Anyone DD theirs?

XR4Ti / Sierra / Sierra Cosworth Discussions - Questions, problem resolution, general talk, technical tips and modifications.
Merkur Club web site
pvan
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:26 pm

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by pvan »

Chirp wrote: Tue Sep 11, 2018 1:29 am I have been driving mine on a daily 120 mile round trip commute for the last 6 months, and for 3 years prior to that. Sadly I have noticed a slowly downward spiral of my interior plastics, which I plan to address this weekend. I also noticed that my dash is looking a little more crispy and my driver's seat has begun coming apart on a similarly rapid timeline :(. I have to look for a seating solution, and I hope to try flocking the dash in the near future when funds allow.
I recently spoke with an upholstery company that makes covers out of matching leather. I want to say it was between $600-$700 for both buckets (cover yourself). And then they would be like new.
my8950
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1643
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:07 pm
Location: Detroit

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by my8950 »

pvan wrote: Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:56 am I recently spoke with an upholstery company that makes covers out of matching leather. I want to say it was between $600-$700 for both buckets (cover yourself). And then they would be like new.
Who was this? I think you're in Michigan also based on the posts I've seen...
DAReese
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1391
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: North Canton, Ohio

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by DAReese »

Russ from Rapido has different options available if you want to support the Merkur vendors. I know he has them done in OEM style and some non-OEM. I've even seen some custom Scorpio covers that looked really nice. Probably not Connolly leather like ours was, but thirty-year-old leather that hasn't been taken care of doesn't care if it is Connolly or not, it will crack.
David Reese

88 XR4Ti - mono white T5, someday to be bi wing
89 Scorpio - waiting on some parts before it hits the road again
88 XR4Ti - mono red C3, parts car
used to own 86 dark blue traded in on a min van, what was I thinking?
User avatar
Esteban
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:07 am
Location: San Diego

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by Esteban »

Get familiar with the common failure points and replace with new or upgraded parts. In my case, I deleted such failure points that were water related. Dont use plastic hose joiners. I removed the heater valve since it was a potential failure point. Also used quality fuel hose for vac/boost hoses. Also deleted vac/boost failure points like cruise control and vacuum ball circuit. I did daily the car this way for years (70 mile round trip) and never felt the car was uncomfortable. I do live in San Diego and don't need AC as much as you might on that coast though.
User avatar
whitelx
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1209
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 3:01 pm
Location: Riverside, CA
Contact:

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by whitelx »

I have daily driven my XR for periods of time. I'd love to daily it now, but my commute is solid bumper to bumper traffic for 40 minutes each way (total 50 minutes to go 15 miles). Not fun with a stiff clutch. My explorer is much more comfortable for that.

Make sure the cooling system and brakes are in good working order.
1986 XR4Ti - 294rwhp/315ft-lbs
1992 Mustang 5.0 notch - 434rwhp/445ft-lbs
http://www.youtube.com/user/whitelx
cmouta
Level 3
Level 3
Posts: 251
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:25 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by cmouta »

I've been thinking about DDing mine more in the summer but when you already have a comfortable car to drive, it makes it difficult to find motivation. Ripping AC out, turbochuck engine mounts and a grabby clutch doesn't help either. I think I've driven the XR maybe 4 times this summer and two were for track nights.
Chris
1988 Mono Rosso Red Merkur XR4Ti - Sold!
DAReese
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1391
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: North Canton, Ohio

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by DAReese »

John Brennan wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:59 pm
markwemple wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:43 pm Also, it's been mentioned here about grounds, cleaning and adding a few. Where should they be added??
The only grounds I've added have been taillight matrices-to-body ground-- they pop up as an issue in lots of these cars. I would do it to any XR I own. The rest were matters of repair and maintenance, at least for me.
Did you just run a ground from the body directly to the matrix? One for each side? I've got both rear turn signals blinking but the fronts are working fine, so I assume it is a ground issue, although I'm trying to visualize exactly how that is the problem in the wiring diagram.
David Reese

