Mondeo Estate 130 bhp, clutch problems

[philip_5109302]

We use a Mondeo Estate 2.0 Tdci 130bhp, 2005 model as our towcar. After only 12 months of towing (maybe as few as 10 trips), the clutch has burnt out. Ford won't cover it under warranty sighting towing as the reason. My question is in two parts, does anybody else have similar problems with this type of vehicle? and will this car tow a Bailey Pageant Bordeaux as we're thinking of upgrading? The car has done 36,000 miles and we currently tow an Avondale Perle Orion.

 

[smiley]

Hi Philip

We have a mondeo 2.0 tdci saloon, tow a swift.

When we first had the car there was the most foul smell you could think off, sewer comes to mind.

We only get the smell now when reversing sometimes so we live with it.

 

[Icemaker]

Philip, i cant see towing a perle doing any harm at all to a mondeo really as its quite a light van. the mondeo tdci is very heavily used a a taxi round manchester so also cant really see the clutches being inherantly weak. having said this i once had a peugeot 406 that wore the clutch out at 27 thousand mile and the replacement lasted over 50 thousand so its quite possible it was just one of those friday afternoon clutches and you could also have been a bit unlucky. the laden weight of the bailey is 1366 kgs and the ex works weight is 1150 kgs, you will need to look on the cars data plate to get its exact kerbweight as every model is different but i think you will find youve got no problems at all.

 

[philip_5109302]

Hi Philip

We have a mondeo 2.0 tdci saloon, tow a swift.

When we first had the car there was the most foul smell you could think off, sewer comes to mind.

We only get the smell now when reversing sometimes so we live with it.

Thanks for that Smiley, we too know that smell as it's still there occassionaly even with the new clutch fitted!

 

[philip_5109302]

Philip, i cant see towing a perle doing any harm at all to a mondeo really as its quite a light van. the mondeo tdci is very heavily used a a taxi round manchester so also cant really see the clutches being inherantly weak. having said this i once had a peugeot 406 that wore the clutch out at 27 thousand mile and the replacement lasted over 50 thousand so its quite possible it was just one of those friday afternoon clutches and you could also have been a bit unlucky. the laden weight of the bailey is 1366 kgs and the ex works weight is 1150 kgs, you will need to look on the cars data plate to get its exact kerbweight as every model is different but i think you will find youve got no problems at all.

Appreciate the comments thanks Icemaker, but I'm not convinced that the clutch isn't a weak point as a friend of mine has the 115bhp version saloon and he as also had to replace the cluth and flywheel on his 2005 Mondeon tdci. I also know of one other person with a Mondeo who suffered the same fate as us so it would appear to be more widespread than first thought, or am i doubly unlucky?

 

[smiley]

Have to say though Philip it a pretty good pulling car, we have no trouble with cruising in 6th gear, in France that is.

 

[Lutz]

Considering the Mondeo is approved to tow up to 1800kg, inherent clutch weakness should not be an issue.

 

[RichardH]

the smell you refer to is most likely the clutch burning where it is slipping. if you get it a lot you are burning your clutch out and it wont last long. I know the smell because I got it the first time I tried to reverse my mondeo up hill with the sprite major attached to it. Its common to wear clutches out if you are lazy with gear changes at roundabout etc, ie you stay in third or forth and ride the clutch when pulling away again. Also revving to high and slipping the clutch when pulling away will wear your clutch out quickly.

 

[JandP]

Hi Philip, the smell that you and smiley have experienced may not be the clutch. Many cars with a catalytic converter give off a "rotten eggs" smell and this may be what you are smelling if you reverse back over your exhaust gases. If the smell is only there when you reverse with the caravan then the clutch is more likely to be the problem.

 

[philip_5109302]

the smell you refer to is most likely the clutch burning where it is slipping. if you get it a lot you are burning your clutch out and it wont last long. I know the smell because I got it the first time I tried to reverse my mondeo up hill with the sprite major attached to it. Its common to wear clutches out if you are lazy with gear changes at roundabout etc, ie you stay in third or forth and ride the clutch when pulling away again. Also revving to high and slipping the clutch when pulling away will wear your clutch out quickly.

Thanks for that Richard. I agree with your comments but only find the smell when reversing and manouvering up hill to position the van onto a pitch. The pulling power and general performance of the vehicle is excellent. Hill starts and reversing up hill loaded appear to be the only weaknesses.

 

[smiley]

there diesel cars.

Only happens sometimes reversing. Never had trouble with vauxhall.

 

[jon_5062082]

we tow a sterling europa (1150kg)with a 2002 mondeo tddi. not had any problems at all with clutch.

 

[joeby]

Hi Phil ,you have had the car 12 months and covered 36000 miles thats 3 times the average annual mileage ,i watched a guy at the lights yesterday on a slight incline going slightly backwards and forwards ,it was obvious to me that he was riding the clutch ,and not putting his handbrake on ,now its a fair assumption that his clutch is not going to last long ,also a car towing has more wear and tear on its components than a car driving solo ,thats why most people who dont tow keep well away from buying a car with a towbar,my car is a year older than yours and covered only 26000 miles ,and the clutch is fine at the moment , and i have been towing a Senator Indiana at over 90% and i have been driving in snow & high winds across the Severn Bridge and its been fine

 

[Steve L]

I'd go back to your dealer and ask why is it then that Ford give a tow limit to your car as you are clearly towing well within it's capability.

They should replace the clutch FOC as you are inside the mileage and age of warrantee.

Must confess to being a Renault fan myself and have had no clutch changes below 100'000 miles on them. Having said that I get 40'000 out of a set of brake pads, must be a light foot I guess.

Give the garage hell under trading standards fit for purpose and use guide lines. Give your local citizens advise a call they will be only too pleased to help.

Steve Ll

 

[Iain_5073051]

philip,

I use a 2.0TDCI to tow the Pageant Bordeaux, no problems so far, Although I did only get about 30MPG when towing. But so far cannae complain.

 

[Sonic1]

I purchased my Mondeo TDCI when it was 18 months old with 34000 on the clock. I towed my elddis (1200kgs) ONCE, and towed a lightweight unbraked trailer a few times. Just before going to collect my new caravan (weighing 1270kgs) the clutch started to feel 'slippy'. I took it my preferred Ford dealer, who said it was shot and as a 'wear and tear' item would not be covered under the warranty. I persuaded them to submit a warranty claim to Ford but had to pay the bill upfront. 6 weeks later, Ford sent the dealer a cheque for the clutch, and the dealer passed it on to me. RESULT! Lesson? Does Ford know something about TDCI clutches that we don't?

 

[jon_5062082]

I purchased my Mondeo TDCI when it was 18 months old with 34000 on the clock. I towed my elddis (1200kgs) ONCE, and towed a lightweight unbraked trailer a few times. Just before going to collect my new caravan (weighing 1270kgs) the clutch started to feel 'slippy'. I took it my preferred Ford dealer, who said it was shot and as a 'wear and tear' item would not be covered under the warranty. I persuaded them to submit a warranty claim to Ford but had to pay the bill upfront. 6 weeks later, Ford sent the dealer a cheque for the clutch, and the dealer passed it on to me. RESULT! Lesson? Does Ford know something about TDCI clutches that we don't?

theres also a known fault with flywheel failure as well on this model.they usually change the clutch at the same time as flywheel , so that says it all.

 

[COLIN_5095629]

I USE A FOCUS 1.8 TDDI FOR TOWING, AND I USE IT FOR DRIVING TUITION ,60000 MILES .USED AN ESCORT BEFORE 70000 MILES BEFORE CLUTCH WENT,ME AND MY LEARNER DRIVERS NEVER RIDE THE CLUTCH.36000 MILES IS EITHER A DUFF CLUTCH OR FITTED BADLY

 

[philip_5109302]

philip,

I use a 2.0TDCI to tow the Pageant Bordeaux, no problems so far, Although I did only get about 30MPG when towing. But so far cannae complain.

Thanks Iain, I towed the new Burgundy from Gloucester to Porthcawl yesterday and got 35.7mpg. My old Avondale Perle returned 39mpg, so we're fairly close, hope the clutch holds out in reverse!

 

[mark_5075367]

Hi there, we had a mondeo ghia x 130 bhp 2002 reg until last october. In the 2 years I owned it I had it into the ford garage 5 times for the clutch, the first few times they said there was nothing wrong with it, then they changed the electronic unit twice. It would stall for no reason more so when towing the caravan. I had an awful smell once when reversing. I had the brakes go when towing the caravan, which happened 2 weeks before the warranty run out. Ford were very good, I was not charged at all for anything, when I asked if the clutch was caused by towing they said no as it was a heavy duty clutch. I was very disappointed as apart from the clutch it was a fantastic tow car, towing our bailey pageant vendee with ease. The car weighed 1604 and the caravan weighed 1400 fully laden. We got rid of it as we now have a twin axle caravan, the only thing I miss from it is the fuel economy. Hope this is some help, Mark

 

[philip_5109302]

Hi there, we had a mondeo ghia x 130 bhp 2002 reg until last october. In the 2 years I owned it I had it into the ford garage 5 times for the clutch, the first few times they said there was nothing wrong with it, then they changed the electronic unit twice. It would stall for no reason more so when towing the caravan. I had an awful smell once when reversing. I had the brakes go when towing the caravan, which happened 2 weeks before the warranty run out. Ford were very good, I was not charged at all for anything, when I asked if the clutch was caused by towing they said no as it was a heavy duty clutch. I was very disappointed as apart from the clutch it was a fantastic tow car, towing our bailey pageant vendee with ease. The car weighed 1604 and the caravan weighed 1400 fully laden. We got rid of it as we now have a twin axle caravan, the only thing I miss from it is the fuel economy. Hope this is some help, Mark

Thanks mark, appreciate the comments, 5 times eh? Something to look forward to! You're right though, it's a fantastic tow car apart from the clutch when reversing. Thanks.

 

[Paul_5110677]

I read this thread with interest as I have just got a Mondeo TDCI 130- and had my first tow with it this weekend.

I have an 04 Ranger 470/4 that I have towed with a 130PD VW for a couple of years with no problems.

Anyway, trip went well- one point to note was the clutch smell when I got caught at a traffic light on a hill. Handbrake on, lights went green got moving with no clutch slip but the faint smell of clutch was there.

Back at storage I need to reverse up a slight (and I mean slight)incline to my spot- I didn't get it right the first time and needed a second attempt. That was it- the clutch stank and slipped on the 7 miles home. Seems better this morning but it is still not perfect- so i'll try my luck at the dealer. I suspect when they see the (fixed) towbar that will be their get out clause!

Just to note- I have towed for a while and backed into this spot before with no problems in other vehicles- I am genuinely shocked at this problem- i'll keep you all informed.

 

[Gary_5039903]

Yes, the Mondeo clutch is a known problem. At 36,000 miles I was towing my caravan up a slip road off the M6 (crawling in traffic). When I got to the top & pulled away the clutch slip was horrendous, I eventually got the car moving aiming to get it off the dual carriageway & call the RAC. After about four miles the slip stopped. I have now done 100,000 miles on the same clutch....

Apparently the clutches can stick when hot (I found this out via the "HonestJohn" web site). It is a known problem by Ford, but apparently they won't admit to it.

 

[RichardS1]

In reply to Paul's comment, towing a Ranger you are well within the weight restrictions Ford publish for towing with the Mondeo. Do not let the dealer use the towbar as the reason for the fault.

 

[LMH]

Hi Philip

Burnt out clutches IS a recognised problem with the Tdci's.

Also another problem, particularly with 02 and 52 registered models, is a problem with the diesel pump - it sometimes cracks which leads to serious malfunction/contamination of the fuel injection system. That happended to my other mondeo 2L 130 (52 reg) a couple of months ago. Megga money to repair.

I've now got a 130 05 reg with six gears. I've only towed with it twice so can't comment on the clutch problem but as stated above, it is a recognised problem which I shall certainly be looking out for. With my luck it's bound to burn out.

I'll be towing a van with a laden weight of around 1340kgs.

Lisa