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Oct 30 09 7:47 PM

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I've just finished some work on an Aspire I've had sitting in the garage for some time, and I thought I'd offer up a suggestion. If this information/opinion has been posted here before, or is already common knowledge that I'm unaware of, I apologize in advance.

I was told by my local Ford dealership as well as several parts stores that Ford is no longer manufacturing parts for these cars. I needed a couple of relays and a blower motor resistor, and these relays (DX52 and DX54, for the headlamps, blower, and radiator fan I believe) cost about 65 clams a piece, while the resistor is supposedly unavailable new anywhere. I got 1 resistor, 3 (DX54) relays, 1 (DX52) relay, and some other small interior and electrical parts from a local salvage yard for $30. The moral of this story is that if your Aspire is getting on in years, it wouldn't be a bad idea to hoard a few of these parts (all of which are extraordinarily easy to replace, and very troublesome to have not functioning) in advance for a rainy day. They're nice to have on hand if and when you need them, and they're an expensive pain in the butt to get when that time comes if you can't find a wrecked car. I hope this helps someone.
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iceracerdude

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Posts: 2,121

#1 [url]

Oct 31 09 1:43 AM

I agree with this concept, but I've taken that to this level: I actually got a plastic foam lined case that I've stocked with an assortment of minor and major items, some of which can be hard to find on short notice. Remember, it's cheap to buy these parts one at a time, little by little, when everthing is going good and thus time is not a issue. Anything not used is always marketable here or on ebay later, should you and the Aspire part company.
A semi complete listing would include these
"pre-tested good" replacement parts:
Complete distib, pre marked.
Throttle position sensor
Both water temp sensors
air temp sensor
Mass air flow sensor
ECM
wheel Lugs
all fuses, major and minor
Headlight bulbs
Manual
Only the spare starter stays on the shelf because the exsisting one is new, and I'm a 5 speed...you know
I think the case cost like $8, It always goes to the races just like the spare rubber or aluminum jack right? What good is it on the shelf!

The precision is the religion for me!

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iceracerdude

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Posts: 2,121

#3 [url]

Oct 31 09 10:12 PM

Of course you don't know, the key there is, and of course I don't mean U, but people generally just pocket Items that small lol. I don't, because I appreciate the service these types of business provide, and want them to flourish. Same reason I don't shoot crows, they provide what I consider to be a valuable service, they clean up the basic road kill in my neighborhood. Truth be told when I'm paying for a large load of items, many, many times, these very small items are in fact waved off the tally. You go in a buy a starter an alternator and fender, they're not dumb, they know you could have pocketed those little sensors, and they want you to patronize them too. They like the fact that you might have just spent $65. In fact last time I walked out with a fancy dome light (you know the 2 switchable map lights w/the dome type) the guy said $1. Another time I was leaving just before closing, the guys sweeping the floor in front of the counter, I hold up a maf, he just waves me by say have a nice day. Of course anything you get from the pick-n-pull is guaranteed to work, or you simply get another one when you bring the bad one back with your receipt. That being said, Once you get any of these parts home, you replace your exsisting parts with these "crash kit spare parts". This is how you know it's good, because at that point it's now been tested by you.
This is a dream deal because you do the harvesting and then replacing on your own terms. Next rainy day in the garage, on your day off for example. In the case of the distributor for example, I also make a special marking on it, so I can actually replace it at the races in 3 minutes with just one wrench and no timing light! You of course won't need the extra advantage of "speed of replacement" that I've built into my system obviously, but imagine being able to do that while out of town for example, away from your garage. I actually find going to a pick-n-pull a very relaxing and informative hobby, but then again, I'm just an old married boring retiree lol.

The precision is the religion for me!

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#4 [url]

Nov 1 09 5:08 AM

fortunately parts are cheap and plentiful hear in Australia, you can even still get parts genuine cos the last of the festiva/aspires were in 2000 here. but the genuine stuff is horribly over-priced

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iceracerdude

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Posts: 2,121

#5 [url]

Nov 1 09 8:49 AM

Jester makes a great point, pick-n-pulls, or salvage yards aren't everyones cup of tea. Being able to just get "a/the" part whether it's at an Autozone store or the stealership, can be the largest part of the battle. Of course, some parts you don't want to get from a salvage yard, that is unless it means the difference between actually throwing the car away or keeping it from the inability to find that single part! You wouldn't want to buy used brake shoes, or radiator hoses for example, because even though our ford dealers no longer carry these parts, they're readily available through parts stores, and will be for many more years to come.
If you lost say the use of a drivers door handle or latching mech. even though you'd hate to replace it with another tired out one just like it, you hate it more to have to throw the entire car away now just because you can't keep that door closed. Of course the days of the Aspire are coming to a close pretty soon. I liken it to the bygone era of the chevette, chrysler's K cars, the Fiesta, or the game "musical chairs" lol.

The precision is the religion for me!

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bluesneaky

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Posts: 490

#6 [url]

Nov 2 09 9:34 AM

I'd second the notion the days are coming to an end soon. I frequent the yards and there has been quite a drop in new inductees in the last couple years. the quality of things in the yard has been declining too. Its may soon be time to start hording what you need if you plan to extend the egg ride into the far future (sniff sniff)

Ziggy 1 --- '95 white 2dr, 5sp, a/c added, 252k, 43 top mpg (still got 'em)
No Name --- '95 teal 2 dr, 5sp, 98K, bad clutch, sold it b4 I named it
Ziggy 2 --- '95 white 2dr, 5sp, a/c 147k split rear seat, 49.3 top mpg (deceased, mortally injured in towing accident 2008)
Kermit --- '95 teal 2dr, 5sp, a/c 103k, upgraded interior package - the daily driver now
(Had 2 1988 Festivias in the '90's. Over 200k on them too)

All pulled "Trapper" the '89 kamparoo camper on the back roads I should'a been drivin' my jeep on (4x4 aspire??)

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