Mondeo Ghia (The Grandad Mobile)
Discussion
Another update.
Last summer the aircon worked only on the drivers side. Only intended it to be a stopgap car but with how good its been I thought I had better show it some love and affection.
I had the aircon checked as the compressor didnt kick in at all. Turns out the compressor was dead. And I say this now, in electronic format to remind me, that I am NEVER changing one again. Jack the car up, remove the OSF wheel, remove the belt guard, remove the belt - nice and simple. Undo the electrical connector and get a wobbly 10mm on the aircon pipe. Already had the gas removed so cracked the pipe off. Then to get the 4 bolts holding the pump to the engine. 3 have to be done from the top with various extensions and one from the bottom. The pump is located on dowels on the engine but then once free has to me manhandled out of a gap thats not big enough for it. Then the reverse to refit. Took me about 3 hours due to having to attempt to squeeze it between the air con pipes, water pipes, subframe and engine.
Now we have freezing cold aircon! Total cost - £45 including the gas.
Next up - the standard orange rear indicators.
Now clear!
And the side ones too...
Lastly for the time being, the sunglasses holder has never worked. I've been a bit dubious about buying a used one as they are all terrible. However I've managed to find a breaker that offered one at a sensible price!
Thats all for the minute! More bits and pieces to sort out more niggles coming this weekend
Ill end up with a new car by the time I'm finished!
Last summer the aircon worked only on the drivers side. Only intended it to be a stopgap car but with how good its been I thought I had better show it some love and affection.
I had the aircon checked as the compressor didnt kick in at all. Turns out the compressor was dead. And I say this now, in electronic format to remind me, that I am NEVER changing one again. Jack the car up, remove the OSF wheel, remove the belt guard, remove the belt - nice and simple. Undo the electrical connector and get a wobbly 10mm on the aircon pipe. Already had the gas removed so cracked the pipe off. Then to get the 4 bolts holding the pump to the engine. 3 have to be done from the top with various extensions and one from the bottom. The pump is located on dowels on the engine but then once free has to me manhandled out of a gap thats not big enough for it. Then the reverse to refit. Took me about 3 hours due to having to attempt to squeeze it between the air con pipes, water pipes, subframe and engine.
Now we have freezing cold aircon! Total cost - £45 including the gas.
Next up - the standard orange rear indicators.
Now clear!
And the side ones too...
Lastly for the time being, the sunglasses holder has never worked. I've been a bit dubious about buying a used one as they are all terrible. However I've managed to find a breaker that offered one at a sensible price!
Thats all for the minute! More bits and pieces to sort out more niggles coming this weekend
Ill end up with a new car by the time I'm finished! I will do! Yeah I must admit its something I'd like but this just keeps on delivering. Its perfect for my needs really. I do 1-2 miles into town and back a day, then 3 miles to the gym and back in the evening, and the odd occasional euro blast. Fingers crossed it will give many more years of service but I doubt I'd look anywhere else for a replacement. A friend of mine has a Passat - it doesnt feel as well built, doesnt drive as nice and certainly is more troublesome.
More updates...
On the downside turns out the air conditioning is still leaking. Hisses when you turn it off which is a sign that the gas is low, and there is bright green fluid coming out of the compressor. Unsure at this stage whether it is just the seals on the pipe to the compressor which I should have changed, or its the compressor itself. Also cant seem to get the power steering pump to stop weeping oil. Debating whether to bodge it with a bottle of stopleak or whether to fit a new union and bottle. Which even then I'm not sure its going to cure it...
Anyway more positivity!
Started off the day like this:
Silver clock had gone back in as the black one I fitted had a bulb blown and the hands never lit. Made it quite difficult to read at night! Also one of the centre vents had no fins on the back meaning that the air went every which way but what you want. Purchased some new chrome vents on eBay...
Bought a new clock on eBay as well but had to swap the glass as the new one was scratched.
All fitted! (Minus the centre vent):
Before I put the dash back together I had an issue with the auxillary input I added. If you charge the phone while you are playing music you get alternator whine through the speakers. But if you charge a different phone it doesnt do it, or charge the phone via a different method it doesnt do it.
Decided to insulate the cable which travels under the console with tin foil and insulating tape.
Whether this will work I have no idea but you dont know till you try!
Next up - replace the roof rack trim...
New genuine Ford spark plugs, havent tried it at speed yet but its a lot smoother it seems at lower revs...
New centre caps...
And finally the interior is back together!
Next up, PAS pump leak fix and Air con fix!
On the downside turns out the air conditioning is still leaking. Hisses when you turn it off which is a sign that the gas is low, and there is bright green fluid coming out of the compressor. Unsure at this stage whether it is just the seals on the pipe to the compressor which I should have changed, or its the compressor itself. Also cant seem to get the power steering pump to stop weeping oil. Debating whether to bodge it with a bottle of stopleak or whether to fit a new union and bottle. Which even then I'm not sure its going to cure it...
Anyway more positivity!
Started off the day like this:
Silver clock had gone back in as the black one I fitted had a bulb blown and the hands never lit. Made it quite difficult to read at night! Also one of the centre vents had no fins on the back meaning that the air went every which way but what you want. Purchased some new chrome vents on eBay...
Bought a new clock on eBay as well but had to swap the glass as the new one was scratched.
All fitted! (Minus the centre vent):
Before I put the dash back together I had an issue with the auxillary input I added. If you charge the phone while you are playing music you get alternator whine through the speakers. But if you charge a different phone it doesnt do it, or charge the phone via a different method it doesnt do it.
Decided to insulate the cable which travels under the console with tin foil and insulating tape.
Whether this will work I have no idea but you dont know till you try!
Next up - replace the roof rack trim...
New genuine Ford spark plugs, havent tried it at speed yet but its a lot smoother it seems at lower revs...
New centre caps...
And finally the interior is back together!
Next up, PAS pump leak fix and Air con fix!
nipsips said:
I will do! Yeah I must admit its something I'd like but this just keeps on delivering. Its perfect for my needs really. I do 1-2 miles into town and back a day, then 3 miles to the gym and back in the evening, and the odd occasional euro blast. Fingers crossed it will give many more years of service but I doubt I'd look anywhere else for a replacement. A friend of mine has a Passat - it doesnt feel as well built, doesnt drive as nice and certainly is more troublesome.
I'd agree with that. I had a Passat B6 at 260k and my 3.0 V6 below at 260k. They were a world apart in condition and operation, and it was not the Passat on top, by a long way. It was a shame when that V6 was written off.In V6 form they are a lovely drive and reliable with a caveat. They are a swine to work on.
It's good to see a thread about this and I am glad that you are enjoying the car
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