Test drive Ford mondeo sedan 2003 - 2005 sedan

Citizen of the world

The history of the model
1993. The release of Ford Mondeo (sedan, hatchback and station wagon) has begun. Zetec engines are gasoline, four-cylinder, 16-valve: 1.6 l, 65 kW/88 liters. With. and 66 kW/90 l. With.; 1.8 l, 85 kW/116 l. With.; 2.0 l, 96 kW/131 l. With. Vortexhakamal turbodiesel: 1.8 liters, 65 kW/88 liters. With. Boxes M5 or A4, front or complete drive (from engine 2.0 l).
1994. On the basis of the Mondeo for the US market, the production of Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique sedans with the Zetec 2.0 liter, 93 kW/127 liters started. With. and Duratec (V6) 2.5 l, 127 kW/173 l. With. Duratec also appeared for European Mondeo: 2.5 l, 125 kW/170 liters. With.
1996. Restyling of the European model: all outer panels have been changed, except for the roof and doorways, optics, radiator grille, instrument panel. The list of standard and additional equipment (protective beams in the doors, side airbags, three -point belts and head restraints on the rear seats) has been expanded. The power of the Zetec 1.6 l engine is increased to 70 kW/95 liters. With.
1997. Restyling American models: Ford Contour appearance repeats the European Mondeo, and Mercury Mystique approached it.
1999. The charged version of the Mondeo ST200 with the HIGH-DURATEC 2.5 l engine, 151 kW/205 l. With. A similar engine with a capacity of 149 kW/203 l. With. Installed part of Ford Contour cars.
year 2001. Mondeo of a new generation.

