Ford Transit Connect

[RS Grant]

Firstly, this is a slow project... in every way.

I did a deal plus cash for my ageing Mondeo ST200 ( Thread Here) which was starting to require some money spent on it to keep it looking it's best, which I couldn't justify given I'd driven it about 1500 miles in a year. So when I got offered this van, it made sense to let go of the Mondeo.



Details of the van:

2008
T200
1.8 TDCi (75bhp version)
67k miles
Full Ford/Iveco Service History
Only two previous owners

Wasn't sure whether to do a thread on the van or not, but since I'll be doing wee bits here and there then I guess it qualifies. I'll throw up pictures from time to time too... just don't be expecting to see crazy big BHP Focus RS conversions or anything like that, it's a daily driver, so it'll be staying a 1.8 TDCi.

When I got the van, it had already been lowered with an axel flip kit and front lowering springs because it looked like an off road buggy with the 19" Focus RS wheels fitted, haha. Yes, it's lost some load carrying ability given the suspension/wheel choice, but for me, it's still capable of being very practical... two Labradors, mountain bike or two or some boiler suits/boots/tools is about as loaded as it'll get with me.

Here are a couple of photos, I've just finished upgrading the sound system in it actually, but I'll sort those photos out and post another update about that in a wee while.





...and the downside of having no bulkhead:




Cheers,
Grant

[Liquid Tuna]

Ignoring the fact you've swapped a 200BHP petrol V6 Ford for a 75BHP diesel Ford it's definitely different! I've never driven a Connect. How refined is it to drive?

[f1nn]

I've driven a few, think of them as a slightly noisier (without the bulkhead) slightly busier riding (thanks to the cruder rear suspension set up) Focus of the same vintage and you are in the right ballpark.

Very car like to be honest.

[Baryonyx]

I regularly swap between a Connect and a Focus at work. They're not a bad drive, for a van but it's insulting to the Focus to compare them! I'd rather take the Connect out if it the choice of that or the Astra. But I'd take the Focus before the Connect.

They can get really, really smokey if the EGR valve blocks up, which is entertaining.

[addz86]

I used to have one as my work van, did drive nice and pretty nippy too. It had a odd fault where it'd cut out though at a certain steering wheel degree which was annoying but funny having to over/under steer it to avoid it cutting out

[itcaptainslow]

They're a pretty decent drive for a van-certainly much better than most other manufacturer's offerings.

OP-no FRS conversion? You disappoint me...

[RS Grant]

Liquid Tuna said:

Ignoring the fact you've swapped a 200BHP petrol V6 Ford for a 75BHP diesel Ford it's definitely different! I've never driven a Connect. How refined is it to drive?

Yeah, lets skip past the power/noise that I gave up, it's still a sore subject and wasn't a decision taken lightly.

It's not the most refined thing around, having no bulkhead probably doesn't help since the noises from the load area carry through without interruption. But it's way better than a Vauxhall Combo which I used at a job a wee while ago... even a ratty company Connect at the last place I worked, 140k+ with zero mechanical sympathy shown by anybody that drove it, seemed better than that Combo though.


Cheers,
Grant

[RS Grant]

f1nn said:

I've driven a few, think of them as a slightly noisier (without the bulkhead) slightly busier riding (thanks to the cruder rear suspension set up) Focus of the same vintage and you are in the right ballpark.

Very car like to be honest.

Yeah it hustles down the road quite well, feels quite harmless given it's current 75bhp, you're able to keep on the throttle without fear of going too fast. That may change once I get a remap at some point... overtaking might actually be an option after that.

Baryonyx said:

I'd rather take the Connect out if it the choice of that or the Astra. But I'd take the Focus before the Connect.

Nicely put.. the Connect is good compared to some cars. But the Focus is good compared to most cars.

Baryonyx said:

They can get really, really smokey if the EGR valve blocks up, which is entertaining.

Fingers crossed/touch wood, but there have been no issues with it so far. I *think* that the EGR gets deleted with the remap, however, will have to double check that.


Cheers,
Grant

[RS Grant]

addz86 said:

I used to have one as my work van, did drive nice and pretty nippy too. It had a odd fault where it'd cut out though at a certain steering wheel degree which was annoying but funny having to over/under steer it to avoid it cutting out

Sounds like one of those annoying faults which would take a lot of patience and time to investigate, not my idea of fun... so fingers crossed that I swerve this joy!!


Cheers,
Grant

[RS Grant]

itcaptainslow said:

OP-no FRS conversion? You disappoint me...

Well never say never and all that!! ...but it was bought with the intention of spending very little on modifications and using it the way it is. The stereo was the beginning, now thinking about a remap and colour coding/skirts... so I can see it costing me a wee bit more than I first planned, d'oh!!


