New commuter hack Mondeo - petrol this time
Discussion
Mine needed a wheel bearing too... Replaced with a FAG one the other day, but since i'm so busy writing my dissertation my stepdad fitted it. I think he broke the ABS loom plug (car side) and now I have an ABS light on... grrr. Reset and still comes back. Will be replacing when i've finished uni.
Things you may or may not know and find interesting...
1) There is an AUX port right at the back of the glovebox, on the right. Grey. I missed it initially when I was searching for it!
2) Forscan Lite app on iPhone/Android with a bluetooth OBD reader is superb - actually finds more information (and errors) that Torque Pro app doesn't.
3) You can fit capless bulbs into bulb holders in each footwell (under the glovebox and above the pedals) and add footwell lights for 50p if your car wasn't specced with it.
4) You can enable motion lock, to lock the car as you drive away. Simple process, easily done with the ignition key and drivers door lock switch - google it.
Apologies if i'm teaching you to suck eggs, but I was very happy to find the above out!
Things you may or may not know and find interesting...
1) There is an AUX port right at the back of the glovebox, on the right. Grey. I missed it initially when I was searching for it!
2) Forscan Lite app on iPhone/Android with a bluetooth OBD reader is superb - actually finds more information (and errors) that Torque Pro app doesn't.
3) You can fit capless bulbs into bulb holders in each footwell (under the glovebox and above the pedals) and add footwell lights for 50p if your car wasn't specced with it.
4) You can enable motion lock, to lock the car as you drive away. Simple process, easily done with the ignition key and drivers door lock switch - google it.
Apologies if i'm teaching you to suck eggs, but I was very happy to find the above out!
charltjr said:
I commute about 20k miles a year so on top of my trackday toy I always need to run a commuter hack of some sort.
I had 3 of these (in different countries).Never had any serious issues, apart from one windscreen seal perishing (could hear it at at 50mph).
I only replaced it with MK4 Diesel for the fuel economy (my MK3 were all petrol), but it's still one of my favourite cars.
Not as big as MK4 (which is a good thing, the new model is a bit too large).
Thanks, I did know about the aux port etc, and I don't need to plug in extra bulbs because it's a Ghia don'tcha know rah rah rah 
The only thing I'm really missing in terms of kit is Bluetooth but that's easy enough to fit.
After a week of commuting at the speed limit I'm getting high 30's MPG now, which I'm more than happy with.
I think this one might be a bit of a keeper, at least by my standards anyway. It's comfortable, cheap to run, hugely practical, really can't fault it at all so far.
I'm almost tempted to upgrade it to a set of leather seats, like most used Mondeo parts they're insanely cheap, but that way lies madness........
The only thing I'm really missing in terms of kit is Bluetooth but that's easy enough to fit.
After a week of commuting at the speed limit I'm getting high 30's MPG now, which I'm more than happy with.
I think this one might be a bit of a keeper, at least by my standards anyway. It's comfortable, cheap to run, hugely practical, really can't fault it at all so far.
I'm almost tempted to upgrade it to a set of leather seats, like most used Mondeo parts they're insanely cheap, but that way lies madness........
A bit thirsty! I have one of these too (late facelift Zetec) although it is a diesel. I think they are great value for racking up miles and not worrying about in a supermarket car park and seem to look smart still when cleaned up.
Their comparatively low cost also means more money can be spent on the fun things in life instead, rather than wasting it going nowhere quick on the commute.
Their comparatively low cost also means more money can be spent on the fun things in life instead, rather than wasting it going nowhere quick on the commute.
Just a little weekend update. The Mondeo now has almost 60k miles on it, I'm getting a bit worried it might be getting worn out and I should replace it. Obviously I'm kidding, but it is odd to think that in just a few months I've driven not far off it's usual annual mileage.
I STILL haven't sorted the boot struts out, but now the weather has warmed up a bit they're holding the boot much better so I imagine I'll not bother until the lid hits me in the head again. My epitaph may well be "Knew I should have changed those boot struts"
It's going in for an MoT and a service next week. Gave it a very quick check over this morning and other than a few bulbs being out in the rear sidelights (do any Mk3 Mondeos actually have a full working set? ) there's nothing obvious that will give it a problem. Will be interesting to see just how old and manky some of the filters are or aren't on my "Full Ford main dealer history" car........
I've sorted out the only thing I was missing in terms of spec with £45 of bits from Amazon. The car now has a Bluetooth unit that plugs into the aux port in the Glovebox and does streaming audio as well as calls. I can also connect two phones to it at once which is great since I've got a work and a personal mobile.
It would have been a bit cheaper but I needed to get a ground loop filter kit for it to get rid of some noise on the connection. The wiring is a bit messy but.... Meh. I've got some little stick-on clips which I'll use to tidy it up a bit, I'm not going to rip the centre console apart just for that.
I was a bit annoyed to find that the 12v socket was permanently live as that would mean either putting a switch in or unplugging the kit every time I park up, but it turns out that all I have to do is move a fuse to a different position and that makes the socket ignition switched.
The car continues to be flawless. It's giving an easy 35mpg on the commute rising to not far off 40 if I just bimble along with economy in mind, decent to drive, very comfortable. Even the climate control works perfectly, ice cold air when needed.
