Zocalo1
New Member
- Joined
- July 11, 2018
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- West Coast
- City, State
- Thousand Oaks, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1995 Aerostar XLT
Good evening. I'm really glad I found this forum. I'm having some problem locating the connector to plug the NGS tool into. I bought an NGS tester with my 2001 F350 4x4 Diesel, and it has paid for itself over the years. I have the Ford factory service manual set for my Aerostar, but the connector is NOT to the left of the steering column as it says in the manual. Maybe I have to remove the panel below the column (but usually it is easy to find)? I'm obviously new here, so some history: I recently received a 1995 Aerostar XLT passenger van that was passed back to me after 23 years. It is the "shorter" version with the 3.0 engine, 2WD, with just about every option that the model had at the time. I originally purchased this in '95 for my Father and Mother, who insisted that it was the perfect height to get in and out of for his (shot) knees. They lived some distance away, so I only saw the vehicle during visits or for the major maintenance/tuneup intervals. Dad always took care of the routine maintenance (oil changes, chasis, seal/striker lubrication, air filters and the usual checks. I saw to the dealer servicing the transmission and axle fluid changes, but always did the rest of the items myself with OEM parts. After the first 8-10 years, it was clear that the factory maintenance schedules were NOT going to apply. So we modified them. Why? For 23 years, the vehicle has been garaged at all times when not being driven, in California. Today, it turned 65,000 original miles on the speedo. 6K of that, I put on in the last 6 months since I've had it. It is for all intents and purposes, factory fresh to look at, sit in and drive. But time does strange things to items like tires, wheel bearings, brake pads and the like. Even in the absence of sunlight. Although it has never worn out a set of tires, they have been changed three times over the years to avoid the effects of layer separation and maintain handling. Oil is changed by time, not miles to avoid condensate contamination. Bearings are repacked....just because. Grease is rated by its performance under usage, not by lack of it. Fortunately they kept is started regularly as part of the deal, with the occasional trip and freeway travel to circulate the fluids. Anyway, If anyone can shed some light on why I can't locate this connector where it should be, I'd sure appreciate it. The diagnostics will be limited by the generation of electronics, but the manuals shows some pretty cool things that you can tie into. Other than that, it just feels good to go down the road in this thing. I'm constantly getting compliments on its condition, which is a direct reflection of my Father's devotion to HIS Aerostar (and every vehicle he ever owned). I'm lovin what some of you have done with your Aerostars. and the devotion that show in the projects you take on! In the newest topic about "some dying so others can live", I've gotten a really good appreciation for the construction (or deconstruction as it might be) of the vehicle. Also a reminder of what harsher weather can do to a vehicle. Born and raised in CA, I've never run into things like rust in my automotive projects. Well, nothing like that anyway.
Thank you.
Thank you.