'93 Mondy thread - Alignment

[sierraman]

Hylomar Blue is what I'd use here. Take the pipe off, put some on the stub, let it aereate then put hose back on and it should work no bother. Even used it to repair the shower a few weeks ago.

[egg]

I have the car back, some evidence of gasket sealant in use on the hose (new one used). Mechanic reckons main cause of the leak were casting marks on the new water pump preventing a decent seal (now removed). A few drips this morning, but seems quite a bit better, fingers crossed.

 

Anyway got the bottom of the engine pressure washed down so the oil leak is clear. Have I mentioned the oil leak? Well, now there's not antifreeze everywhere it's clear it is dripping from the sump (offside). That's the next job then 

[beko1987]

I used tiger seal to re-seal the Meriva's sump with very good effect, IE it stopped it leaking!

 

Was also a chance to clean the sump and oil pickup gubbins out

[sierraman]

Is it bad enough that you need to top the oil up? If not I'd leave it unless it was serious.

[egg]

Not horrendous, but will need to top occasionally I think. If it is leaking from the oil pressure sensor or something (don't think so) then might be worth a quick change.

 

I've been reading up about camshaft seals this afternoon - if it is that, I'll live with it!

[sierraman]

The pressure sensor is about halfway up the back of the engine, these can and do leak, pain to do on the driveway, doddle to do on the lift. Worth changing if it's simple like that, if it's a weep from a seal that's not too much I'd leave it.

[egg]

I think some posts were lost in 'the event', so the oil leak did get mostly fixed through a quick oil pressure sensor change a few weeks back by my local mechanic. All running ok and over 1,000 miles have now been done in the Mondy.

 

I've been slowly replacing the weather strips at the base of the windows, and did the last one today £20-£25 a pop! A Mondeo 'weak point' you can see what 23 year old ones look like!

 

grim

 

 

the culprit

 

 

done!

 

[beko1987]

That looks much better just from replacing those!

[egg]

I'm going to add my 'missing' posts here, mainly cos its a good trail for me!!

 

July 23rd:

 

So I've done 1,000 miles now in the Mondy, and with the work done and the warm weather it feels much looser now and running well. It had only done 6,000 miles in the last 6 years before I bought it anyway.

 

It's pulling to the left a fair bit at the moment (since I had one new tyre) and wonder if it is that, I have had the tracking done (it was a bit out) but no improvement. A known Mondeo trait anyway. I've also got an occasional clunk from one of the new lower arms - but it is intermittent.

 

I've put some more 'new' rubber seals on from a Mk2 for under the bonnet and the offside door. I was meant to be putting some old stock mudflaps on today, but Hermes messed up and they got damaged in transit, I didn't accept them and hopefully the eBay refund process will be smooth! Hermes delivered them back to me again in error, so I kept them in the end!

 

I pressure washed the engine last week to get all the oil off underneath (jacking the car up at the local car wash) and handed it back to the mechanic to diagnosis the oil leak. Well there is probably more than one, but the main culprit was the oil sensor, and as Sierraman noted - that's really a job to do on the ramp. So it's done now, and the drip is less obvious.

 

Looking forward to a run up to Sidcup tomorrow to meet some Shitters for the first time!

 

23 July

 

Even in the Mondeo circles, quite understandably, I think most people are saving the 2 litre Si's, Ghias, ultra rare models like the Citrine or 4x4 and some of the V6's. Saloons seem favoured in general too (they arguably look better). There's a few estates out there getting some love.

 

In fact, I have yet to see another Mondeo base for sale since I bought mine [did see an Aspen recently], and I do keep an eye out in the normal places. 1.6 models are also fairly thin on the ground, though the odd LX does pop up, generally one owner deceased/stopped driving scenarios.

 

I'm looking to keep this now - with a 5 year horizon in mind. This will mean the rust needs attention in the wheel arches. The sills are just beginning to go at the front, and I hope the inner sills are ok. 

 

It's about that balance now between using and enjoying it while protecting it, which means I will be seeking out some winter storage, without it becoming too much of a 'garage queen' I hope!

[egg]

Last power post on this thread..

 

I've also been reading this - some vanity publishing from the Mondeo launch (140 odd pages) that does include some interesting* insights into the design process of a 'world car' (Ford USA did the V6 and the autos, Ford Europe the Zeta's)

 

The car they were trying to beat by the way at the start of the project was the '89 model year Honda Accord...

 

 

Some of the prototypes were cool...4 design studios were involved.

 

This one is a bit mk5 escort...

 

 

This one very American to me

 

 

this was getting there....

 

 

 

 

 

[AnthonyG]

The sills and rear wheelarches last a lot better on Mk1s than Mk2s, possibly because of a weatherstrip running along the top of the sill on the Mk2s which was attached with plastic lugs, naturally those let moisture into the sill as well. Also Mk1s had grey protective paint or sealant on the bottom of the sill lip when the outer met the inner (at the very bottom). This was omitted on the Mk2, or replaced with body colour stuff which didn't work half as well.

