Grogee's spannering (Maestro & Mondeo IV). MONDEO MAN RAMBLINGS

[Noel Tidybeard]

F834UNP as purchased

"rover" montego 1.6 5 speed (honda pg1)

henley blue

flint interior

sunroof= 0

electric windows= 0

c/locking= 0

elec mirrors= 0

tinted glass= 0

rev counter= 0

folding rear seat= 0

broken gaffer taped bumpers= 2

rover 200 bubble "minilite" wheeltrims= 4

rear headrests= 2 (slotted in betweed squab & shelf)

 

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

after tinkering

late ('91/93) seats & door trim inc folding rear seat

front spoiler

rear spoiler

MG Montego 15" cross spoke alloys

150 mph clock set

variable intermittent wipers

fibre optic lit stalks

rover 200 bubble gear knob

towbar

new bumpers= 2

 

[grogee]

Drove to work again this morning. 

I nearly gave up because the Maestro was kangaroo-ing pretty badly during warm up. I pulled over into a bus stop and it would rev fine, but would hiccup with any load. 

I was planning my escape route to come home but warming the engine up to full temp seemed to cure it. It was still a bit sphincter-tightening going down the M1 - on my route there is no hard shoulder and it is busy AF. 

The damn thing has to get me to work and back tomorrow then to Bristol on Friday so I'm hoping it'll behave. 

I will say that a) I didn't use it yesterday and b) it was very damp this morning and also quite chilly. 

I am wondering if some damp got into distributor which caused the issue. It's electronic ignition but still has a distributor. 

We'll see how she performs on way back home tonight... 

[JMotor]

It's all a part of the fun* of owning a Monstro.

Nah yeah, I hope it behaves itself for tomorrow commute. 

[Yoss]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

Drove to work again this morning. 

I nearly gave up because the Maestro was kangaroo-ing pretty badly during warm up. I pulled over into a bus stop and it would rev fine, but would hiccup with any load. 

I was planning my escape route to come home but warming the engine up to full temp seemed to cure it. It was still a bit sphincter-tightening going down the M1 - on my route there is no hard shoulder and it is busy AF. 

The damn thing has to get me to work and back tomorrow then to Bristol on Friday so I'm hoping it'll behave. 

I will say that a) I didn't use it yesterday and b) it was very damp this morning and also quite chilly. 

I am wondering if some damp got into distributor which caused the issue. It's electronic ignition but still has a distributor. 

We'll see how she performs on way back home tonight... 

Should've kept the Škoda! 

 

 

 

 

I'll get my coat. 

[Joey spud]

Back in my roadside patrol days in wet weather ARG stuff with the distributor cap on the end of the head used to really suffer with damp/condensation sitting inside the cap that would eventually evaporate after the heat from the engine dryed it out only to return the next damp/cold restart. Also rotor arms were notorious for shorting to earth/failing.

I'm not a fan of blasting WD40 everywhere but on these I'd make an exception.

[comfortablynumb]

On the V8 rovers we used to do the rubber glove trick, ok for you, one digit per lead 😁

[grogee]

9 minutes ago, Joey spud said:

Back in my roadside patrol days in wet weather ARG stuff with the distributor cap on the end of the head used to really suffer with damp/condensation sitting inside the cap that would eventually evaporate after the heat from the engine dryed it out only to return the next damp/cold restart. Also rotor arms were notorious for shorting to earth/failing.

I'm not a fan of blasting WD40 everywhere but on these I'd make an exception.

It sounds/feels very much like that, I will know more on drive home tonight. If I'm still getting issues I'll try swapping the fuel ECU, which I've been suspicious of for a while. 

My theory is it'll be 'dried out' having been warmed up on this morning's drive, and we've had no rain today so hopefully it'll still be dry so no dramas 🤞

[grogee]

@Joey spud no kangaroos on the return journey so I think you're spot on the money with your diagnosis. 

Of course the Maestro is protesting about being used in such extreme* conditions, and shat an indicator bulb. And the radio packed in. Bastard thing. 

[stuboy]

3 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

On the V8 rovers we used to do the rubber glove trick, ok for you, one digit per lead 😁

mini owners did it many yonks ago.............. and ud think tere be a image on the t'internet but no !! so heres my alternatives..

[grogee]

33 minutes ago, stuboy said:

mini owners did it many yonks ago.............. and ud think tere be a image on the t'internet but no !! so heres my alternatives..

Wow Scotland is ace, none of our mechanics look like that in England 

[High Jetter]

BITD in Longlife Accessories, we sold fitted covers for them.

