Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the biggest wheels can I fit?
- What size tyres do I need?
- My wheels stick out of the arches, what can I do?
- My wheels rub on the inner wings or struts, what can I do?
- I've heard that it's illegal to use spade/butt connectors or chocolate blocks in car wiring, is this true?
- The boot lock on my car is damaged, how can I open the boot?
- My rear drums are going rusty, what can I do?
- How do I wire up my engine fan so that it can run on after the ignition is switch off?
- How do you remove the plastic brake fluid reservoir from the master cylinder?
- When I take my foot off the accelerator the engine stalls, what's wrong?
- I am thinking of tinting my windows, should I use the film or a spray-on tint?
- What's the best stuff to use to clean alloy wheels?
- Which spark plugs will give me the best performance gain?
- Should I use Unleaded or LRP petrol?
- Are there special bolts I should use with alloy wheels?
If the answer you require is not here please feel free to Ask.
What are the biggest wheels can I fit?
For a Mk1 and Mk2 the biggest you can fit is 14's without arch work and 15's if you get the arch lips rolled (Mk2 XR2's have rolled arches anyway). If you're prepared to do serious work on the arches then the biggest you can fit to a Mk2 is 17's, but you will have to fit a body kit. On the Mk3 15's should go straight and it will take less work than the Mk2 to make 16's and 17's fit.
What size tyres do I need?
For 13 inch wheels you can fit 185 65 13 tyres if you're wheels are wider than 5.5J which covers all Ford alloys. For 14 inches you should be looking at 185 55 14, and for 15 inches your best bet is to go with 195 45 15 to keep required arch work to a minimum.
My wheels stick out of the arches, what can I do?
Nothing, unless you are insane and get someone to machine some metal off the inside of the alloy... which I wouldn't recommend. If you've bought a set of Pepper Pot's and they stick out then I'm afraid you've been had, they're off a Capri not an XR2. If you're buying second hand and you don't know what the wheels have come off, take a moment to try one on the car before you buy them to make sure they fit properly!
My wheels rub on the inner wings or struts, what can I do?
Fit wheel spacers. They are available in a number of sizes but I wouldn't recommend using anything much over 6mm. Certainly stay well away from the ones where you bolt the spacer onto the hub and then bolt the wheel onto the spacer, if you need this much spacing then you should be looking for new wheels.
I've heard that it's illegal to use spade/butt connectors or chocolate blocks in car wiring, is this true?
No, although maybe the use of those horrible blue scotch lock things should be made illegal! Most cars use spade and butt connectors in their wiring anyway and although I'd steer clear of chocolate blocks (screw terminal connectors) where ever possible it's definitely not illegal to use them.
Remember that I live in the UK though so things may be different if you're in another country.
The boot lock on my car is damaged, how can I open the boot?
Get inside the car, pull the rear seats down and unclip or unscrew the panel inside the boot. This will allow access to the lock mechanism inside the boot lid and you can pull bars and levers to open the boot. If you have filled your boot up with subs and can't get to the boot panel then turn the stereo up as loud as it will go and see if you can break the lock!
My rear drums are going rusty, what can I do?
Either ignore them as they won't get any worse, or give them a rub off with a wire brush or some sand paper and them paint them. Use Hamerite or something similar which can be applied direct to bare metal. This will make them look nicer and stop them rusting.
How do I wire up my engine fan so that it can run on after the ignition is switch off?
If you have a Mk2 then you can move the feed to the fan to a different slot in the fuse box. There is one for headlight washers which has a permanently on supply so you can use this. On a Mk1 you'll have to get an extra fuse holder and connect this up to give the permanent supply.
How do you remove the plastic brake fluid reservoir from the master cylinder?
The reservoir is only pushed into the two rubber seals that are below it, there are no tools or special methods to use to remove it you just have to pull and wiggle it until it comes free.... always remember to empty the fluid out first though!
When I take my foot off the accelerator the engine stalls, what's wrong?
The first thing to check is the carburettor, there should be a wire going to a terminal on the back (nearest the bulkhead). This wire attaches to the idle cut off solenoid, which is a round unit screwed into the carburettor, this unit is quite often the cause of this problem. If the wire isn't attached then it's probably dangling down the back of the engine somewhere and once reconnected there should be no more problems. If it is connected then you'll need to check it for a voltage. There should be 12 volts present when the ignition is switched on, if there isn't then the wire is damaged and you'll need to find the problem or replace the wire. If 12 volts is present and there is no click from the carburettor when you switch the ignition on, then the solenoid is faulty and you'll need to buy a new one, they are available from Ford, or a Weber dealer.
