1993 Ford Mondeo Si 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Worth a look, but you may wish to consider a different model if you do lots of motorway cruising

Faults:

Loud tapping noise from top of engine

Exhaust noisy at 3-4000rpm - knackered baffles

New discs and pads

Headlamp bulb.

General Comments:

I bought a low mileage FSH Si late last year, and thought I'd done the right thing by taking my time and sourcing a cared for and looked after car.

On a longish trip, a tapping noise started from the top of the engine. I pulled over and listened to it, and came to the conclusion one or more of the hydraulic cam followers had become blocked, or failed. Not a huge problem in itself, so I continued driving the car.

After much head scratching, an engine flush, a strip-down and clean-up of the followers and cams, I sold the car with the fault. The new owner has replaced the cam followers and the noise is still present - so it sounds like it was a little end starting to die.

Not overly impressed as the car was very well maintained, and I didn't drive it harshly by any stretch of the imagination.

They are well equipped cars, very comfortable and grippy, and have very nice handling. The Si goes like the clappers in 3rd/4th/5th, but you soon get tired of the high revs when on the motorway.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st April, 2003

9th Jul 2003, 14:06

I have a 96 (Mk1) Ford Mondeo 2L Ghia X - It has exactly the same problem (has covered at least 3000 miles with the noise present) - I too had new cam followers etc. fitted which made no difference.

I think it may be small end bearing, but would have thought the noise would have got worse by now or the bearing would have failed altogether.

Ill keep driving the car which drives very well apart from the noise until it blows up or a piston decides to go through the bonnet.

Rcgifford@tesco.net.

14th Jul 2010, 06:22

Sticky valve syndrome.

Gives symptoms of poorly followers.

Common Ford problem on the old Zetec engines, as the valve does not rotate in its guide as it should. Easy to fix; run it with 5w30 oil in the engine; solves the problem.

1993 Ford Mondeo LX 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Very reliable engine

Faults:

Only the bushers that's all.

General Comments:

Had car 8 years, the reliability is very good, thinking of buying the new Ford Mondeo.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd February, 2003

1993 Ford Mondeo Si 4 door saloon 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Another solid contender from Ford

Faults:

Small coolant pipe that feeds the heater matrix rusted through (this is apparently a common fault). Unfortunately it causes the engine to loose all of its coolant, and the first you know about it is when rough running/misfiring, by which time the damage is done! Mine warped the head due to this. If I hadn't been able to remove, strip and replace the engine this would have written the car off! New pipe was £20 - so check yours. It runs from the bottom radiator hose under the engine.

The heater packed up this winter, which I have been told is likely to be an airlock in the system. Luke warm air isn't much use in mid December.

Rear door handle was sticking, so the door wouldn't shut properly, easily fixed with a quick strip down and some WD40.

General Comments:

I fitted a K&N 57i filter which gives it a touch more breath when accelerating hard.

Lots of room for my wife and three kids.

It is very reliable (with exception of the rusty heater feed pipe) we took it to the south of France last summer without incident.

It gets taken on a 250 mile motorway journey every three weeks. It spends most of that trip traveling at 90mph and still gives pretty good fuel consumption.

If you are looking for a low price large family car you can't go far wrong with a Mondy, you can get early ones for peanuts these days.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th February, 2003