Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Geez, had to have been mine. Wasn't driving it yesterday, but the shop put about 100kms on it. You would have really confused my guy if you started talking "sliver" to him haha.

edit: and we have the sides rolled down now for some cargo that needed to be covered, so if it wasn't in safari mode that would track

It was on Sunday, on the 564 heading west toward the ring road if I remember correctly.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It was on Sunday, on the 564 heading west toward the ring road if I remember correctly.

Nope, some other assclown stealing my valor.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I grew up with the FORD = Fix or repair daily thing... but I must admit, Ford has some offerings lately that piqued my interest. Whether it's the Escape, Mach E, Lightning... even the Maverick has occasionally turned my head even before Sliver mentioned it. Even the Bronco brings up child like memories of vehicles.

I think Ford builds the most intriguing vehicles of the domestics but the execution isn't always there. They broke the record this year for most recalls in a single year by the halfway mark of 2025. Remember they don't sell cars (save for the Mustang) anymore so that's a lot of recalls for SUV's and pickup trucks.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Nope, some other assclown stealing my valor.

He probably saw your setup on here and rushed out to copy it. The fanboys are relentless.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think Ford builds the most intriguing vehicles of the domestics but the execution isn't always there. They broke the record this year for most recalls in a single year by the halfway mark of 2025. Remember they don't sell cars (save for the Mustang) anymore so that's a lot of recalls for SUV's and pickup trucks.

Ford also just announced an initiative to launch a new line of affordable EVs designed for around-town commuting... so of course, it's a midsized pickup truck.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sure, but a 6 foot turns into an 8 foot! For me personally the 6 foot bed is mostly because I can put bikes in the back and close the tailgate and topper. It makes it so you can just toss all manner of stuff and not worry about the weather, or losing stuff. Ultimately I want a travel trailer, and be able to have bikes in the truck with everything else sealed and covered(dusty roads).

Then you'll just want a 10' box!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sure, but a 6 foot turns into an 8 foot! For me personally the 6 foot bed is mostly because I can put bikes in the back and close the tailgate and topper. It makes it so you can just toss all manner of stuff and not worry about the weather, or losing stuff. Ultimately I want a travel trailer, and be able to have bikes in the truck with everything else sealed and covered(dusty roads).

They make this thing called a van!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Then you'll just want a 10' box!

Then I could fit a bicycle built for twooooo!

Originally Posted by Table 5

They make this thing called a van!

I have also considered that option. Tough to take the top off though.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Tough to take the top off though.

True, but I don't really see the massive benefit of having an open box, unless you're carrying something tall...which you can usually do in a van anyway. I feel like the vast majority of the time it's better to have your cargo covered.

If you like the Maverick size, I think the little Transit Connects or Promaster City vans are pretty practical, and sort of the van equivalent. Too bad they never really caught on. The full size vans are nice, but they are all crazy expensive now imo.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Table 5

True, but I don't really see the massive benefit of having an open box, unless you're carrying something tall...which you can usually do in a van anyway. I feel like the vast majority of the time it's better to have your cargo covered.

If you like the Maverick size, I think the little Transit Connects or Promaster City vans are pretty practical, and sort of the van equivalent. Too bad they never really caught on. The full size vans are nice, but they are all crazy expensive now imo.

I mostly take it off if I have to move soil, gravel etc. A trailer is also an option though, and as I perfect the homestead, hopefully need that less and less.


I did seriously look at the Transit Connects, but worry a travel trailer might be a bit much for them. Not sold on a Rustmaster.

[Sliver]

I owned a Transit Connect for a year a few years ago. It was a 2012 with 180,000kms on it. It was awesome and I loved it, but I could not get it to a reliable stage no matter how much money I threw at it. Eventually had to give up.

That's the actual vehicle I want, but I can't be messing around with unreliability when I just need it to work. Not being able to lease is a problem for a business, too, but I liked it so much I bought it with cash for my business to try to make it work.

So frustrating they're discontinued. Such a perfect vehicle.

[Fuzz]

Not sure if you heard, but Ford is making an all new EV platform they will use for a variety of vehicles, hopefully one is a Connect scale van. If you use your imagination you can almost make one out...

Spoiler!

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/...electric-truck


I definitely see a box-too-small truck in there!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I owned a Transit Connect for a year a few years ago. It was a 2012 with 180,000kms on it. It was awesome and I loved it, but I could not get it to a reliable stage no matter how much money I threw at it. Eventually had to give up.

Yeah, it was a fun driver for a van. I tried to convince my wife to make the Passenger version our family car, but no dice. I almost still bought it for me.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, it was a fun driver for a van. I tried to convince my wife to make the Passenger version our family car, but no dice. I almost still bought it for me.

Not the transit, but my wife groaned about the odyssey until I traded in my car (lemon) and said it was for me. She drove it a few times and never gave it back. She gushes about how practical vans are now.