Cheers,
Grant

[Jonny_]

I occasionally drive a similar but rather knackered example at work. Despite having suffered 80000 miles of abuse it's still a decent drive - much more responsive than I'd expect of a van. The engine's a rough old thing but up to about 50mph it's not as slow as you'd expect given its size and low power figure.

I find the throttle response very odd though. The first inch of pedal travel gives almost all of those 75 raging horses; the rest of it seems almost redundant. Makes it quite hard to drive the van smoothly if I've not used it for a few months!

[RS Grant]

Jonny_ said:

I occasionally drive a similar but rather knackered example at work. Despite having suffered 80000 miles of abuse it's still a decent drive - much more responsive than I'd expect of a van. The engine's a rough old thing but up to about 50mph it's not as slow as you'd expect given its size and low power figure.

I find the throttle response very odd though. The first inch of pedal travel gives almost all of those 75 raging horses; the rest of it seems almost redundant. Makes it quite hard to drive the van smoothly if I've not used it for a few months!

Mine seems to have a reasonably well modulated throttle, even if it doesn't have much go about it when you sink the boot.

I agree that it's not the worst thing to buzz around town/low speed areas in. I did take it on a couple of hundred mile dual carriageway run and that really showed up it's flaws though.. it revs quite high in 5th gear and there is very little chance of maintaining speed if faced with more than a gentle incline. I think that the remap will make a world of difference, been told to expect c110-115ps, it's a bit of a no-brainer really.


Cheers,
Grant

[Shadow R1]

RS Grant said:

Fingers crossed/touch wood, but there have been no issues with it so far. I *think* that the EGR gets deleted with the remap, however, will have to double check that.


Cheers,
Grant

Its a plate you put to block the system off, my focus 1.8 tdci of the same year has it.
Mine always had the low speed stutter, blanking the egr off stopped that.
5 min job to fit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EGR-valve-blanking-plate...

[RS Grant]

Shadow R1 said:

Its a plate you put to block the system off, my focus 1.8 tdci of the same year has it.
Mine always had the low speed stutter, blanking the egr off stopped that.
5 min job to fit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EGR-valve-blanking-plate...

That's a great link, thank you.

I had heard different things about which plate to use, people saying to use one with a hole and others saying to use one without a hole; like the one you've linked to above. It seems like that seller supplies both under 'Connect TDCi' titles, which isn't too useful?! I will likely have to ask a few questions closer to the time.

Solid Plate

Plate with Hole


Cheers,
Grant

[Shadow R1]

You need the one without a hole.
The 1.6 and 2.0 tdci throw an engine check light, if the egr is blanked off fully.

The 1.8 just has a mechanical test of the egr valve rather than a flow test.

http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/217666-how...

That is worth a read.

[RS Grant]

Shadow R1 said:

You need the one without a hole.
The 1.6 and 2.0 tdci throw an engine check light, if the egr is blanked off fully.

The 1.8 just has a mechanical test of the egr valve rather than a flow test.

http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/217666-how...

That is worth a read.

That was definitely worth a read, solid plate it is!! Bet there has been quite a few incorrectly ordered plates given his item titles are identical and there is conflicting information about which one to use.


Cheers,
Grant

[RS Grant]

So to start with I made a few wee alterations to the van to rectify areas which I wasn't happy about.

First off, decided to carpet the load area because I wasn't a fan of the bare wood floor and it should stop the pups getting any splinters!!



Next was a really basic but very effective upgrade. Fitting LED interior bulbs to brighten up the load area mainly, because in the dark the standard bulbs were absolutely rubbish. So after a quick eBay session, I had some upgraded bulbs on their way to me... three bulbs for the interior lights and two replacement bulbs for the number plate lights (one needed replaced anyway) too.

Interior Bulb (Never took one of the number plate 501 bulb!):



Results:






Cheers,
Grant

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Aren't these limited to 50 mph on B roads etc?

[Heaveho]

I'm on my 3rd Connect now, started with an 08 plate 75, went to a 57 plate 90 LWB, and just changed to a 31k mile, 59 plate 110 limited LWB, I love 'em. The new one felt rocket when it was empty, but it's gone off the boil a bit now all my work gear's gone in, so, like you, remap (and terra clean) on the way. If you thrash them constantly, you don't get any aggro with the EGR, but the driveshafts are made of spaghetti, so best to take it easy pulling out of wet junctions.

They seem generally very reliable, combination of decent distance high speed runs to burn all the crap out, proper fuel, rather than supermarket diesel, and 5k oil and filter changes seems to keep them pretty sweet. Worth checking the oil in the box, they've been known to allow rainwater in through the vent in the top of the box, obviously doesn't do the thing any favours. Alternator light might come on, the wiring for it chafes through where it passes the radiator cowling if it's a bit tight there, never had this happen on any of mine, but it's known to be quite common.

[Robin Hood]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Aren't these limited to 50 mph on B roads etc?

50mph on single carriageways and 60mph dual carriageways due to being over 2 tonnes GVW.