one to make well rounds. During the first month the pins on the drivers door fell out and the drivers door fell off. At least it was in a parking lot at the time.
New User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Spare key
We got two keys with it. The company keeps one. So I guess if I'm stupid enough to lose mine, they can order a replacement before I loose the second one.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
I wouldn't touch this thing until it is domestic USA produced with domestic USA parts like Keys.
The word is every one is imported from Turkey now with a rear seat so it doesn't get dinged the pickup truck tariff (10% or so), and the seat is removed in USA and disposed of.
Thanks a lot!
Without that nonsense, they can lower the price by 10%
The word is every one is imported from Turkey now with a rear seat so it doesn't get dinged the pickup truck tariff (10% or so), and the seat is removed in USA and disposed of.
Thanks a lot!
Without that nonsense, they can lower the price by 10%
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,715
Likes: 1
mercedes sprinters are built in germany, disassembled, shipped as "parts", reassembled here in the US to avoid the import tax.
also, on the subject of keys.....the insurance companies in EU are really coming down hard on theft payouts, and they are the reason behind some of the ridiculous anti-theft/key systems found on vehicles like the transit. stop complaining about the $58 key though, thats nothing compared to a mercedes, VW, audi, porsche (all german CRAP) key!
as for the hood latch, i dont see it being any more exposed to the weather than an exterior door lock cylinder, especially being under the emblem.
also, on the subject of keys.....the insurance companies in EU are really coming down hard on theft payouts, and they are the reason behind some of the ridiculous anti-theft/key systems found on vehicles like the transit. stop complaining about the $58 key though, thats nothing compared to a mercedes, VW, audi, porsche (all german CRAP) key!
as for the hood latch, i dont see it being any more exposed to the weather than an exterior door lock cylinder, especially being under the emblem.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
Chicken Tariff...
The "chicken tariff" on imported trucks is a full 25%, which is why it's economical to remove and recycle seats in Transit Connects, or to disassemble/reassemble Sprinters:
Chicken tax - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In older days, imported trucks were shipped here from Japan with no pickup beds; those would be built and/or installed in the US.
As for the front lock cylinder, the salt spray you get on the front of a car is EVIL and will corrode anything on the front of a car very quickly. the cover over the keyhole would theoretically keep the lock from corroding, but an inside hood release would be more in keeping with what we Americans are accustomed to.
I love my E150, but something like a Transit Connect will inevitably be my next van (although my E150 may go for another 5 or more years). But I would like it made in the US, and would like it a foot longer. We just moved a table that was over 6 feet long in my van a couple hours ago, and did not have to remove the 2nd row of seats...I'm very spoiled.
George
Chicken tax - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In older days, imported trucks were shipped here from Japan with no pickup beds; those would be built and/or installed in the US.
As for the front lock cylinder, the salt spray you get on the front of a car is EVIL and will corrode anything on the front of a car very quickly. the cover over the keyhole would theoretically keep the lock from corroding, but an inside hood release would be more in keeping with what we Americans are accustomed to.
I love my E150, but something like a Transit Connect will inevitably be my next van (although my E150 may go for another 5 or more years). But I would like it made in the US, and would like it a foot longer. We just moved a table that was over 6 feet long in my van a couple hours ago, and did not have to remove the 2nd row of seats...I'm very spoiled.
George
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
Just read an article about the Transit in a service Ezine. It has a few interesting quirks.
1. It's not new -- apparently FoMoCo has been making them in Turkey for a while.
They have been making the Transit for the European market for quite sometime. Talk is it will be made in Wayne, Michigan in the near future at the Michigan Truck Plant on Michigan Avenue.
2. The ignition key is some odd ball type. It's a normal key, but the blanks are not normally found in the US.
It lools like a heavy bodied Q-Tip with flats on the end. the dealer quoted my wife 250 clams for a replacement. We won't be loosing any keys not that we ever do.
3. A little worse is that you use the key to open the hood. You move the front emblem aside and insert the key. This does not sound Minnesota friendly to me.
Personally, I like the feature. My wife got hers late last winter and it was never a problem here in Michigan. The backup alarm was. Ice and snow on the rear bumper sets it off.
4. Finally, the coolant is some odd stuff that was used in some mid 90's Mercs. The article suggested that DexCool (shudder) could be used as well.
Looks to me like extended life coolant we use in big trucks. It's nothing special as far as I can ascertain.
Just thought I'd pass the info along.