You should have just bought it and "let her try it" . Same end result, but at least you get to drive it occasionally.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Not sure if you heard, but Ford is making an all new EV platform they will use for a variety of vehicles, hopefully one is a Connect scale van. If you use your imagination you can almost make one out...

Spoiler!

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/...electric-truck


I definitely see a box-too-small truck in there!

A van or a hearse.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Not the transit, but my wife groaned about the odyssey until I traded in my car (lemon) and said it was for me. She drove it a few times and never gave it back. She gushes about how practical vans are now.

Not a van, but that's almost how I lost my Landcruiser to a hostile takeover. My wife had to borrow it for a few weeks once...and by the end, didn't want to give it back (and only did so reluctantly because of the terrible fuel economy).

But yeah, a week or two in a minivan and most people are converted. I do still want a van, but at this point I'm more into something that can also work as a camper/cargo hauler...which I'm 1,000% she wouldn't want to drive.

[woob]

We had a need for a big van, to haul some stuff that we didn't want to risk getting wet this summer. So we rented one of the Ford Transit vans from Home Depot. $100 for 4 hours (what we did) or $140 for all day. Unlimited mileage. Was a blast to drive too.

[BowRiverBruinsRule]

Enough of Sliver's new Maverick. I am sure it is awesome. My first car I shared with a few other siblings was a 1974 or 75 4-door Copper coloured real Maverick. We called it the jeep Maverick. But, I have digressed from my issue I need help with.
I have a 2012 Volvo XC60. July was super wet and super humid. I noticed the interior windows had a lot of moisture or condensation. A lot. The carpet behind the passenger seat is wet and when I put the ventilation on, I could here water gurgling in the vent on the side column between the front and rear seats. I was able to get it somewhat dried out with a fan and a couple of no-rain warmer days. But, more rain last evening and damp again. It is not faulty sun-roof seals, door seals or any other seals or other weatherstripping. Google / AI tells me it is a plugged sun-roof drain or a cowl are drain or an A/C condenser drain. I am thinking it is a cowl drain which I can't find. I park under or close to a lot of trees - pine trees to be more specific. Any thoughts?
If it is any consolation, I am a Ford fan as I have a new F150 XLT so I am sure I could some day come to terms with the new Maverick.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by BowRiverBruinsRule

Enough of Sliver's new Maverick. I am sure it is awesome. My first car I shared with a few other siblings was a 1974 or 75 4-door Copper coloured real Maverick. We called it the jeep Maverick. But, I have digressed from my issue I need help with.
I have a 2012 Volvo XC60. July was super wet and super humid. I noticed the interior windows had a lot of moisture or condensation. A lot. The carpet behind the passenger seat is wet and when I put the ventilation on, I could here water gurgling in the vent on the side column between the front and rear seats. I was able to get it somewhat dried out with a fan and a couple of no-rain warmer days. But, more rain last evening and damp again. It is not faulty sun-roof seals, door seals or any other seals or other weatherstripping. Google / AI tells me it is a plugged sun-roof drain or a cowl are drain or an A/C condenser drain. I am thinking it is a cowl drain which I can't find. I park under or close to a lot of trees - pine trees to be more specific. Any thoughts?
If it is any consolation, I am a Ford fan as I have a new F150 XLT so I am sure I could some day come to terms with the new Maverick.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Volvo/comme..._full_of_water

So basically like this story? Pine is especially bad for clogging these I think due to pollen, needles and sap. Sunroof drains clogged can cause this (which is a stupid design as there's quite a few vehicles this happens to IIRC, even in luxury ones).

Double check the roof and window seals and verify it is indeed closed 100% (ie: I don't ever use that button, but someone accidentally bumped it for a second while pushing a different button one time).

Use AI or Youtube to find the specific drains/locations/ideas for clearing on your specific vehicle. It likely exists.

Unclog the drains, swap out the cabin and air filters as an initial inexpensive diagnostic point and see where things are at. Methyl hydrate to dissolve sap as needed (there's no way to explain how damn good it works vs other options for sap), but careful of its effect on the paint and plastics. Rinse/wash off ASAP and reapply protectant as needed.

Try to park elsewhere and maybe allow for a crack in the window so the moisture can dissipate? Don't want excess moisture in the cabin wrecking stuff or causing mold etc.

Also be careful if there's water accumulating in the footwells. Apparently there's lot of semi exposed wires in bundles there, and some not fully sealed with heat shrink etc. (which seems weird to me). I don't know if the XC60 is like that. Longer term oxidization of wires in the water and shorts could potentially happen if it's wet. This means it could suddenly cause all sorts of funky warning lights or other electronics to stop functioning properly. If nothing pops up for that, then I don't think you need to investigate, but even in some luxury cars, I don't get why those supposed wire bundles aren't wrapped up in like $50 of additional heat shrink for the entire vehicle. Silly stuff.

If you do this and it's still happening, you have an idea what it's not and it'll help you consider other option of what the issue could be.