If this isn't the problem then check that the idle speed and mixture settings are correct and also check the timing and spark plugs are OK. If there is still no problem then it's probably a blocked idle jet in the carburettor. To find out which is the idle jet in your carburettor it's best to consult a Haynes manual or get a carburettor specialist to look at it. Be very careful when taking the jets out and always make a note of where they came from! Make sure you clean them thoroughly using a carburettor cleaner (not a cleaner that leaves a protective residue) and don't over tighten then when you put them back.
I am thinking of tinting my windows, should I use the film or a spray-on tint?
Always use the film, it's almost impossible to get an even finish with the spray tint and it will scratch off very easily. Also remember that if you want to go for all round tint then you can't use dark smoke as this is now illegal on all but the rear side windows. For best results take the windows out and clean them thoroughly before applying the tint. Always follow the instructions and leave them to dry for at least 24 hours before putting them back to avoid wrinkling around the edges. Tint should always be applied to the inside of the windows and considering you're going to the trouble of taking the windows out then it is worth getting a "security" type tint that makes it harder to break the windows to gain access to the car.
What's the best stuff to use to clean alloy wheels?
Well... Wonder Wheels is meant to be the best but it's also a touch on the expensive side. Turtle Wax foaming wheel cleaner is also good stuff, but the best has to be the Autoglym wheel cleaner, it just seems to dissolve muck and baked on dirt and leaves the wheels cleaner than any of the others!
Which spark plugs will give me the best performance gain?
You won't really notice a performance increase as such simply by changing the spark plugs. What you might notice is a slight improvment in response, an improvement in economy or smoother delivery of power. The best plugs for one car may also not be the best for another. Some people swear by Split Fire plugs, others say Bosch Super 4's are the best. The best way to find a set you like is to try different ones each time you do a service until you can deceide on one particular brand. My personal preference is NGK grooved plugs. There seems to be no noticable difference in reliablilty or performance between these and the Super 4's, plus the NGK's are about half the price of the Bosch items!!
Should I use Unleaded or LRP petrol?
All Fiesta's can be run on unleaded fuel. On the Mk1 and Mk2 the timing must be altered to aviod preignition or "pinking", this is a METAlic rattling sound heard from the engine when placed under stress such as accellerating in a high gear. All Mk3 model's are designed to run on unleaded from the factory and no adjustment will be required except for the 1.4 and 1.6 CVH engines which should be set the same as for the Mk2.
The ignition timing figures for use with Leaded / LRP and Unleaded fuel are as follows:
| Leaded / LRP Petrol | |
|---|---|
| 1.0 OHV (upto Aug 1986) | 12° BTDC |
| 1.0 OHV (from Aug 1986) | 10° BTDC |
| 1.1 OHV | 6° BTDC |
| 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 CVH | 12° BTDC |
| Unleaded Petrol | |
|---|---|
| 1.0 OHV (upto Feb 1986) | 12° BTDC (fill with LRP every 4th tankful) |
| 1.0 OHV (from Feb 1986 to Aug 1986) | 12° BTDC |
| 1.0 OHV (from Aug 1986) | 10° BTDC |
| 1.1 OHV (upto Feb 1986) | 2° BTDC (fill with LRP every 4th tankful) |
| 1.1 OHV (from Feb 1986) | 2° BTDC |
| 1.3 CVH (upto Dec 1984) | 8° BTDC (fill with LRP every 4th tankful |
| 1.3 CVH (from Dec 1984) | 8° BTDC |
| 1.4 CVH | 8° BTDC |
| 1.6 CVH (upto Dec 1984) | 8° BTDC (fill with LRP every 4th tankful |
| 1.6 CVH (from Dec 1984) | 8° BTDC |
Are there special bolts I should use with alloy wheels?
There are bolts you are meant to use with Alloys yes, they have a loose collar, ie the bit thats tapered is free to spin round seperate from the rest of the bolt. You should be able to get some of these from most car parts places or from another car at a scrap yard. Most wheel bolts are the same but it's always worth getting one and checking it on your car as sometimes different manufactures may use different types of thread. Alternatively Ford still make and sell the original chrome ones that were used on the XR2.