 

You still see Mk1s around Cheltenham/Gloucester, they are normally pretty sheddy though. Although none have serious rot...

 

Glad to hear there is a growing following for them!

[Pillock]

Mondeo pulling to the left?

You need to get Watchdog on the case.

[AnthonyG]

BTW, I also have the above Mondeo book, it's a great read. I'm not sure Ford ever made their massive investment back on the Mondeo, despite selling like hot cakes in Europe during the 1990s the car never really caught in North America or Australia, due the equivalent Taurus or Falcon being not that much more expensive yet quite a lot bigger.

 

I also have have the press guide launch pack, which you are welcome to read, Mr Egg, if we ever meet at an Autoshite event, I'm afraid it's a keeper so I'm unlikely to sell it.

[sierraman]

The pulling to the left you'll not cure I'm afraid. However don't discount, worn Track rod ends or wear to the axial rods, both piss easy jobs.

 

The pressure sensor is a right pig on the driveway but a doddle on a ramp with an offset spanner.

 

Can see the 4x4 being worth a few bob in years to come, they had a different boot floor and a kink inside the trans tunnel inside. Not that quick though, the 4wd system is fairly heavy and saps power. Designed more for towing caravans etc...

[danthecapriman]

Years ago when I was working in a garage I used to do a bit of work occasionally on a US imported Ford Contour.

This type, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajmstudios/26820175464/in/photolist-GS1pLm-pNEfbJ-pBGWFD-rCxgWX-o21vPN-cAB9a1-8676QB-rN5KWj-9iy1dt-dn6EAo-bE9Mn2-6aFA4x-oEHXKe-qACYSX-6PzKjZ-66HKgY-bf4mhF-fMoZgA-8rbw9X-8rbdLg-SdYNM-7Y4VZb-msAX5-6mxDb9-gNZyF-o3q4Db-9NH9LR-9RYUcn-3K19hv-4K2f7Q-pTeFg-gVeJAc-qUkEg4-csSFCL-8rbfht-zkchu-s2Ndfe-niXtT9-kyYHy8-8repgq-7kGwsU-6wa2mS-8rehmf-oEu8o-gVfnBV-7BP6Dc-i4wUz8-rQEcAx-3K5smb-6wSVDo

 

I always wondered why anyone would bother importing it when we had the almost identical Mondeo. I actually quite like them with that different front end style.

[sierraman]

Nuts! The US spec had better cupholders though. I'd like a Mondeo Metropolis(sic) if that's what they call it. It's a Mk3 with a different front for the Thai market.

[egg]

I posted up a thread about the last 3 wheel trims in the country for the base model being available in Walthamstow, well, I couldn't easily get hold of them so I have gone for the GLX ones instead (shock, horror non-OEM!).

 

They have also been discontinued as of last year so time to get them before they've all gone. I put them on today, and managed to snap one of connectors and damage the trim - arse!! Doesn't affect the look though.

 

I've barely used the car lately as I've been protecting it from winter salted roads.

 

 

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

Lookin great!!

[smellypoo]

Agreed, that looks quite like it may have done in the '90's!

 

Many people used to perform minor upgrades like fitting new hubcaps to make their cars look a higher spec than they were - particularly if they'd lost/cracked one of the originals. 

[oldcars]

I really like that, looks spot on.

[BorniteIdentity]

Can't believe you've had this a year now.

 

I'd really like an early one, ideally in that greeny blue colour.  LX as a maximum spec.  Basically what my old man had 94-98.

 

If you spot one, can you let me know?

[egg]

I was a bit bored, and oh well, I hadn't changed the air filter in a year....

 

 

I was just giving the airbox a good clean out, when this lump came out, I thought it's probably just a lump of muck, or something crucial knowing my luck....

 

 

Well it is a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) filter. Never heard of it. HBOL says you can wash it out in a 'suitable solvent'....but this looks like it is 24 years old, and there is one new available on eBay for £3, so it has to be done.

 

[sierraman]

It just stops oily shit getting all over the air filter from the breathers. You could cut some out of any sponge really. The OE filters came with a new PCV filter.

[twosmoke300]

So did decent after market ones

[egg]

I picked up a spare PAS pipe last week, so using 100 grain sandpaper I tried to improve it...too coarse?

 

 

 

[sierraman]

I'd paint it with some of that direct to metal paint from Aldi. Then once you have it fitted, a mist of Waxoyl over the top should preserve it.

 

Don't worry if the PAS pump is a bit damp, they all do that. Unless it's running out all over the shop you'll find most Ford PAS pumps weep a tad.

[stuboy]

great to see this being kept alive

[egg]

The new PCV filter finally arrived today, it definitely needed changing. Change of air filter and this makes not a bit of actual difference though lol!

 

[egg]

Some sample pics from the 95 Ford Contour brochure.

[Bren]

I drove a contour across the canadian rockies in 1996 from Edmonton to Seattle.

To say I utilised the kick down is an understatement. An auto 4 pot is not much good going over mountains.