AS Communal MK4&5 Mondeo Thread

[Out Run]

8 minutes ago, sierraman said:

No the latch, it really wants the panel off and a water repellent spraying over the lock and the cable. 

Yep. I don't want to touch them atm, as no doubt the shit plastic will be brittle as fuck.

[sierraman]

Could do with a spare key for mine, don’t need a remote key, it has the flip key, just need a normal key that’ll open and start the car. Reckon Timpsons will do them?

[sierraman]

On 1/10/2021 at 6:37 PM, The Mighty Quinn said:

Yes. I needed a spare for a 2009 Fiesta and Timpsons did one straight away.

How much was it out of interest?

[stripped fred]

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

[junkyarddog]

4 minutes ago, stripped fred said:

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

2.0TDCI 140,probably the best in terms of performance,economy,and reliability,it's a PSA unit fitted to lots of various cars.

[Out Run]

4 hours ago, stripped fred said:

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

As JYD says, the 2.0 TDCi 140 is the best all rounder. 2.2 TDCi 200  if you wanna get a move on,

[sierraman]

10 hours ago, stripped fred said:

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

2.0 diesel, wouldn’t discount a 1.8 if it’s had the wet belt done. Either van shit its DMF withis a £700 job so if it’s been done that’s a bonus, for that reason one that’s done 150k might be a better bet than a sub 100k one. 

[warren t claim]

Just now, Out Run said:

This isn't door lock. It's the door catch.

Unlocks and opens no bother, but just bounces when you try to close it. Due to water running into the latch and freezing it, like in thr video.

This really isn't a problem any of mine ever suffered with. 

[warren t claim]

Just now, stripped fred said:

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

I'd vote for the 07-10 2.0 if you want the best balance of power, speed and economy. The 1.8 deserves a mention if the wet belt has been changed, but then again the wet belt lasted over 400k in mine before shitting itself. The 1.8 is likely to be a five speed and the 2.0 a six, the five speed 1.8 will tolerate a solid flywheel conversion with the five speed box.

Decent Mk4a examples are starting to get a bit thin on the ground, buy on condition as all are pretty highly specced with even the base having aircon and cruise.  All knock out the odd suspension bush and burn out their headlamp wiring. DPFs can give trouble but can be "cooked" back to life. All hide their miles well but a torn rear carpet means it's been a taxi. A drivers seat that "self reclines" after an hour behind the wheel isn't uncommon. Check everything works, the cruise can fail due to a broken clutch switch which is an easy fix and poor aircon is usually down to the pollen filter needing replacing as they'll blow cold with very little gas in the system. The Sony DAB head units are prone to burning out after a while and apparently aren't DAB+ anyway. Count yourself lucky if you find one with a Bluetooth A2DP adapter, none of mine had one which meant I couldn't stream music from my phone, in fact whether you get Bluetooth at all is hit and miss, my Ghia didn't have it but my Edge did! 

[Out Run]

28 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

This really isn't a problem any of mine ever suffered with. 

Seems some do and some don't!

I finished work at midnight and it happened again. I breathed on it and that sorted it.

I don't think I was seen.

[warren t claim]

Just now, Out Run said:

Seems some do and some don't!

I finished work at midnight and it happened again. I breathed on it and that sorted it.

I don't think I was seen.

I can honestly say that it's not a problem I've heard of before from my Mondeo driving fellow taxi drivers. Maybe it's because all our doors get regular and constant use? One of mine had issues with the central locking jamming on the NER door which I solved by disconnecting it and another wore out the wiring loom in the OSF drivers door but as you know my use case for the car was pretty extreme!  

[sierraman]

I’d avoid a 2.0 with an SMF though. It wasn’t designed for it, it’ll drive like an absolute dog. 

[wuvvum]

On 1/11/2021 at 11:00 PM, stripped fred said:

So which diesel engine is the most reliable in one of these? Of course I'd like the powerful one but in terms of reliability which you you recommend? They seem to come in quite a few sizes and power outputs....

Buy mine.  2.0 TDCi 140 which had a replacement DMF in 2016.

[mat_the_cat]

20 hours ago, warren t claim said:

I'd vote for the 07-10 2.0 if you want the best balance of power, speed and economy.

What's the difference in the engines - I thought they were the same at 140bhp throughout? But my FIL had two, and reckoned his 2013 50k mile one was slower than his 160k mile 2008 (which I now have) which backs up what you say. I have to say it's a decent enough drive, and I get a real 45 mpg over Welsh mountain roads.

[warren t claim]

Just now, mat_the_cat said:

What's the difference in the engines - I thought they were the same at 140bhp throughout? But my FIL had two, and reckoned his 2013 50k mile one was slower than his 160k mile 2008 (which I now have) which backs up what you say. I have to say it's a decent enough drive, and I get a real 45 mpg over Welsh mountain roads.

Same power output but totally different engines. The later unit it much more smooth and refined but are more prone to sensor, DPF and turbo issues when they split the pipe during spirited engine braking. Both 2.0 dizzlers will knock on the door of 130mph and return 42mpg around the doors. 

The only real advantages of buying a Mk4b over a Mk4a is that you get electric rear windows on the entry level Edge spec, side indicators in the door mirrors and a more restrained dash that doesn't look like a 1978 Fidelity music centre.

[mat_the_cat]

Ha! I find this one lovely and smooth*, so I guess it says more about what I'm used to driving!

*Especially the gear knob.

[warren t claim]

Just now, mat_the_cat said:

Ha! I find this one lovely and smooth*, so I guess it says more about what I'm used to driving!

*Especially the gear knob.

Both five and six speed boxes are smooth although the five speeder does have a longer lever and a more chunky, Sierra like shift action.

[sierraman]

Seem to have sorted the door locks for now, it was -2 this morning and it opened up fine. Just keep blasting some penetrating fluid into the lock mechanism for now. Fuck taking the door panel off in this weather. Just ready for some new tyres soon, the shit weather has highlighted this, so in a few months a pair of budgets will find their way on to the front. 

[sierraman]

I see Car Mechanics has a Mk4 Mondeo article. 

Edit: Bought it and read it, nothing insightful in there, disappointingly there was no mention whatsoever about the thing most likely to trip someone up buying a Mk4 - the wet belt failing. Also the quotes for replacing a DMF were a bit optimistic - £4-500. The kit is over £300 on its own. 

[warren t claim]

On 1/18/2021 at 10:55 AM, sierraman said:

I see Car Mechanics has a Mk4 Mondeo article. 

Edit: Bought it and read it, nothing insightful in there, disappointingly there was no mention whatsoever about the thing most likely to trip someone up buying a Mk4 - the wet belt failing. Also the quotes for replacing a DMF were a bit optimistic - £4-500. The kit is over £300 on its own. 

CM knows that it has the market to itself these days and the quality has dropped accordingly.

[sierraman]

8 hours ago, warren t claim said:

CM knows that it has the market to itself these days and the quality has dropped accordingly.

It’s annoying as the article was full of useless information about which spec to choose but nothing of any substance on the mechanical aspects someone is likely to encounter. It’s full of inane advice that anyone would know like check the buttons work and check the trim isn’t damaged. It feels like it was researched and wrote in about 15 minutes with no access to the internet. Genuinely if you want to know what to look for I’d suggest watching Alan Howatt on YouTube. 

[sierraman]

Nightmare this morning with mine. Sub zero temperature, managed to get in the car, then the warning came up saying ‘drivers door open’ usually locking it then unlocking it from the inside sorts it. Anyway it ended up locking me in, couldn’t get out apart from through the back door. Wouldn’t unlock! 

Once it had defrosted a bit it let me open the window and open the outside handle to open the door. Think the cable has frozen up and seized. Unfortunately this mean that this week I’m going to have to take the door panel off and grease it up or get another latch from the breakers. Bastid...

[warren t claim]

16 hours ago, sierraman said:

Nightmare this morning with mine. Sub zero temperature, managed to get in the car, then the warning came up saying ‘drivers door open’ usually locking it then unlocking it from the inside sorts it. Anyway it ended up locking me in, couldn’t get out apart from through the back door. Wouldn’t unlock! 

Once it had defrosted a bit it let me open the window and open the outside handle to open the door. Think the cable has frozen up and seized. Unfortunately this mean that this week I’m going to have to take the door panel off and grease it up or get another latch from the breakers. Bastid...

I must say that neither myself or other Mk4 driving taxi lads have ever encountered this issue?

[sierraman]

Just now, warren t claim said:

I must say that neither myself or other Mk4 driving taxi lads have ever encountered this issue?

Water pisses in past the top door seal under the window, saturates the lock then the release cable seizes. Hopefully some white grease will cure it.

[Out Run]

Both of my front doors opened last night, then closed. 
Dropped my workmate off and then his door wouldn't close again.

I didn't want to risk the same with the drivers, so I climbed over. Flicked the latch with a key, locked and unlocked it and it closed.

I hope that is a workaround. This is starting to become really annoying.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, Out Run said:

Both of my front doors opened last night, then closed. 
Dropped my workmate off and then his door wouldn't close again.

I didn't want to risk the same with the drivers, so I climbed over. Flicked the latch with a key, locked and unlocked it and it closed.

I hope that is a workaround. This is starting to become really annoying.

Tell me about it!!!!

Thinking of lifting the door seal up and blasting it from the top with penetration fluid, neither the time nor the weather at the moment for taking the door panels off. 

[wuvvum]

I can't say I've ever had cold-related problems with the door locks on mine either.

[/tempting fate]

[Fraz]

Hello gents - new AS Mk4.5 owner. 

 

2.0 tdci 163bhp engine nicknamed Ecto1

[warren t claim]

Oh my word! 

[junkyarddog]

Cor!!

Nice wagon.

They look good in white.

Ford got it spot on with the mk4 Mondy.