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Here's what I do.... I pull up to a job, get out of my TC, open up the side slider to get my tool belt. Then I go to the rear doors to get my tool box..... DANG IT!!! They're locked still! I have to hit the stupid "rear unlock" button on the fob to unlock the rear doors! Can the rear doors be programmed, or re-wired to unlock "with" the side sliders? I know I can hit the "unlock" button on the fob twice, or hit that "rear unlcok" button, but I just want all the cargo doors to unlock together. Can this be done?

I’m a visual guy. I’m the guy who asks for a picture menu at McDonalds. I like to see pics on threads too so I’m posting a bunch of pics on this thread. If you don’t like it, hit the back button, cuz I gotta story to tell… I hope you enjoy it. I install security systems during the day, and do metalwork on nights and weekends. I also moonlight as a level 3, super top secret, government spy when I get the time, but since I just said that last one, it’s obvious I’m not a very good one. Anyways, for my install job, I used to drive a full sized van. Now my company decided to get us all Transit Connects. My old van had a sweet center console that I could put file folders in, and had a flip down top that I could as a writing surface. The Connect is.... let's just say, lacking a little in the "room" department... Here’s my temporary solution to the problem. Classy right. It’s not like I’m the only one complaining about this either, there are 9 of us, and my bosses solution was to buy us each one of these: Awesome right. I decided to build one. I have the technology…. (6 million dollar man reference there guys…) I built this out of 14 G steel, probably shoulda went thinner as it’s kind of heavy and I’m concerned about the TC being able to hit 60 miles per hour now, but oh well. On the plus side, I can toss it out the window knowing it has enough mass to stop those pesky black SUV’s that chase me during my black OPS days… shhhhh…. The holes in the side are for ratchet straps to go under the seat. It'll go in the passenger seat since nobody in their right mind will ride with me. In the TC, there’s not a lot of room for things like my calculator and gas card either, so I put these babies on it. I’m not a caveman who stores his ball point pens in his butt cheeks, so I made some hi-tech storage containers for them. In this pic you can also see the “relief cuts” since I don’t have any way to make nice bends in 14G steel yet. I use those a lot on stuff like this. I like my writing surfaces, like I like my women... flat and close to me. So I incorporated a sweet sliding top for it, so I don’t have to reach over that darn shifter. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking “Two separate tops, and ball bearing sliding rails for it, all in 14 gauge steel… that top’s gotta be heavy!” You’re right. My pencil thin arms and weak muscles are no match for it, but I have a big fat head filled with what I assume is Ramen noodles, and brains, so I came up with this: HYDRAULIC ASSIST BABY! That large caevernous area on the right is where the file folders will now sit. I even put a little shelf inside to hold all my stuff like extra pens, business cards, brass knuckles, poison darts, and my lucky rabbits foot. Hey look at that, the pen holder is only held in place with magnets, in case he really doesn’t need any more pens! Someone was using his ramen noodles again….. I hope you enjoyed reading about this, as much as I enjoyed making it, now I'm going to go burn that old cardboard file box, in defiance.

Hey guys hope all is good Two weeks ago I got hold off a connect TDDI with a blown engine (hole in block due to neglect of engine oil by previous owner). These engine are well know for little end problems! There has always been this one question ask time and time again "Will the ford focus tddi engine fit the ford transit connect tddi" I am a capable mechanic and will undertake this project to see if this can be done. WHY?...... In the uk the ford focus tddi grows on trees, you can find plenty ford focus tddi engines on ebay all day long with a price range of £250 to £450. Average mileage is around 90000. Ford transit connect TDDI engine are like gold dust on ebay price range from £750 to £1250. Sorry to you USA connect owners I no you don't have the TDDI model connect. So far I no for sure that these are a perfect match: Connect cylinder head same as ford focus (tddi) Connect gearbox will fit ford focus engine (tddi) Connect engine block is same as ford focus block, HOWEVER! both these blocks are a two part block, (top and bottom). from looking at both blocks together the connect engine bottom drive shaft bracket looks slightly higher. Will get some photos up on here later Buy for now

I had forgotten you can do this, I will be doing it myself later today (I HATE the separately-unlocking rear doors). I attached the instructions. BTW am I the only one whose TC remotes seem to have a mind of their own? This thing locks and unlocks when it feels like it. I have to be standing really close, and often if I am standing at the rear of the van, it doesn't work at all, and I have to literally just put my arm around to the side of the van, and then it works!? Worst implementation of remote keyless entry I have ever used.

My TC doesn't have traction control - it sounded like it might cause headaches I lived in Poland for 14 years and did a lot of driving in snow and on ice packed roads that don't get salted. Here in PA I can say that aside from a very small group of professional drivers (milk trucks, plows, etc.), most people really have no clue. First off, you need real snow tires (four of them) if you do any real amount of bad weather driving. Supposedly Blizzaks are good, and Continental makes a truck rated snow tire that fits the TC. Depending on the consistency and amount of snow and/or ice your region gets, you might need studs or chains. Snow tires are designed to increase traction up to 60 km/h. Go faster than that on snow and your name is Mayhem. Specific to the TC, I recommend starting in second gear on slippery surfaces, just as you would with a manual transmission. This lowers the torque delivered to the drive wheel (mine seems to only drive the driver's side wheel) and reduces the chance of spinning. I don't know if this will work with the traction control but it should. Don't turn your wheels when starting - it increases the load. Carry a small bag of sand or cat litter in the back for when you dig the tires in and a small shovel if you need to drive in deep snow conditions. There are some cool collapsible ones available.