Fifty150

Big difference from a 5.0 to a 2.5. My Transit Connect replaced an Explorer with a 5.0. Noticeable difference in performance. But I can live with it.

Good that you could return the car. No "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" policy. Glad that you did not get stuck with a bad car.

Lifts are not all that expensive. A couple of big pieces of metal. Some wiring. Some hydraulics. The real problem is where to install it. A bit of a challenge when you are in an apartment, and you park on the street. In case you were wondering, this is the splash shield you need to remove for access to the engine and transmission.

Says you. I wish I can find a girl who is even cheaper than I am. Do you know how much I could have saved over the years? All my ex's spent money like crazy. They just didn't care. Don't women know what coupons are anymore?

I took the chance. After seeing what the filters look like when cut open, I decided to use the larger FL-400S. Why? I'm cheap. I bought a case of filters from Amazon.com, and I didn't want to waste them. I've also got some FL-1A filters in my garage also. Same thread pitch. I would use those also, if I can get them to fit. Once it fits, it's working. Oil will flow in & out, and filtration will happen. I know that there are plenty of people who will point out the obvious......different filters are manufactured to different specs, and each engine is engineered with a specific filter spec. My engine is fine. It did not suffer catastrophic failure from a taller filter with more capacity and filtration media. Looks like I got away with it.

Here is the page from the owners manual with the indicated jack points. This is what the bottom looks like with the splash shield removed. Oil filter is really easy to access; behind the fan and in front of the oil pan.

Okay, this does not solve how water is getting in. But it could help with how you manage the water. An old trick from the T-Rex days was to drill a hole in the floorboard. Then install a drain plug or cap. We did it so that we could hose out our trucks. But I'll be that would allow the water to flow out without puddling, and provide ventilation so that mold & mildew do not develop in your van. Get a hose. Have a friend spray your van while you're sitting inside. Try to find how the water is getting in.

I use a small floor jack to lift. Then once the van is on 4 UniJacks, I lift it up to where I am comfortable crawling under. You can use ramps, jack stands, or whatever you want. Personal preference is not to use the OEM emergency scissor jack, ever, on any vehicle. There is even an inflatable balloon jack that is perfect for lifting a low profile car to a comfortable height for service. Just don't buy a used jack at 007's garage sale. He only sold it because it doesn't work. And when he gets a lift, all the Left Coast members are going over to his place.

But with a K&N drop in air filter, it will be fine as long as it fits.

I think the filter is the same for all the 2nd generation Transit Connect. Just get the filter for 14+, and it should fit. Buy it from Amazon so that you can return it if it is not the same.

I place a UniJack under each lift point.

Oil changes are not hard once you get the splash shield off. Drain plug and filter are easy to get to. I found that Ford MotorCraft FL-400S filters are the same thread pitch, same diameter, same gasket diameter, just a little taller, and fit fine for a little added capacity & filtration. Several good threads regarding transmission fluid exchange on the forum. While under warranty, there is nothing that will do beyond your own oil change and tire rotation. Anything goes wrong, let the dealer make the correction.

TPMS - check tires for leaks, add correct PSI to all tires, reset sensors. See of you have a switch to turn traction control on and off. Maybe it's just turned off. There could be a stored code. Get a code reader which is capable of reading the brake light codes.

I like K&N products also. But I wonder if you will gain anything at all from a drop in filter with the Transit Connect. You won't see much in the way of performance mods for the Transit Connect. But I'm guessing that you couldn't do much, if anything at all, to bring more power & torque into a Kia Soul either. I haven't seen any performance brake kits either. There is a little buzz about fabricating lift kits.....but nothing really effective yet. But don't let that stop you from being the first to make the Transit Connect go faster, hug corners, clear tree stumps, and stop on a dime. You could be the first to make a Transit Connect "GymKhana". If you're into wheels & tires, several people have experimented with different combinations. Since you just got the van, and I don't see snow in those photos, you're probably going to be okay with stock tires. Most interesting mods so far for me, has been seeing how camper build-outs are configured, and where people are mounting cameras to compensate for the blind spots. One guy built a roof rack system with an awning. A lot of youtube videos on Transit Connect campers. I like how 1 member added a higher fiberglass roof. Several members posted photos of how they load their motorcycles, chock the tire, and tie it down. If you do your own maintenance, there are some good threads. Pay attention to how people are performing their own transmission service.

I am cringing at what this must be costing you, plus whatever to take delivery of a 2015 model year van.

To save anyone from having to search, these are my rear turn signals. Also drop-in, plug-and-play. No hyperflash. You should be able to find these on amazon or eBay fairly easily.

$8. Price has gone down so you will pay less than I did. Sourced from eBay. No hyperflash. I suspect that you can buy any brand, as long as they look the same with the same specs. Probably all from the same factory in Shenzhen, China. Shipping took forever. Probably on Amazon.com also. Pricing is usually higher on Amazon.com, because they have to stock in USA for Fulfilled By Amazon, Amazon.com takes a larger percentage of sales, and you get 2 day free shipping.

Some vans were delivered from the factory without the screws and bolts for the license plate. Somebody goes to the parts area, grabs a little plastic packet of 2 screw marked "license bracket screw" and it's not the correct thread pitch. Ford sells more than 1 part, little plastic packet with 2 screws, for mounting license plates. Common mistake is that whomever does the new car prep at the dealership, used the wrong screws. They all look the same. The van door has a hexagon shaped hole, and a special 6 sided rivet nut is installed at the factory in Turkey. Luckily, this can be corrected. The parts are available. It's the same part as HN1 with the red arrow in the below drawing. FORD -W702222-S300 Plug - Special - Ford (-W702222-S300) List Price:$3.50 You Save:$1.31 (37% off) Sale Price:$2.19 ADD TO CART Provide your VIN at checkout and we will verify this part fits before shipping Manufacturer:Ford Part Number:-W702222-S300 Part:Plug - Special

What happened is that someone used the wrong screw. Same thing happened to me, and others. They will need to replace the rivet nut.

Not really. Mileage will be equivalent or even less. My mileage in the real world is less.

Take a field trip to a dealership. Take your time looking at the different configurations and play with the seats. Fold them. Flip them. Look at the hardware. Get a feel for your project.

I don't know if you'll get something more economical. Are you thinking in terms of out the door pricing, bang for your buck with payload & passenger capacity, or fuel economy? I have a 2016 Long Wheel Base wagon, and I am not getting great mileage in the real world. The van's computer says that I'm getting super mileage. The tale of the tape is different. With any luck, that bike will fit in the van better than the Focus. Hands down, Transit Connect is the lowest priced "people hauler". Most vehicles with 7 passenger capacity sell for a lot more. Higher priced vehicles are more comfortable. Transit Connect offers more bells & whistles in Titanium Trim. I am satisfied with what I bought, for the price that I paid. Despite all the shortcomings, such as road noise, less than smooth ride, underwhelming entertainment system, and huge visors which block out 3/4 of the windshield.......you just have to factor in the less than stellar 6 speed transmission, questionable front bearings on the older models, and the noisy climate control fan......it's a great ride for the price point. I get all the people I want, plus I can haul cargo if it's not too big or heavy. With the seats folded down, you have a very efficient sleeper. Believe me, that sleeping in a van is better than sleeping in a tent.

I could go up or down in height by 1/2" when I change shoes. I remember Prince use to wear those high heel boots because he was so short. I'll tell my "when I met Prince" stories some other time.

Nobody remembers Reagan saying that all the time?