ford courier common problems

Eyeing off a Ford Courier and wondering what gremlins lurk beneath the tray? The Mazda-based ute is tough as nails, but years of hard yakka reveal the usual suspects.

• Diesel timing belt and tensioner wear, plus tired glow plugs causing hard starts
• Injection pump leaks or wear leading to rough idle and smoky running
• EGR and intake carbon build-up sapping power and economy
• Cooling system troubles under load: radiators, hoses, thermostats, and the odd head gasket
• Manual gearbox second-gear synchro crunch, heavy clutch, and clutch master or slave leaks
• Front-end wear: ball joints, tie-rod ends, wheel bearings; 4x4 hubs and CV boots too
• Diff pinion seal weeps, rear leaf spring sag, and rust around trays and cab mounts
• Electrical niggles: alternators, earths, window regulators, and A/C bits

Service history and a calm test drive will tell you most of the story, and a pre-purchase inspection is money well spent. If spanners are not your thing, a solid independent workshop (try ServiceCentral) can sort the nasties before they sort your wallet.