Creating Mondeo, Ford designers set himself the task of combining the best features of bestsellers of the late 80s of the 1990s: Honda-Akord, Peugeot 405, Nissan-Recima. Over seven years, sketches and prototypes have undergone many changes, in Europe and the USA they built chassis layouts, engines were developed in the UK, and in Italy they conjured the design of the model. In the very name of the car, a hint, if not to world domination, then at least for world citizenship. But the collective image turned out to be not very expressive, which, however, did not prevent Mondeo in 1994 from getting a title of a car of the year. A few years later, the model suffered a plastic surgery, which, of course, benefited her. The insides were better successful: except for the first pancakes of the 1993 1994 car, there were no serious problems with the first or the second generation of Mondeo. Used, they are in Moscow from 4 to 11 thousand dollars. On the market, European models have been mainly represented since 1996 have been officially sold in Russia. The Americans have other headlights and bumpers, more powerful engines and an enhanced suspension. In addition to problems with spare parts (mainly body), there are no contraindications for the purchase of these machines.
Mondeo in the basic configuration in the market is rare, but their equipment can not be called poor: from the beginning of the release, all the cars had two adjustments of the steering column, the driver’s safety pillow, and the ventilation filter. In the CLX configuration appears a second pillow, central lock, alarm. The GLX level already provides for a full electric package, including adjusting the driver's seat, remote control of the central lock, velor upholstery of the seats. And the top GHIA adds to the electric bells flashes (heating of the windshield, on -board computer, etc.), covered with leather steering wheel and seats and a dashboard finished with wood. Of course, in each configuration there were options, for example, a more powerful engine implied a more expensive equipment (alloy wheels, cruise control) and order options.
The main spare part
Almost all Mondeo of the first and second generations in the Russian market with gasoline engines. Diesel 1,8-turbo is a rarity, and the turbocharger was not reliable there, so it is better to refrain from buying them.
Zetec gasoline engines (see model history) are relatively easy to maintain and repair. The timing belt and its videos (they are sold in the kit) change every 90 thousand km (later Ford increased the interval to 120 thousand) or once every five years. On a used car, it is better to adhere to the lower boundary of the interval, because when the belt is broken, the valves are bent. At the same time, it is worth checking the pump. The gaps in the timing of the engines are regulated by the washers (as on VAZ 2108), there are hydraulic compensators. The latter can withstand at least 150 thousand km. Cooling liquid requires replacement every two years.
The best choice is a two -liter engine. It consumes only a few (0.30.4 liters) more than 1.8 liters, but provides a heavy (almost two tons of full mass) to the car good dynamics and maximum speed for 200 km/h. It is better to refrain from a 1.6 liter engine frankly weak for Mondeo. A compromise and the most common option of 1.8 liters.
The six-cylinder V-shaped Duratec has a tractor moment on the bottom and accelerates the car to the first hundred in just 8.6 s. The chain drive of timing is also a significant plus: the service life of not one hundred thousand kilometers. But this motor also has a fat minus: original spare parts (rings, pistons, liners) are not released for it, there is not even a block of cylinders assembled. The engine changes only the whole. The manufacturer explains this with high accuracy in the manufacture of parts to be reproduced selective assembly outside the plant. Due to the dense layout of the motor compartment, Duratec is especially sensitive to dirt, so first of all, follow the cleanliness of the radiator. Durateck is noticeably more than Zetek, and maintenance operations here are more laborious.
All motors with an aluminum crankcase pallet, so steel protection of the power unit is extremely desirable. The original company does not release the domestic. The power system is sensitive to the quality of fuel from dirt first of all suffers from a gasoline pump. At the first signs of deterioration in fuel supply (poor start, dips under load), it is worth conducting an audit. The tank itself is plastic, it does not add dirt.
If, after the motor caught on the move, the motor suddenly stalled, do not rush to call the tow truck: most likely, the protection against the fire, which turned off the gasoline pump, worked. To restore fuel supply, it is enough to press the unlock button. Look for it on the left of the driver's left (the location has changed several times).
The release system lasts about three years. When replacing, do not save on a ceramic sealing ring, it wears out over time.
Do not look for all -wheel drive
Clutch is found in two versions with a cable or hydraulic wire. In both cases, its service life is at least 100 thousand km. When replacing, be sure to pay attention to the crankshaft oil seal: with the slightest flows of oil, it is better to replace it.
A manual gearbox is very reliable. The oil in it is flooded for the entire service life, but the preventive replacement during a mileage of more than 200 thousand km will not hurt. In the ATF liquid machine, we change every 60 thousand km (filter only when bulkhead). The service life of the automatic transmission greatly depends on the operating conditions for example, for example, you can’t leave in the cold without heating the box. The malfunction of the automatic control unit will help to install a corporate scanner.
On the restyled Mondeo, the clamps of the CV joints sometimes did not provide tightness. In 2000, Ford conducted a service campaign for their free replacement. Since then, the problem has disappeared. The bearings of the front and rear hubs serve more than 200 thousand km.
The front brake discs experience approximately three sets of pads. The rear drums (on parts of the cars) are almost eternal, but the overlays can eventually exfoliate from the base. Therefore, after 90 thousand km of run, each (every 15 thousand km) it is worth controling the condition of the pads by removing the drum. There are no complaints about the anti -lock system, but the engine sink lovers under pressure can lose its ABS brains are very sensitive to moisture. It can get inside through the connector, so if you decide to wash the engine, wrap the polyethylene control unit.
The front suspension is inherent to a strong middle peasant. The lower support is riveted to the lever, the original is not separately supplied. True, it serves for a long time 150200 thousand km. The upper supports of the racks experience the shock absorbers themselves. The rear multi-link suspension of the first Mondeo (19931994) did not differ in reliability: shock absorbers quickly out of order, silent blocks wear out. After changing the design, early refusals ceased.
In Mondeo, there is a full -wheel drive with a two -liter engine, but in Russia, and in Europe, he did not gain popularity: he was expensive to maintain and not too reliable.
We do not advise you to stop a choice in a car with an electronically controlled suspension. Its first versions broke even on European roads jammed in sport mode. A few months later, the control unit was changed, but alas, Russian pits! Not adapted.
Wet business
Mondeo is not very afraid of corrosion: most of the body is galvanized. But the aluminum air conditioner tubes for several winters can rotate, especially near the clamps that are attached to the body. A ride with an empty air conditioning system threatens with a mass replacement of details: without a refrigerant for corrosion, expanse.
The assembly quality of the cabin on prerestyling machines left much to be desired: here and there, drums woke up. But on the materials, the Fords did not save, therefore, the old salon looks a neatly important argument when buying.
An electrician is generally reliable. Refusals relate mainly to the little things: the hood terminal, the coolant temperature sensor, the stove fan resistor. To extend the life of a motor, change the ventilation system annually.
Sometimes a control lamp of airbags begins to blink. Frequent cause of poor contact in belt pretense. The self -diagnosis mode of electronic devices is not provided: with all the questions, complain to the branded service there, a scanner will be connected to the car.
All cars were equipped with an immobilizer. When buying, require two keys: one with remote control, the second without it, but with a chip for an immobilizer.

Approximate cost of original spare parts*
Spare part cost, $
Timing belt and its rollers
(engine 1.8 l) 187
Pump (engine 1.8 l) 109
Speak of ignition 11
Gas pump 330
2.5 l engine assembly 5803
Clutch (engine 1.8 l/engine 2.5 l) 317/301
Front / rear pads
disc brake (set) 69/92
Lower lever
front suspension (with support) 180
Stabilizer bushing set 26
A set of stabilizer racks
front/rear 198/39
Heater fan resistor 54
Front wing
(before/after restyling) 166/168
Hood (before/after restyling) 352/352
Front bumper
(before/after restyling) 443/437
Farah (before/after restyling) 238/139
*European models.

The approximate cost of work at the official dealer
Work cost, $
Diagnosis of electronic systems 77
Diagnostics
chassis and pendants 39
Replacing the timing belt
and its rollers (engine 1.8 l) 231
Replacing spark plugs
(engine 1.8 l/engine 2.5 l) 17/29
Engine replacement 2.5 l 439
Replacement of the gas pump 80
Clutch replacement 253
Replacement of the block ABS 123
Replacing the lower lever
front suspension 49
Replacement of bushings / stabilizer racks
front suspension 105/18
Adjustment of installation angles
all wheels 123
Replacing the resistor
heater fans 18
 
Anatoly Sukhov

Source: The magazine "Driving"