[grogee]

I think you might be spot on with the relay diagnosis @Noel Tidybeard.

Last night I was parked on my drive and I took a few phone calls, but my phone kept connecting to a Bluetooth device.

I think this was the Parrot kit that I’ve fitted to the Maestro. There isn’t anything else that I’d left on that would Bluetooth connect, and if the ignition relay were stuck on, then the Parrot kit would be ‘on’ and would automatically want to connect to my phone when in range.

It might even be that one of the relays I got from you will fit the bill… Just need to find them of course.

@Joey spud last night I gave the dizzy cap and leads a quick spritz of WD40 and this morning's cold start was the best yet! 

[grogee]

Multi-day collection thread. 

PC: 1.

Breakfast: Seeded bread toast with butter and marmite. 

First conveyance: the "Mistress" as the nu_Mrs Grogee calls it. 

Step 1 was to get me and Master Grogee to Sister Grogee's in Bristol. 

Given the conditions this morning I decided a driveway pre-heat was a sensible move. Which would have been easier if the engine was happy idling, but it's not, I think because it's so damn cold. Anyway the journey was uneventful and we listened to TMS, England busy trying to snatch defeat in Melbourne. 

Winter hibernation achieved, battery disconnected and I put the cover on after this pic. 

Stage two is Devon bound with Sister Grogee at the wheel of her Astra. 

More later m8s

[hairnet]

10 minutes ago, grogee said:

 

 England busy trying to snatch defeat in Melbourne. Brisbane obvs 

 

 

[grogee]

19 minutes ago, hairnet said:

 

What a bellsy. You're right of course. 

Sedgemoor achieved 

[grogee]

With Mother Grogee in Bere Alston, a mere spit from @HMC ville. 

It's biblically wet and windy. Genuinely wondering if we'll get to Plymouth for our hotel tonight - there's two ways and they're both perilous for different reasons. 

[Matty]

Buzzing to see it stashed for the bad weather. Needs must and all that but i bet your relieved to be retiring it from front line duties so quickly

[grogee]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

Buzzing to see it stashed for the bad weather. Needs must and all that but i bet your relieved to be retiring it from front line duties so quickly

Yes. I'm telling myself the council gritters weren't out last night, it was pretty chilly this morning though. Whatever, nothing I can do about it, and at least it's hibernating now. 

Have to say aside from a bit of damp trouble it's been pretty good for 37 years old. 2 1/2hr journey today and it didn't miss a beat. 

A few minor* issues to solve in the spring, like why is the boot self-opening during a drive, but otherwise well done BL. 

[High Jetter]

10 hours ago, grogee said:

What a bellsy. You're right of course. 

Sedgemoor achieved 

I, is missing. 

[grogee]

Today began by me waking up too early, again. Scrolled on my phone but soon woke my roomies... My son thought I'd been on the Argyle forum all night without a break! 

Decent breakfast in the Premier Inn/TravelTavern. Then off to the Theatre of Greens to watch the mighty* Argyle lose at home. Again. @chatsharris

Then up the A38 to Taunton to rendezvous with @Con2K for collection of this. 

An absolute gent and the most pleasant transaction ever. A Mondeo enthusiast and scholar of the breed. 

"Monty" (naming cars etc) is a beaut. Rock solid, quiet, quick, comfortable. Everything I'd hoped and more. I look forward to many more miles being munched. 

[Con2K]

It’s all a scam!

 

I jest. Super straight forward transaction. Thanking you good sir. Always nice to know a motoring family member has gone to a good home and an AS home is as honest as it gets.

For anyone else interested in a high spec mondeo, i have a manual gearbox one to sell for another friend if anyone is interested. (Same colour/spec/etc).

[dollywobbler]

Nice. Thoughts compared to Avensis of Peel?

[grogee]

2 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

Nice. Thoughts compared to Avensis of Peel?

It's bigger, and heavier, which means it feels more planted especially on the motorway. 

Downside is that it's a "Sport" which means hard suspension and big wheels, so ride is not as plush. 

The toys are making a big difference to my morning commute, eg ipod integration and bum warmers. And the autobox is lovely. But I'm probably 10mpg down on the 'Yota. 

I had a problem with the Avensis seats which meant I got a sore/stiff right leg while driving a long way, but this doesn't seem to happen in the Mondeo - its seats are much firmer and sculpted. 

BTW I saw your video flash up titled "time bomb" and noticed some comments from "experts" about the Toyota engine liability... They're talking bollocks. I mean, I'm sure a few of them have gone bang but I'm also sure a lot of them have been neglected. IMO that engine will carry on plodding after a nuclear winter, it never showed any signs of flakiness except for turbo VGT actuator which I fixed. 

[grogee]

To expand further on being Mondeo Man... 

They thought of everything. Every time I get into a modern(ish) Ford, I'm struck by this. They're the sort of things that make their cars a 'slow burn', by which I mean it takes time to learn about all the nice touches. 

Eg capless fuel filler - brilliant. And it does a little 'courtesy wipe' (zuffle) of the fuel filler nozzle as you withdraw it. So you don't get dizzle on your shoes. 

I'm still entertained by keyless entry, although I'm sure it'll piss me off one day if I have battery issues. 

On that note, the car does have a stiff driver's door handle. TADTS. I am going to try and change the cable or the mech in an attempt to fix. 

Big shout out to heated windscreen, another great reason to buy an old Ford. Of course the weather has warmed up a bit now but I can't wait to be smug next time we have a frost. 

I'm liking the timer for the 12v feeds. Apparently the sockets stay live for about 20 min after you've locked the car. Which I like. I have a phone charger connected to one and an air Ioniser connected in the rear. 

There is buckets of room in the back. I had considered a Skoda Superb but I think the Mondeo probably matches it for rear seat space. 

There is a parking camera at the rear which is largely useless in the dark and also just gets dirty with road clag. 

I am loving the waft factor of the 2.2 diesel, @Con2K said he thought the engine has been mapped. I can't comment on that but there is bags of torque and in my general driving it rarely goes above 2000 rpm. Very quiet too. I'm deaf in left ear and so have trouble hearing passengers but this car is best yet in terms of interior noise while cruising. 

Absolutely banging stereo. I'm really pleased about this because on all my previous cars I've felt the need to install my own sound system. On this car I'm able to play Bluetooth tunes, which is great. There is no DAB radio, but I've seen a YT video where a guy does a retrofit without pulling out the roof antenna and stuff, so I will attempt this upgrade. 

Jobs? Well I'll give it an oil service, cabin filter, wiper blades, Xenon bulbs... The tricky one will be a transmission fluid flush. The oil looks to be about £10/litre and I need 10-15 litres I expect. 

Once the weather is warmer I will get underneath and give it the wire wheel and rust proof treatment. 

Oh, and I'd also like some new gas struts for the tailgate - I've already banged my head once, and I'm bound to do it again. 

Does anyone have access to the brochure? I'm idly wondering what smaller wheel options there are, in an attempt to improve the ride a bit. 

[Con2K]

So so pleased to hear positive things about it (mondeos in general). They really do seem to be like a secret and only those who own them seem to know. I just can’t get some people to even consider them over the german wagons yet they moan about running and servicing costs, lack of space and options and service intervals. Ah well.

 

my other one has retro fitted dab. Facebook mondeo groups have all the answers to this. Really really late mk4.5 got dab with nav. Everything else was dab OR nav.

still handles is common. Mine has them. I need to get round to sorting that (he says, 9yrs on…).

tyres, the 18” focus st wheels will go on and look similar.  You could run a 45 profile instead of 40 and it shouldn’t catch or look out of place. But dnt sell the originals. They fetch good money and come sale time people actively avoid these cars that look like they’ve been raped of desirable parts.

 

xenon bulbs: it’s common for the projector lenses to go cloudy. You can wipe off a layer of dirt but ultimately, swap them out. There are various kits online as a lens or a full swap out unit (done from

behind without cracking open the front seal). You’ll probably find this is 90% of the reason for the dullness in dipped beam. Bulbs help, but it’s like fitting new spark plugs to a fiesta with the back end stoved in.

 

The love is strong for a good reliable car. Apologies if some of these are upside down. No idea why.

[IronStar]

Superb cars, I absolutely don't understand why they are looked down upon. 

A friend of mine bought mk4 hatchback a few years ago, 1.8 diesel, in Titanium trim. I was shocked by just how much space and value for money that car provided.

I'm loving the snowflake wheels as well!

Well bought!

[junkyarddog]

This really isn't helping my Mk4 estate withdrawal symptoms!🫣

 

[Rightnider]

2 hours ago, grogee said:

Does anyone have access to the brochure?

Some pics of the manual (in Swedish, but you’d probably understand)

[grogee]

2 hours ago, Con2K said:

tyres, the 18” focus st wheels will go on and look similar.  You could run a 45 profile instead of 40 and it shouldn’t catch or look out of place. But dnt sell the originals

I won't sell the originals! 

Is it possible to drop to 17" or even 16" without fouling the brakes?