Transit. It’s a name that everyone knows, and which conjures up so many images and memories. From geezers doing over banks in the 1970s, to copies of The Sun on the dashboard, and being known as the backbone of Britain, the Ford Transit has been versatile and, as a result, ubiquitous.
There are so many around that they tend to blend into the background of daily life, no matter whether they’re emblazoned with eye-catching graphics, or are just plain old cost-conscious white. The Transit is one of those things that’s just there, like air or gravity. In the same way as the name Hoover has become a byword for vacuums, so Transit is to the world of vans.
However, as good it is, the Transit Mk4 is not immune from the sort of annoying glitches that can really tarnish your working day. These issues can range from overheating to wobbly door mirrors, but Haynes has you covered. We can show you how to get to the bottom of most issues, and help you to minimise the cost of repairs by doing it yourself.
What recalls has the Ford Transit been subject to?
A small number of Ford Transit models was issued with a recall notice because there was a loose additional bolt within the power steering system. This had to be removed.
Then two Transits were recalled because of rear driveshaft bearing bracket bushes that were not to specification.
Poor welding on the lower control arms resulted in almost 5000 Ford Transit Mk4 vans being recalled, then 13,853 vans were recalled because they’d been fitted with faulty fuel injectors.
An out-of-spec towbar affected 22 vehicles, then a dodgy rear stabiliser bar dragged 1747 vans back to dealers.
A run-on water pump that could overheat was the cause of a recall of 91,814 Transits, then a seatbelt height adjuster bolt that was too loose forced another recall.
Finally, an incorrectly configured instrument cluster caused 111 Transits to return to dealers.
What common problems does the Ford Transit have?
The fourth-generation Ford Transit is known to suffer a clutch issue, especially if the van has been used for towing, and replacement of the faulty component is the solution.
The door mirrors of any van are vital, usually because a central interior mirror would be redundant because of bulkheads and the solid doors at the back. So, it’s less than ideal if those mirrors suffer from an issue that causes them to vibrate noticeably.
An engine warning light is also going to take the shine off your day, but chances are that it’s a faulty sensor.
However, the Ford Transit can also suffer from a clogged fuel system, which means it’ll be slow and potentially less efficient. Not good.
And finally, if your Transit is eating through its rear brakes, misaligned pads could be the cause.
Is your Ford Transit Mk4 clutch slipping?
The Ford Transit Mk4 is a tough vehicle, designed to cope with most of the things you can throw at it, but regularly towing of heavy trailers can cause the clutch to wear out prematurely and start to slip.
Replacement is the only option, so you’ll need to remove the faulty clutch pressure plate, clutch plate and dual-mass flywheel, then replace them with new components. As part of this, Ford specifies that the dual-mass flywheel be replaced with a single-mass flywheel (part number: 2 031 018). You may also need to connect a fault-code reader and clear any error codes.
Your Haynes Transit Autofix can guide you through the major steps involved in this procedure, so don’t be daunted. Just buy the new parts and get cracking.
Struggling to see what’s behind your Ford Transit Mk4?
Seeing what’s behind your Ford Transit is vitally important. After all, not only do you need to see if something’s coming up from behind to overtake, but you also need to look backwards when you’re parking – after all, there’s no point in getting too close to anything behind and being unable to open the rear doors.
All of which makes the door mirrors essential. After all, there’s no central mirror to rely on, because you’d simply be looking at either the bulkhead at the rear of the cabin, or the inside of those rear doors.
So, wobbly mirrors put you at a distinct disadvantage. However, as long the mirrors aren’t actually damaged, there’s an easy way to resolve the issue.
First, turn the door mirror folding knob to the folding position. Then manually fold in the mirrors. After that, move the adjustment knob downwards until you hear a click, and the mirror moves slightly. Then use the adjustment knob to fold and unfold the mirrors. Carry out this procedure three times to reset the system, and all should be well.
Why is your Ford Transit Mk4 engine warning light on?
Ah, the dreaded engine warning light. Guaranteed to take the wind out of your sails whenever it appears. Still, at least it’s yellow (annoying) and not red (terrifying).
The first thing you need to do is to plug in a fault-code reader, which will allow you to narrow down the potential causes. If the reader generates the code P2200, then the NOx system is the culprit, with a faulty downstream sensor as the likely cause.
The way to fix the issue is to replace the sensor, so you’ll need to invest in a proper sensor removal socket, which can fit around any wires, then remove and replace the sensor. Easy peasy.
Does your Ford Transit Mk4 feel sluggish?
If you’re using your Ford Transit for deliveries, you need to get from here to there, and back again, as quickly as possible. So, a van that’s sluggish is not going to aid your mood.
Unfortunately, the Ford Transit can be prone to an issue that causes it to become a bit reluctant to accelerate cleanly and that can make it struggle when climbing hills.
This behaviour can usually be attributed to the fuel system, which can become slightly clogged over a certain time, meaning that it can’t deliver the required amount of fuel to the engine, hence the sluggishness.
First things first, check the fuel filter, and if this is clogged, replace it. If the fuel filter is fine, then move on to the fuel injectors (although a fault with these will usually be accompanied by a malfunction warning on the dashboard).
Also, check the DPF, which can become clogged if most of the van’s journeys have been in town traffic.
The Haynes Transit Autofix can guide you through all of these procedures, so don’t hesitate (unlike your Transit…).
Are your Ford Transit Mk4 brakes wearing out quickly?
One thing that numerous people have noted about the Ford Transit Mk4 is that it can have a tendency to get through brake pads. And not only that, but it seems quite keen to wear out rear brake pads on occasion, which goes slightly against the norm.
The issue is that it’s quite easy for the rear pads to be misaligned when they’re installed, and when this happens, the pads can rub against the disc and won’t retract properly.
The best thing to do is to remove the old pads and replace (both sides) with new ones. Replacing the pads is a pretty straightforward task that is covered fully in your Haynes Transit Autofix, so don’t hesitate – your brakes will thank you. You’ll spend less on fuel too, without that extra drag.
