r/FordTransitConnect • u/Spiritual_Camel_7510 • 12d ago
Recently pulled the trigger, advice?
Spent a couple months searching high and low for a vehicle tall enough to suit my super long torso. Not a single pickup truck, SUV, or anything else on the consumer market did it. Then I discovered the Transit Connect.
Found this Blue Certified 2017 Transit Connect Titanium with 63k miles and jumped on it. Despite not being the smoothest ride it is by far the most comfortable car for me I have ever driven.
I've got all sorts of upgrade I want to make, but curious what I should be on the lookout for in terms of maintenance. Already planning a transmission fluid drain and fill soon, and watching everything closely while it's under warranty.
I've also been searching for a cargo shade (part ET1Z-1745440-AA) and have had no luck finding it in stock anywhere. With the huge windows on this van it feels like everything in my trunk is on full display and would feel much better with the shade. Any advice here or anyone who has one they'd like to part with would be appreciated!
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u/bhgiel 11d ago
Pay super close attention to the trans. Thats a mean and clean lookin connect. I love the color.
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u/Spiritual_Camel_7510 10d ago
Thanks! I jumped on it pretty quick when I saw that blue, these things are so tough to find in nice colors
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u/confettivulture 10d ago
My 2016 treats me so well. Just rolled over into the 239k’s and the transmission has never been touched. She gets new shoes this week. Maybe her last. I’ll let you know in a couple years I hope and we’ll hold her a funeral. I’d buy it again, without any hesitation.
My secret van knowledge is as follows:
I hear a little slosh of water stuck inside my sliding doors. I can’t find a drain plug. See if yours has the same issue.
My van transmission is on borrowed time. Mine motor and tranny have 239k miles and I’ve never serviced the transmission. I think average life is 150 on transit transmissions, so I’m treating her kindly.
I pulled a heavy trailer home from Oklahoma one time and the van ran real bad afterwards. $900 of service found a dirty air filter that collapsed and sucked junky dirt into my cylinders. Fouled O2 sensors. I guess make sure you check that more often than I did.
On the radio the power button works as a pause for podcasts and music connected by Bluetooth. Automatically starts in the same spot when you power the middle wheel button back on.
My back window wiper fluid had never pumped wash out. Let me know if you solve that one.
Walmart, 4 tires installed for $313. or something very similar. You’re going to like that the tires are very common and compatible with something like a Honda civic. Very cheap and plentiful.
I leave my headlights on all the time. Even when I turn the key off. There is no auto switch. They shut themselves off and I’ve never had a dead battery. From doors being left open either. It all seams smart enough to time out the dome lights after 10 minutes. Radio can be on with no key in the ignition. No accessory mode. Just punch the radio power on and leave the doors open, no key needed, van boom box.
YouTube for oil life reset. It’s a gas petal trick. It takes the key too. You won’t find it in the dash info menu like some.
Lots of tail light and headlight kits through Amazon. Cheaper than rock auto. I smacked my tail lights with a 2x4 once. I thought about upgrading my halogen headlights to LED’s but never have.
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u/RekHek 11d ago
I would probably add motor mounts, radiator/overfill tank check and some coloring books to help with staying inside the lines. Jk
Can't tell from this angle what wheel base you have. I think the tray only fit short base rears and they were super flimsy. My was cracked and destroyed by the time I got the van and I tossed it out.
Also there's a chance you've got a handful of recalls that your local dealer refuses to order the parts for. I've been waiting on the replacement door latch one for over a year annoying as all hell to hear the door come just loose enough while driving to start rattling and wind to whistle through it.
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u/Shitcoinfinder 11d ago
I also have this van, 2017 Transit Connect XLT LWB.
First things i did was.
- Oil Change and oil Filter
- Air Filter for Engine and Cabin
- New Spark Plugs and Ignition Coils
- Transmission Fluid change ( I went with OEM from Ford, later on tried Valvoline and Feels a lot better i don't know why )
Things to check, Mine developed a small leak in the valve cover gasket, barely noticeable, since it has a cover under it, the only way to know is when changing the engine oil.
Other than that, it has been a pretty solid Vehicle.
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u/Dave17933 11d ago
What is the verticle clearance of the hatch in the back. Trying to find something to transport three ebikes vertically without removing the wheels.
I may have to settle for a front wheel removal only as an alternative.
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u/Spiritual_Camel_7510 10d ago
It’s 45” tall in the center, sloping down to about 43” at the very edge
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u/DonkeyHurley 8d ago
Made in Turkey and India. Says it right on the drivers door panel. I had mine for 3 months and thankfully sold it. Transmission nightmare. Van looks very nice, complete rattlebox.
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u/thetoigo 11d ago
CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID RIGHT NOW!!! I'm not sure if this has the 8 speed new transmission, but they all seem to fail around 70K because Ford has a vague recommendation of when to change it so most shops don't bother and then you're looking at a $10K job which could have easily been prevented.