88 XR4Ti - mono white T5, someday to be bi wing
89 Scorpio - waiting on some parts before it hits the road again
88 XR4Ti - mono red C3, parts car
used to own 86 dark blue traded in on a min van, what was I thinking?
User avatar
John Brennan
Level 8
Posts: 11630
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 4:19 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ "Summer Is Coming"

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by John Brennan »

DAReese wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:32 pm
John Brennan wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:59 pm
markwemple wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:43 pm Also, it's been mentioned here about grounds, cleaning and adding a few. Where should they be added??
The only grounds I've added have been taillight matrices-to-body ground-- they pop up as an issue in lots of these cars. I would do it to any XR I own. The rest were matters of repair and maintenance, at least for me.
Did you just run a ground from the body directly to the matrix? One for each side? I've got both rear turn signals blinking but the fronts are working fine, so I assume it is a ground issue, although I'm trying to visualize exactly how that is the problem in the wiring diagram.
Yes-- a short self-tapper with a ring connector in each matrix, and then both wires converge at the center hatch ground. That, plus cleaning and pulling up the contacts on my left brake light connector ended all the issues I had.
This is my car, and these are my people!
2015 Fiesta ST
2020 Edge 2.0 Ecoboost
DAReese
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1391
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: North Canton, Ohio

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by DAReese »

Thanks. Hopefully, that fixes mine. I cleaned everything up, but still have the gremlins.
David Reese

88 XR4Ti - mono white T5, someday to be bi wing
89 Scorpio - waiting on some parts before it hits the road again
88 XR4Ti - mono red C3, parts car
used to own 86 dark blue traded in on a min van, what was I thinking?
hbar
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 56
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:26 am

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by hbar »

When I bought mine two years ago, it had a lot of issues but was essentially clean and straight with a strong motor and transmission. I bought it in the winter and fixed the major issues and then drove it as much as I could the following summer but had another vehicle that was more reliable.

Then again I spent the winter months fixing most of the rest of the issues with the intent being to make the car as reliable as possible by replacing virtually every hose and clamp, redoing the brakes and suspension, and replacing things like power steering, heater core, electrical sensors and a bunch of other stuff. This past summer I drove it quite a bit even though it still had the occasional issue. Mostly electrical gremlins. I commute to work about 15 miles each way on mostly highway roads at 55mph so it isn't city driving and very little traffic. 90% of my other driving is also on country roads. If I had to drive this car in city traffic all the time, I'd probably really hate it.

Living in northern Illinois, I don't want my Merkur exposed to the snow and salt. Also, I have extreme performance summer tires on the car and it can't be driven when the temperature is below about 40 F. Putting snow tires on it and driving in snowy weather seems like a terrible idea to me.

So I just bought a '99 Ford Escort "beater" for $500 and will drive that when I put the XR inside for the winter, again in the next week or so. I plan to upgrade a few more items and hopefully solve the electrical issues for good and then do some mods (FMIC, Megasquirt, 16" wheels, hi performance shocks and springs, interior refurbish, nice stereo, etc...)

When spring rolls around, I want this car to be something that is not only reliable 9 months of the year as a DD, but is a real pleasure to drive, not a chore. My friends and family think I'm nuts to use a 30 year old car like this as a DD, but I plan to have this for the rest of my life because I just really like it that much.
Dan from Illinois
87 Merkur XR4ti, 5 spd, White, Summer driver
2014 Ford Focus SE, ECU tuner.
dunhamr1
Level 4
Level 4
Posts: 304
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:00 pm
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by dunhamr1 »

John Brennan wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:14 pm
DAReese wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:32 pm
John Brennan wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:59 pm

The only grounds I've added have been taillight matrices-to-body ground-- they pop up as an issue in lots of these cars. I would do it to any XR I own. The rest were matters of repair and maintenance, at least for me.
Did you just run a ground from the body directly to the matrix? One for each side? I've got both rear turn signals blinking but the fronts are working fine, so I assume it is a ground issue, although I'm trying to visualize exactly how that is the problem in the wiring diagram.
Yes-- a short self-tapper with a ring connector in each matrix, and then both wires converge at the center hatch ground. That, plus cleaning and pulling up the contacts on my left brake light connector ended all the issues I had.
Just did this myself as well. Great fix, my lights work great now!
-Ryan Dunham
1989 Merkur XR4Ti - nickname: "SheaXR4"
Daily: 2016 VW Golf R "Matti"
E-Street Autocross car: 2001 Mazda Miata
Old daily: 2003 VW Golf MkIV TDI, 200k+ mi

"Racing is Life. Anything else is just waiting." -Steve McQueen
DAReese
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1391
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: North Canton, Ohio

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by DAReese »

dunhamr1 wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:28 pm
John Brennan wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:14 pm
DAReese wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:32 pm

Did you just run a ground from the body directly to the matrix? One for each side? I've got both rear turn signals blinking but the fronts are working fine, so I assume it is a ground issue, although I'm trying to visualize exactly how that is the problem in the wiring diagram.
Yes-- a short self-tapper with a ring connector in each matrix, and then both wires converge at the center hatch ground. That, plus cleaning and pulling up the contacts on my left brake light connector ended all the issues I had.
Just did this myself as well. Great fix, my lights work great now!
Mine still don't. I apparently should have jumped on the NOS matrices that Mike had. My guess is there is corrosion behind the metal that is causing it now.
David Reese

88 XR4Ti - mono white T5, someday to be bi wing
89 Scorpio - waiting on some parts before it hits the road again
88 XR4Ti - mono red C3, parts car
used to own 86 dark blue traded in on a min van, what was I thinking?
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8412
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by Ed Lijewski »

That new ground wire doesn't and can't resolve every issue with the taillights.

The better fix is to remove each female spring wire connector from the black harness connector: insert a thin wire from the reverse side to free each spring connector from the harness; use a needle nose plier to true each spring and to squeeze them for greater purchase on the male prongs; clean each male prong of corrosion. This assures each wire connection, not just the ground wire/connection, is restored.

As well inspect and replace any bulb with less than good convex solder connection feet.

YMMV
Attachments
20150525_115939-320x180.jpg
20150525_115939-320x180.jpg (12.82 KiB) Viewed 8921 times
20150518_065214-320x180.jpg
20150518_065214-320x180.jpg (19.64 KiB) Viewed 8921 times
IMG_20150518_065713-816x612.jpg
IMG_20150518_065713-816x612.jpg (70.44 KiB) Viewed 8921 times
Last edited by Ed Lijewski on Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
zxr250cc
Level 5
Level 5
Posts: 571
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 11:07 am

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by zxr250cc »

Hi all,

I used electronic cleaner spray on all the terminals in the rear tail light wiring and then used dielectric grease on all of them to make a connection that would not corrode again. I did that in the main fuse box, all pigtails and the battery terminals as well. I am lucky that my car was indoors while in storage for so long so some of the weathering issues were not present on it but the trade off there was some bit of mice issues.... My intermittent wipers won't work as they did when it was parked, for example, because a mouse bit all four leads in half to the adjustment wheel. I have not fixed that yet. Oh, I changed all the bulbs out as well since they were all original.

Cheers
1986 XR4Ti Mineral Blue Metallic
User avatar
John Brennan
Level 8
Posts: 11630
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 4:19 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ "Summer Is Coming"

Re: Anyone DD theirs?

Post by John Brennan »

John Brennan wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:14 pm That, plus cleaning and pulling up the contacts on my left brake light connector ended all the issues I had.
Yes, mentioned that; thanks for providing pix and a more detailed explanation.
This is my car, and these are my people!
2015 Fiesta ST
2020 Edge 2.0 Ecoboost
Post Reply