Ford Mondeo Clutch

shopbot

I have a 03 plate Petrol Mondeo. A few days ago whilst driving I found I was suddenly unable to engage gear and pulled to side of road. It couldn't get into gear whilst the engine was running but could with engine off. The clutch pedal moves as normal and is not stuck in a certain position.

I had the car towed home and now need to decide what to do with it.

The clutch was replaced 25,000 miles ago and the car is mostly driven on motorways. Prior to the breakdown there was no sign of clutch slippage or delay in acceleration.

A reputable local garage have quoted me £670 inc VAT for replacing the clutch and £1095 inc VAT if DMF needs doing as well.

I was hoping to get the forums opinions on:
1. What it sounds like the problem is.
2. Does that quote sound about right.
3. Whether its worth getting it fixed on a car that only cost £2500. It has 65k on clock and timing belt needs changing at 70k.

Thanks
SB

arcon5

Price reasonable.... half that and I think you're there.

Parts are only about £100 (+£50 premium brands) + £200 for flywheel. Even if it then took them a whole day at £40/hr fitting premium quality stuff i'd still be looking for change in excess of 25% of that. A non-premium brand clutch kit and flywheel + labour really shouldn't be over £1k on a mondeo!!!

shown73

Have a trawl through the Talkford website, should be info on there, or sign up and ask. Does sound like the cable though. Bit of a swine to change, but not expensive.

colino

Perhaps I'm overdue my medication, but Ford DMFs tend to give plenty of clues, either noise, vibration or both before they spontaneously give up and I recall them having hydraulics instead of cables too.
Does the pedal action feel exactly the same as usual or is there little or no resistance? Could be faulty hydraulics, collapsed cover or the bearing has pulled through. (Previous job didn't use decent/all new parts).

arcon5

colino wrote: »

Perhaps I'm overdue my medication, but Ford DMFs tend to give plenty of clues, either noise, vibration or both before they spontaneously give up and I recall them having hydraulics instead of cables too.
Does the pedal action feel exactly the same as usual or is there little or no resistance? Could be faulty hydraulics, collapsed cover or the bearing has pulled through. (Previous job didn't use decent/all new parts).

That's also my experience. I had a TDCi Mondeo and thr flywheel rattled for the last 44k miles of its life - wasn't actually that though that finished it off.
And I have a relative who's had some issues diagnosed as the flywheel and has similar symptoms - they've told him to expect it to fail within a few months based on his mileague of 500-1000 per week - so plenty of warning there also.

AdrianC

DMF on a 10yo petrol? <looks sceptical>

shopbot

colino wrote: »

Perhaps I'm overdue my medication, but Ford DMFs tend to give plenty of clues, either noise, vibration or both before they spontaneously give up and I recall them having hydraulics instead of cables too.
Does the pedal action feel exactly the same as usual or is there little or no resistance? Could be faulty hydraulics, collapsed cover or the bearing has pulled through. (Previous job didn't use decent/all new parts).

Thanks...clutch feels like usual. No unusual noise or vibration.

The only thing over the previous months that I'd noticed was occasionally the gear stick didn't feel quite right when changing. I'd felt that this was more to do with the gear stick area rather than a problem with the transmission. It wasn't a daily occurrence though I'd resolved to take it to the garage if it got worse or more frequent.

Your point about previous job could be right. The replacement clutch was came about straight after I purchased the car secondhand. It was pretty clear when I got to first drive the car properly that clutch was defective (car not responding immediately to accelerator). I contacted the dealer and he got the garage who did his servicing to replace it and took the cost himself.

forgotmyname

£600 - £800 with the DMF is average.

If they want £1000+ you may as well goto a dealer. My sister paid £1200 at a main dealer with a DMF and starter motor.

Dont supply the parts to cut costs because if something fails your in for another bill to sort it.

Might be the master cylinder. A cheap fix.

shopbot

AdrianC wrote: »

DMF on a 10yo petrol? <looks sceptical>

Definitely has a DMF

AdrianC

shopbot wrote: »

Definitely has a DMF

<makes yet another mental note not to ever buy anything post-roughly-mid-90s>

arcon5

Well in 10 years you're gonna own some flash cars then

Although personally i'd no longer consider buying a diesel anymore - too much to go wrong that will cost you an arm.