inexperience mechanic needs advice

[shnozz]

ok, equipped with axle stands and trolley jack...

where is the best place to position these items? (awaiting "underneath the car" replies )

jack presumabley on the cross member for the chassis rails behind the wheel and trolley jack where for best position? going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles...

[Podie]

Jacking positions should be in the handbook mate.

Alternatively there is usually an arrow on the sill that indicates the jacking points...

[WildfireS3]

Good thing also is to zip tie small blocks of wood to the tops of the axel stands, stops the chassis being marked.

[Psychobert]

shnozz said:

going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles...

I'm pretty sure that is a known problem with them; Watchdog or someone did a report on it when they 1st came out..

Worth thinking about putting a piece of wood ontop of the jack so as to not damage the chassis. Depends on the shape of the head of the jack and the bit you jack it up on..

[Podie]

Psychobert said:

shnozz said: going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles... I'm pretty sure that is a known problem with them; Watchdog or someone did a report on it when they 1st came out.. Worth thinking about putting a piece of wood ontop of the jack so as to not damage the chassis. Depends on the shape of the head of the jack and the bit you jack it up on..

Can't find anything... get it balanced and tracked...

[Pies]

Why is this thread in general TVR ?

[shnozz]

why not?

[Podie]

shnozz said:

why not?

'cos it's about one of Uncle Henry's cars... not a Blackpool Bruiser...?!??!

[.Mark]

Swap the front wheels over Phil and see what happens.

I had a Mundano once and it's a known problem, the garage did what I suggested above and it worked a treat - don't ask why or how I have no idea.

Then, take the jack and stands around to Matt's and lift the front of his car just enough for the front wheels to be off the ground, then take him up on the offer of that auto test you two have been going on about.

Matt =

You =

[shnozz]

well if its that offending please all accept my apologies and move it to general gassing. Wanted input as to where to put the stands and jack on the TVR too, but mentionned the mondeo as that is this weekends concern.

[Pies]

Its nothing to do with offending and everything to do with getting the correct info.

[shnozz]

.Mark said:

Swap the front wheels over Phil and see what happens. I had a Mundano once and it's a known problem, the garage did what I suggested above and it worked a treat - don't ask why or how I have no idea. Then, take the jack and stands around to Matt's and lift the front of his car just enough for the front wheels to be off the ground, then take him up on the offer of that auto test you two have been going on about. Matt = You =

my chim wouldnt be powerful enough to carry the stands and jack around there apparently

cheers for the advice mate, will give that a whirl. Dont you love explanations that make no sense but work will let you know how I get on.

[centurion07]

Psychobert said:

shnozz said: going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles... I'm pretty sure that is a known problem with them; Watchdog or someone did a report on it when they 1st came out..

Yup, they did. I mailed them not long after I bought mine 'cos I couldn't remember if they actually gave the cause. They very helpfully didn't respond at all.

One thing I did try with mine which SEEMED to help a tiny bit (but did totally cure the problem on my MKII RS2000), is to slacken off the top nuts on the shocks, go for a short drive round the car park ending with the last few metres being nice & straight, then re-tightening the nuts back up. On the MKII, the rubber components at the top of the suspension assembly had got a bit twisted up when I put them on, & doing the above basically allows them to settle down to their natural (hopefully straight ahead) position.

Oooh, just remembered, I did see on a website once that apparently Ford changed the design of one of the lower suspension components & it's possible that if one of them has been changed on yours, it may differ from the other side & that THAT may be the cause. Unfortunately wasn't the problem with mine, so if you do get it sorted, I'd be grateful if you could let me know via e-mail.

[cptsideways]

Just in case: stick the wheels you have taken off under the car out of the way, should it ever fall over/off the stands you'll be saved - just.

Many years ago a freind on my dads (were talking donkeys ago) died under a car when it fell off its stands.

[jam1et]

and a guy I know lost most of the toes on one of his feet when the race car he was working on collapsed and the the brake disk landed on his foot.

[MikeyT]

I ramps, axle stands AND a trolley jack are being suggested here ... it all helps. And a spade/brick behind the back wheels.

Wish I'd put that pit in my garage now.

[mustard]

shnozz said:

going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles...

Been bounced up to many curbs in its previous life me thinks!

[FourWheelDrift]

shnozz said:

going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles...

Just seen this and noticed it is a 1995 Mondeo. There was a big thing on Watchdog a few years back about Mondeo's crabbing or steering towards the kerb without input from the driver. It's a common thing but should have all been out right back then, I'm not sure if there was a recall but there was quite a bit of publicity about it. Did this one miss the modification or has it only just started to happen.

[shnozz]

FourWheelDrift said:

shnozz said: going to stick the mundano up this weekend to try and find out why it drives in circles... Just seen this and noticed it is a 1995 Mondeo. There was a big thing on Watchdog a few years back about Mondeo's crabbing or steering towards the kerb without input from the driver. It's a common thing but should have all been out right back then, I'm not sure if there was a recall but there was quite a bit of publicity about it. Did this one miss the modification or has it only just started to happen.

it actually steers towards the middle of the road rather than the curb. quite considerably too!

It was bought for peanuts as a 1 year runaround over winter and for trips up the M3/M25 to Gatwick/Heathrow so no idea about its history really.

[shnozz]

MikeyT said:

I ramps, axle stands AND a trolley jack are being suggested here ... it all helps. And a spade/brick behind the back wheels. Wish I'd put that pit in my garage now.

yep, new garage to be built next year with pit included...