Current Classifieds

WANTED: Dash, fender, hood, gauge bezel '73 Wagon
Date: 01/18/2017 05:35 pm
78-80 Windshield
Date: 10/29/2021 03:11 pm
Leaf Spring Mount Rubber Insulator
Date: 08/05/2018 01:58 pm
Gazelle Replicar Pinto powered frame

Date: 01/28/2017 12:30 pm
1971 Pinto Do It Yourself Manual

Date: 03/06/2017 01:19 am
Needed, 2.0 or 2.3 motors
Date: 09/30/2018 07:47 pm
hubcaps

Date: 06/05/2018 09:13 pm
Trailer Hitch - 73 Pinto Wagon
Date: 02/04/2018 08:26 am
nos core support

Date: 01/03/2020 09:39 pm
Wanted 1973 Ford right fender
Date: 06/03/2017 08:50 pm
Mint Original Black Rear Seat $275.00

Date: 07/30/2020 11:45 am
Need '75 Pinto wagon front seat belt assembly housing
Date: 10/03/2018 10:46 pm

« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: What can go wrong?  (Read 3116 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline JohnW

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 229
  • FeedBack: +5/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 1980 Runabout

    • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Fifth year Anniversary Poll Voter
What can go wrong?
« on: October 02, 2011, 07:00:32 PM »
What kinds of mechanical failures are common on older cars?  I've already ran into or eliminated these:
Starter
Solenoid
Distributor
Electronic ignition module
Alternator & voltage regulator
Plug wires
Oil pressure sending unit
Thermostat

What else is there that commonly fails and leaves you stranded aside from the fuel pump?  I'm trying to eliminate any possibly reliability problems I can.  I also figured it'd be good to have a list here for anyone that's just picked up a car.
Logged
-

Offline Pinto5.0

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1974
  • FeedBack: +77/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 80 hatch, 76 Wagon, 72 & 73 Sedans, 71 half hatch

    • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Fifth year Anniversary Windows User 1000 Posts
Re: What can go wrong?
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2011, 08:45:05 PM »
Radiator & heater hoses, fuel lines, vacuum lines, brake lines(steel & rubber), brakes, calipers, wheel cylinders, battery cables, alternator belts, timing belt, water pump, radiator(if it's 20+ years old), fuel filter, wheel bearings & seals(front & rear), tie rods & ball joints, change ALL fluids(oil, trans, diff, antifreeze), driveshaft U-joints & trans seal.
 
Any of these will leave you stranded.....
 
Worn suspension bushings wont strand you but they tear tires up. It's a good idea to change engine & trans. mounts & the heater core as well.
Logged
'73 Sedan (I'll get to it)
'76 Wagon driver
'80 hatch(Restoring to be my son's 1st car)~Callisto
'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
'72 sedan 5.0/T5~Lemon Squeeze

Offline popbumper

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1919
  • FeedBack: +100/-1
  • Gender: Male

    • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Mobile User Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Fifth year Anniversary
Re: What can go wrong?
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2011, 08:51:06 PM »
These may not strand you, but are common to older cars (and were major issues on my '76 wagon) when I bought it:
Rusted/leaking gas tank
Gas tank sending unit bad
Dash cluster crumbling
Rust - passenger inner fender almost gone, cowl holes/leaks
Front end suspension shot
Heater box stuffed with debris
Rusted floors from water leaks
Chris
 
Logged
Restoring a 1976 MPG wagon - purchased 6/08

Offline D.R.Ball

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 558
  • FeedBack: +36/-2
  • Gender: Male

    • Total Badges: 5
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Tenth year Anniversary Poll Voter Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: What can go wrong?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2011, 05:07:23 PM »
Bad wiring on the voltage regulator circuit.
Logged

Offline JohnW

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 229
  • FeedBack: +5/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 1980 Runabout

    • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Fifth year Anniversary Poll Voter
Re: What can go wrong?
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2011, 10:19:41 PM »
Quote from: Pinto5.0 on October 02, 2011, 08:45:05 PM
Radiator & heater hoses, fuel lines, vacuum lines, brake lines(steel & rubber), brakes, calipers, wheel cylinders, battery cables, alternator belts, timing belt, water pump, radiator(if it's 20+ years old), fuel filter, wheel bearings & seals(front & rear), tie rods & ball joints, change ALL fluids(oil, trans, diff, antifreeze), driveshaft U-joints & trans seal.
 
Any of these will leave you stranded.....
 
Worn suspension bushings wont strand you but they tear tires up. It's a good idea to change engine & trans. mounts & the heater core as well.

A lot of those are things I really should get started on soon.  Mainly the hoses, rubber lines, wheel cylinders, and water pump.  The steel lines in my car all seem to be good, but I'm probably going to replace them all with stainless in the spring.  I really should have put the timing belt I bought on months ago too...


Quote from: popbumper on October 02, 2011, 08:51:06 PM
These may not strand you, but are common to older cars (and were major issues on my '76 wagon) when I bought it:
Rusted/leaking gas tank
Gas tank sending unit bad
Dash cluster crumbling
Rust - passenger inner fender almost gone, cowl holes/leaks
Front end suspension shot
Heater box stuffed with debris
Rusted floors from water leaks
Chris

I'm really glad I don't have to deal with most of these.  I should probably replace my fuel pump and check the sending unit to be on the safe side.

Quote from: D.R.Ball on October 03, 2011, 05:07:23 PM
Bad wiring on the voltage regulator circuit.

I've got a new alternator with an internal voltage regulator, so I shouldn't have to worry about that now.
Logged
-
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »