Katiegan's Garage | Winter Plans

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Zyla
Wow, the car seems so healthy judging by how it looks cosmetically. Didn't realize it was so sick underneath the hood. :(
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Unfortunately, that is the case. The photos make him look a lot better anyway, but up close the body is in a pretty bad state too. He's on the verge of rotting underneath and we discovered more marks on the front bumper from various people backing into him. Considering he only has 84k miles, his engine really shouldn't be in such a bad condition, after all, he's supposed to have Mazda's 'bulletproof' engine. Lack of maintenance is probably the reason why. A couple of years ago when my dad was out of work, we went nearly 2 years without servicing him. :crazy:
 
Katiegan
Unfortunately, that is the case. The photos make him look a lot better anyway, but up close the body is in a pretty bad state too. He's on the verge of rotting underneath and we discovered more marks on the front bumper from various people backing into him. Considering he only has 84k miles, his engine really shouldn't be in such a bad condition, after all, he's supposed to have Mazda's 'bulletproof' engine. Lack of maintenance is probably the reason why. A couple of years ago when my dad was out of work, we went nearly 2 years without servicing him. :crazy:
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I can relate to that. My car has apparently gone over 10k miles since its last service. I wasn't too happy to hear that, and even worse is I don't have the money to pay for it.

That's too bad for Bruiser, though. I hope things work out for you and him both in the long run. 👍
 
Wow that is pretty low miles for having as many problems as you do.
 
Sorry for the lack of updates guys - GTA is too damn addictive, and there hasn't really been much to update! We took him to the usual garage to get his headlights fixed, but they still seem to be wanting to do their own thing, same goes for the reverse lights. The new engine is almost here, just a few more weeks of saving up and he'll be ready for the transplant! If all goes well, we might be treating him to a trip to Wales to watch Rally GB, the last round of the WRC. We'll also be getting him a new clutch because there's no point in changing the engine without changing the clutch. After that it's new bumpers, lights, and everything else to make him awesome again.
 
Katiegan
after all, he's supposed to have Mazda's 'bulletproof' engine.
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All engines in that era of Mondeo are Ford units, I'm afraid. All variations on the Duratec theme.

Virtually no connection between the Mondeo and the Mazda6 around that time - and the MZR used in the Mazda really is pretty bulletproof.
 
homeforsummer
All engines in that era of Mondeo are Ford units, I'm afraid. All variations on the Duratec theme.

Virtually no connection between the Mondeo and the Mazda6 around that time - and the MZR used in the Mazda really is pretty bulletproof.
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Oh, I know the engine is a Duratec, but according to my dad the engine is Mazda derived at least. Bruiser's also an awkward crossover, he's a very late (December) 53 plate, so he's one of the first facelifts. It's hard to tell which bits he does and doesn't have, because when you order an oil filter, the database says he needs a paper filter, when in fact he doesn't. Not sure if that has anything to do with which engine he has, but there you go. I'm just going by what my dad says.
 
Yeah, it's pretty confusing.

Trouble is, Ford has called several generations of engine "Duratec" and only some of them have been shared with Mazda.

So far as I can work out through liberal use of Wikipedia, the MZR-related Duratecs first arrived in 2005, though Ford have had the rights to make them since 2003 and technically still do (as the Ecoboosts are Duratec-related).

I think while your generation of Mondeo lasted it was still using a Zeta-derived engine, which was introduced with cars like the Focus in the late 90s. From what I can see, the MZR itself, as found in Mazda6s, MX-5s and so-on, hasn't been put into any Fords, though Ford has a license for the design so stuff like blocks may be pretty similar.

Either way, as you say, it's probably hazy maintenance that has contributed to Bruiser's issues. Fords are the sort of cars where you really need to keep on top of that sort of stuff as they seem to degrade pretty quickly otherwise!
 
A quick update, with some not so good news.

Bruiser's clutch has died, so now we can't drive him or move him and he's stuck outside the house. We had him booked for next Tuesday to get his new engine but I suppose he couldn't hang on for that long. I'm not sure what there is to do now, we'll just have to get him towed to the garage by the AA or something. We certainly weren't expecting the clutch to go before the engine, so I'm not sure how much that will cost to sort out. :indiff:
 
What a dreadful situation. I'm sorry to hear that. Is it still the factory clutch, or has it been replaced since then?
 
That's terrible to hear, hope it gets sorted out.
 
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Slashfan
That's terrible to hear man, hope it gets sorted out.
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Are you positive its the clutch-clutch and not something like the clutch slave-cylinder ?. Unless you've been doing some wicked-launches (yo' :sly:) I'd be a little suspicious of a clutch that just 'went' w/o warning, I remember you mentioned clutch-replacement because you'd have everything out of the car and 'there', but don't recall any clutch-issues, just oil consumption and rough-running.

Also, we going to see you cruising again in GT6 or has GTA-O consumed you ? :p
 
In my experience, the clutch shouldn't just let go. If it's just the actual plate that's worn, once it cools off you should be able to use it again. My car did the same thing after being stopped on a large hill and trying to get up it. I let it cool for a bit, and it limped home.
 
Zyla
What a dreadful situation. I'm sorry to hear that. Is it still the factory clutch, or has it been replaced since then?
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Still the factory clutch, although we'll be replacing it with the engine.

Kurei
Are you positive its the clutch-clutch and not something like the clutch slave-cylinder ?. Unless you've been doing some wicked-launches (yo' :sly:) I'd be a little suspicious of a clutch that just 'went' w/o warning, I remember you mentioned clutch-replacement because you'd have everything out of the car and 'there', but don't recall any clutch-issues, just oil consumption and rough-running.

Also, we going to see you cruising again in GT6 or has GTA-O consumed you ? :p
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You're spot on! It is the slave cylinder that's gone, we think. My dad noticed a patch of something on the garage floor a few days ago but just presumed it was oil, but it was probably coming from the clutch-y area. I don't know an awful lot about clutches compared to other aspects of cars so I'm struggling to describe what's happened. Basically, my dad tried setting off and stalled, presumed his foot slipped and just tried again, but the car just kept stalling. Eventually he got Bruiser going again and everything seemed fine, he shifted fine on the journey home, but when he went to park Bruiser outside the house, he couldn't get any gears. He came to go to work, and the clutch pedal just went straight to the floor. No matter how much you pump it, or add fluid to it and pump it, the pedal still goes to the floor.

You'll see me in GT6 for sure. :p

hawkeye122
In my experience, the clutch shouldn't just let go. If it's just the actual plate that's worn, once it cools off you should be able to use it again. My car did the same thing after being stopped on a large hill and trying to get up it. I let it cool for a bit, and it limped home.
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It won't be that. Monday morning was when my dad noticed problems, and by Monday night there was still nothing. This morning, nothing, and again this evening, nothing. We live on a fairly steep hill, too, so I'm not too happy about Bruiser being stuck there with a handbrake that only works on one side.
 
On Wednesday night, our neighbours very kindly let us borrow their Lexus IS200. The husband is actually my dad's boss, and my dad phoned into work to say he was going to be late, and their son (who also works there and lives next door) offered to pick him up. Then the wife came round and gave us the keys to her Lexus and told us to drive it for as long as we needed to and just use it like it was our own. All together they've got about 5 cars, so the Lexus was just sat on the drive not doing anything anyway. Turns out, that either today or yesterday, they jetted off to Venice and left us in charge of the Lexus. Not sure if that's wise, leaving a RWD with a family of hoonigans... :sly:

I'm kidding. That would be mean. Even though she drives the Lexus like a maniac anyway.

I haven't managed to get a shot of our temporary replacement yet, so have an Instagram photo of the keys instead. Does this mean I can be like @Doog now? :p

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Yesterday we replaced Bruiser's battery because the old one died on Saturday, plus it had leaked acid. My dad managed to get him moving after starting in 1st gear, so after realising he could drive, he cleared off - without his phone. So my mum had to go out and look for my dad in case he was stuck somewhere while I stayed at home in case he came back. Turns out my dad managed to drive Bruiser down into the village (it's mostly downhill anyway :p) and then parked him in a health centre car park, as we don't have Home Start cover with the AA, so Bruiser needed to be at least a quarter of a mile away from home for them to come out and tow him. We left Bruiser there overnight and then this morning we called them up to come and tow him to the garage.

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So now Bruiser is finally at the garage to get his engine (and clutch/slave cylinder thingy) replaced! Also, because the AA towed us to the garage, they'll cover the cost of the clutch.

Although, the downside is, the wrong engine got delivered to the garage. They delivered a 1.8, instead of a 2.0. :grumpy: But Bruiser wasn't supposed to have his engine replaced until tomorrow, so it's not too bad.
 
I love your car, congrats on finally getting him fixed. Sucks about the engine though. Are you just gonna stick with the 1.8?
 
What you really want is a 3.0 V6 ;)

Oh and I did some reading up.. Apparently on early 1.8s and 2.0s there's a some plastic flap inside the intake manifold that wears out and ends up in pieces/chunks inside the cylinders.. Affects all cars built up to 02/03 sometime.. I guess you have your explaination.
If the replacement engine is an early one, I'd have those flaps changed to the newer ones if I was doing it.
 
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Zyla
I love your car, congrats on finally getting him fixed. Sucks about the engine though. Are you just gonna stick with the 1.8?
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Hell no! We bought the 2.0 engine and had it delivered to the garage, but they delivered the wrong one, so hopefully the 2.0 engine we bought is still around and not with someone who bought a 1.8!
eiriksmil
What you really want is a 3.0 V6 ;)
Oh and I did some reading up.. Apparently on early 1.8s and 2.0s there's a some plastic flap inside the intake manifold that wears out and ends up in pieces/chunks inside the cylinders.. Affects all cars built up to 02/03 sometime.. I guess you have your explaination.
If the replacement engine is an early one, I'd have those flaps changed to the newer ones if I was doing it.
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Thanks! I'll keep that in mind, although Bruiser is a late '03 and shares more things with the '04 Mondeo rather than the '02.
 
He's hoooooome!

After over a year of having a bad engine, Bruiser has finally had the transplant he needed! He's also had his clutch and flywheel replaced, and pretty much new everything. The garage also put him in for an MOT, and he passed on everything apart from the ratchet in the handbrake which is missing a few teeth, so we bought another one from the scrapyard for £15, and the garage said they'd fit it for about £30. Finding out he has nothing else wrong with him (at the moment) is a huge relief, which means we can now focus on buying new wheels, bumpers and lights!

Here's a potato quality photo of him shortly after he came home. I gave him a hug. ...don't judge me pls.

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My friend also noticed the reflection of the light at the top-right of his windscreen looks weirdly like the Mitsubishi logo.
 

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