unbeatable for a reliable, cheap/easy to maintain car that should do me proud for a few months

Quick update - its now got its spoiler and new rear plates on. New alternator going on tomorrow. New plate on the front to smarten things up a bit as well.

And a quick piccy next to the vRS, which went yesterday :(.

I've also bought an exhaust trim, but haven't had a chance to fit that yet. Just fits over the standard pipe, but its nice and shiny.

Why bother with a spoiler, plates and an exhaust trim if your only going to be keeping it a few months :confused:

alternator on a V6 , ARRPITA is all i can say :(

I know I understand access is "tricky", and the track rod end has to come off to get it out or something :confused: I've bought a set of wobble extensions, and I've got a whole day to do it, so wish me luck!!! Haynes rate it as a 4 spanner job :eek:. The water pump was tricky enough, and the IMRC cable was a bit "fun". Seems that while parts are cheap, and no special tools are needed, the V6 isn't all that friendly to work on. Ho hum.

Why bother with a spoiler, plates and an exhaust trim if your only going to be keeping it a few months :confused:

Fair point, however I intend to keep it until it goes bang, or what have you. Its paid for itself in 3 months, so anything after that is profit. Who knows how long til I get bored, chop it in for something else etc... Regardless, I like to take pride in my cars, and these little bits are cheap . Tinkering with cars is something I enjoy doing, call it a hobby if you like, there is no financial or other reason :P

Fair point, however I intend to keep it until it goes bang, or what have you. Its paid for itself in 3 months, so anything after that is profit. Who knows how long til I get bored, chop it in for something else etc... Regardless, I like to take pride in my cars, and these little bits are cheap . Tinkering with cars is something I enjoy doing, call it a hobby if you like, there is no financial or other reason :P

Fair play Tom

Just got the impression from your post that it was a 3 month stop gap or something.

Looks a smart example

If you're thinking of chopping your car in again Tom (and I suspect you must be by now ) I've been having a little look around for you and found these corkers for under £1k. In the words of the great Jim Bowen, "heres what ya could'a won" :P

BMW : Bmw 525i Sprot M-Tec

Alfa Romeo : Silver (S) 2litre GTV

Volvo : 850 t5 estate

Jeep : jeep 4 sale

Porsche : 924 Lux

That 525 is lush!

Someone buy my Octy!

I know what your saying about changing the 'little' bits on your car - It's somthing I do myself.

I did the plates on the clio last week and have now got some new bits for the civic

All in all - Looks good. Nice job Tom. Still - Shame about the Octy :(

Tom - In my garage I have a pair of Kenwood HQ570's which I PM'd you about. They are direct replacement speakers.

They are yours for the postage.

Ah - forgot to add. Now have these speakers in too, thanks to the generosity of Ian. Cheers fella!

Oh well. What a pig.

I started the job of changing the alternator. First hurdle is removing the auxilliary belt. It needs a 3/8" ratchet to loosen the tensioner. Theres probably a special Ford tool for the job because there isn't enough room between the inner wing and the tensioner to get the ratchet in. So short of undoing the engine mount and raising the engine, I decided to take an angle grinder to an old ratchet. Tom - 1, Mondeo - 0.

Get under the car, knowing full well the bolts for the alternator are very well hidden, but my god I didn't expect them to be that awkward. put together every wobble extension I own, and a UV joint, and I don't have enough hands to manouver it all.

Whilst down there, I notice there is a splattering of grease on the alternator, and a bit of investigation reveals the inner CV boot has allowed some grease to go past the clip. So this needs taking off, cleaning and reseating. Oh joy.

Also notice that there is some evidence of an oil leak. Tracing this back and it seems its the seal for the PAS pump on the side of the block. More fun.

Think I may admit defeat on this one and take it to my friendly independant. I could do it myself if I had a ramp I'm sure, but I can't get the car high enough on the (gravel) drive to work comfortably, and its just stressing me out.

Bummer.

Arrpita !

looks good mate, just watch the back bumpers, many are prone to breaking.

Yeah, I've already popped a new front one on

Amazing how they just split like they do!