Which Territory do you have?
| Years | Engines and gearboxes | |
|---|---|---|
| SX | From April 2004 | 4.0 straight-six, 4-speed automatic |
| SY and SY II | To 2011 | 4.0 six and a turbo version, 4-speed automatic, or a 6-speed ZF on the AWD |
| SZ and SZ II | April 2011 to October 2016 | 4.0 petrol with a 6-speed ZF, or the 2.7 V6 diesel with a 6-speed 6R80 |
Ford Territory problems worth checking
Front lower ball joints. The SY II got a revised front suspension to address what Wikipedia's entry calls a well-documented weakness in those joints. On an SX or earlier SY, have them checked if the front end knocks, the steering wanders or the tyres wear oddly. Rattling or clunking noises can help you describe it.
Age. Any Territory is now a car with a history. Hoses, engine mounts, suspension bushes and the cooling system all deserve a look, and a car that's overheated once should be watched closely.
Automatic gearboxes. Several different autos were used, so tell the mechanic which series yours is before they quote fluid or repairs.
Engine light on a Ford Territory
An orange engine light that stays on means the engine computer has stored a fault, and on a Territory that could be anything from a sensor to a misfire. A flashing light is more urgent: ease off and pull over somewhere safe if the car runs rough.
Have the code read, then have the cause found. A stored code points the mechanic in a direction, and it isn't the repair. Engine light on has the rest.
Ford Territory battery replacement
If it's slow to crank or goes flat after sitting, test the battery and the alternator together. A family car on short trips never fully charges its battery, and if the battery light comes on while you're driving, read what that light means.
Servicing an older Territory
Follow the schedule in the service book for your series. The new car warranty on every Territory has long run out, so the record matters for a different reason now: it tells a mechanic or the next buyer what's been done.
Ford built 178,214 Territories at Broadmeadows, so there's plenty of experience around, and Territories came as rear-drive or all-wheel drive. Say which yours is, because AWD adds parts to look after. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection is well worth it on a car of this age.
Your part, and the mechanic's
You can
- With the engine cold, check the oil level and the tyre pressures.
- Look at the tyres for uneven wear across the tread.
- Note when any warning light comes on, and photograph the dash.
Leave to the mechanic
- Ball joints and suspension, with the car safely on a hoist.
- Reading fault codes and finding the cause.
- Anything on the cooling system. Never open a hot radiator cap.
If it were our Territory
We'd get a full look-over before spending on any one part, because the wear items on an older car often turn up together. Then fix what's safety first, and plan the rest. Tell us it's a Territory, the series if you know it, and what it's doing. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.