1. It's not new -- apparently FoMoCo has been making them in Turkey for a while.
They have been making the Transit for the European market for quite sometime. Talk is it will be made in Wayne, Michigan in the near future at the Michigan Truck Plant on Michigan Avenue.
2. The ignition key is some odd ball type. It's a normal key, but the blanks are not normally found in the US.
It lools like a heavy bodied Q-Tip with flats on the end. the dealer quoted my wife 250 clams for a replacement. We won't be loosing any keys not that we ever do.
3. A little worse is that you use the key to open the hood. You move the front emblem aside and insert the key. This does not sound Minnesota friendly to me.
Personally, I like the feature. My wife got hers late last winter and it was never a problem here in Michigan. The backup alarm was. Ice and snow on the rear bumper sets it off.
4. Finally, the coolant is some odd stuff that was used in some mid 90's Mercs. The article suggested that DexCool (shudder) could be used as well.
Looks to me like extended life coolant we use in big trucks. It's nothing special as far as I can ascertain.
Just thought I'd pass the info along.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
I wouldn't touch this thing until it is domestic USA produced with domestic USA parts like Keys.
The word is every one is imported from Turkey now with a rear seat so it doesn't get dinged the pickup truck tariff (10% or so), and the seat is removed in USA and disposed of.
Thanks a lot!
Without that nonsense, they can lower the price by 10%
The word is every one is imported from Turkey now with a rear seat so it doesn't get dinged the pickup truck tariff (10% or so), and the seat is removed in USA and disposed of.
Thanks a lot!
Without that nonsense, they can lower the price by 10%
There isnt a vehicle made in this country that don't have a substantial amount of offshore parts. You need to wake up and smell the petunia's.
I'm sure Alan Mullaly will be happy to give you a new Transit......yeah, right.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
In that case I suggest you start riding your Huffy bicycle. Huffy's are made in Dayton, Ohio with mostly domestic parts, at least more domestic content that any automoboile or light truck.
There isnt a vehicle made in this country that don't have a substantial amount of offshore parts. You need to wake up and smell the petunia's.
I'm sure Alan Mullaly will be happy to give you a new Transit......yeah, right.
There isnt a vehicle made in this country that don't have a substantial amount of offshore parts. You need to wake up and smell the petunia's.
I'm sure Alan Mullaly will be happy to give you a new Transit......yeah, right.
I am a bicyclist and have a number of domestic bicycles (a couple American Treks, a Serotta, and an old Cannondale). Sadly, Trek has moved almost everything except its top end carbon fiber bikes ($4k and up) overseas, as has Cannondale. Even the US made bicycles have American frames but typically use Shimano components sourced from Japan, I like German made Continental tires, French Mavic rims, etc.
I am also a guitarist and consciously play primarily American instruments.
My E150 is 95% domestic, but it's a 2002 model and I'm sure domestic content is somewhat lower now.
Being a Detroiter, I will do my best to buy American built vehicles with as much domestic content as possible. I would eventually like a Transit, maybe, to replace my van, but it won't be a Turkish one.
George
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
Gee, I'd say we are 'Detroiters' as well. While I'm not to sure anyone actually lives in Detriut anymore, everyone always asks me when I tell them I live in Michigan... how far from Detroit is that?... I do know if you ride a bicycle in Detriot proper, you'll likely get mugged or rolled.
I don't know squat about bicycles other than where I live, if you ride one, it better be equipped for dirt roads. My bicycles all have engines
The Transit will supposedly be built at the Ford Truck Plant in Wayne after 2011. The Transit is by no means a new kid on the block. Ford has been building them in Turkey for the European market for quite a while.
Your key words are 'try to buy American' not can. If you are the purist you claim to be, then it's time to quit posting and throw that computer you post on in the garbage. It's made offshore. Might even have some Turkish parts inside.....
I hear those lines all the time. problem is, they are as hollow as the person that eminates them.
If you 'talk the talk, then walk the walk....
I don't know squat about bicycles other than where I live, if you ride one, it better be equipped for dirt roads. My bicycles all have engines
The Transit will supposedly be built at the Ford Truck Plant in Wayne after 2011. The Transit is by no means a new kid on the block. Ford has been building them in Turkey for the European market for quite a while.
Your key words are 'try to buy American' not can. If you are the purist you claim to be, then it's time to quit posting and throw that computer you post on in the garbage. It's made offshore. Might even have some Turkish parts inside.....
I hear those lines all the time. problem is, they are as hollow as the person that eminates them.
If you 'talk the talk, then walk the walk....