This is probably the point where it horribly, horribly fails the MoT
I STILL haven't sorted the boot struts out, but now the weather has warmed up a bit they're holding the boot much better so I imagine I'll not bother until the lid hits me in the head again. My epitaph may well be "Knew I should have changed those boot struts"
It's going in for an MoT and a service next week. Gave it a very quick check over this morning and other than a few bulbs being out in the rear sidelights (do any Mk3 Mondeos actually have a full working set?
) there's nothing obvious that will give it a problem. Will be interesting to see just how old and manky some of the filters are or aren't on my "Full Ford main dealer history" car........I've sorted out the only thing I was missing in terms of spec with £45 of bits from Amazon. The car now has a Bluetooth unit that plugs into the aux port in the Glovebox and does streaming audio as well as calls. I can also connect two phones to it at once which is great since I've got a work and a personal mobile.
It would have been a bit cheaper but I needed to get a ground loop filter kit for it to get rid of some noise on the connection. The wiring is a bit messy but.... Meh. I've got some little stick-on clips which I'll use to tidy it up a bit, I'm not going to rip the centre console apart just for that.
I was a bit annoyed to find that the 12v socket was permanently live as that would mean either putting a switch in or unplugging the kit every time I park up, but it turns out that all I have to do is move a fuse to a different position and that makes the socket ignition switched.
The car continues to be flawless. It's giving an easy 35mpg on the commute rising to not far off 40 if I just bimble along with economy in mind, decent to drive, very comfortable. Even the climate control works perfectly, ice cold air when needed.
This is probably the point where it horribly, horribly fails the MoT
Glad to hear she is still providing good service. Fingers crossed all goes well with the service and MOT.
A word of warning; be wary of replacing the boot struts with cheapo items. I did that on my Focus and, while they're better than the worn out original items, they're no good in cold weather.
Where did you move the fuse to make the 12v socket ignition live? I need to do similar on the Focus (may be different, of course), annoys me having to unplug the dashcam every time I switch off.
A word of warning; be wary of replacing the boot struts with cheapo items. I did that on my Focus and, while they're better than the worn out original items, they're no good in cold weather.
Where did you move the fuse to make the 12v socket ignition live? I need to do similar on the Focus (may be different, of course), annoys me having to unplug the dashcam every time I switch off.
Great thread! My dad had a 2.0 petrol Zetec which he traded in a few years back for the MK4 diesel. It was an 04 plate and if I remember correctly he only got about 800 quid for it - it was pristine too! Infinitely more reliable than his newer one.
I'm planning on looking at these soon to replace my current daily driver. Amazing value for money!
I'm planning on looking at these soon to replace my current daily driver. Amazing value for money!
Benton said:
Where did you move the fuse to make the 12v socket ignition live? I need to do similar on the Focus (may be different, of course), annoys me having to unplug the dashcam every time I switch off.
Thanks for the tip on the boot struts.If it's the same as on the Mondeo the fuse has a larger socket than normal, three pins instead of two. The central pin is common. In one position it's switched, in the other it's permanently live. A really nice idea which I'd like to see a lot more often.
Yup, just move the top left fuse one notch up/down, I can't recall which. I did the same with mine for the Griffin Autopilot.
To update my previous post I have done nearly 3k miles since I bought the car a couple of months ago. I did 1k miles last week camping in Wales, seeing relatives etc. and the car was a dream. Massive boot held everything my gf could think to take with us. This week it's been from Oxford to Berks and back twice, and to Brands hatch and back. Since setting off for Wales it has returned 41mpg which isn't too bad - partly thanks to plenty extended cruise control use!
I'm using a Griffin Autopilot plugged into the ciggy lighter and aux port. It charges the iPhone, and passes lineout to the aux port in the glovebox, and has buttons on the top to control the iphone.
Plugged into the aux directly, no whine. With the Griffin device I get a whine that increases with revs. I can hear it in the background always, especially if the song is quiet, and the headunit is turned up a bit more. It's also more noticeable with more load on the alternator, e.g. heated screens on.
It's driving me nuts! My only thought was to add an inline amp so I could turn the headunit volume down to minimum.
To update my previous post I have done nearly 3k miles since I bought the car a couple of months ago. I did 1k miles last week camping in Wales, seeing relatives etc. and the car was a dream. Massive boot held everything my gf could think to take with us. This week it's been from Oxford to Berks and back twice, and to Brands hatch and back. Since setting off for Wales it has returned 41mpg which isn't too bad - partly thanks to plenty extended cruise control use!
charltjr said:
It would have been a bit cheaper but I needed to get a ground loop filter kit for it to get rid of some noise on the connection. The wiring is a bit messy but.... Meh. I've got some little stick-on clips which I'll use to tidy it up a bit, I'm not going to rip the centre console apart just for that.
What did you use? I'm using a Griffin Autopilot plugged into the ciggy lighter and aux port. It charges the iPhone, and passes lineout to the aux port in the glovebox, and has buttons on the top to control the iphone.
Plugged into the aux directly, no whine. With the Griffin device I get a whine that increases with revs. I can hear it in the background always, especially if the song is quiet, and the headunit is turned up a bit more. It's also more noticeable with more load on the alternator, e.g. heated screens on.
It's driving me nuts! My only thought was to add an inline amp so I could turn the headunit volume down to minimum.
Edited by 13aines on Sunday 29th May 23:08
I got one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0037NYYFY
It arrived properly retail boxed so I don't think it's some dodgy fake, does the job.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0037NYYFY
It arrived properly retail boxed so I don't think it's some dodgy fake, does the job.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff