Couple Of Noob Questions

MadMardegan

I'm thinking of driving from Dublin to Bulgaria during the summer in a 02 Ford Mondeo Lx 1.8 petrol.
The car is in relatively good nick (and only 63.5k miles on the clock) but I've had one or two issues.
Occasionally it'll rough idle, both when cold and warm.
Takes a long time to start after filling up usually (sometimes 5-6 seconds), sometimes longer.
Have an annoying intermittent rattle occassionally in it, no idea where it's coming from either. Was told by a friend who's a mechanic not to worry too much about it but it's annoying me.
Brakes need to be changed and I think possibly the bearrings (drove out to the sugar loaf last weekend and when driving along I noticed a sqweek that sounded like it was coming from the front wheels when I turned to the left, went away when braking.

Now, I plan on getting all of these checked and sorted before going but what other things will I need to have checked before leaving? I'll get a good full service but is there anything you'd recommend asking the mechanic to look at or change? Will most likely be bringing it to a ford dealer, expensive I know but at least I know they'll do it properly.

Also, any ideas what might be causing the problems I already mentioned? It's due a service in 2k miles, had the coils changed around July last year, I've put around 8-9k on it since then.

Cheers for the replies.

Overature

id defenetly make sure to get the brakes looked at, especially if there is a squeeking, last thing you want to do is brake down on some road in the back arse of europe!

MadMardegan

Overature wrote: »

id defenetly make sure to get the brakes looked at, especially if there is a squeeking, last thing you want to do is brake down on some road in the back arse of europe!

Haha bloody sure!

Yeah there's a squeaking coming from them when braking, need to get it checked.

Del2005

Sort out the issues you know about. Give it a service before you go and make sure your tyres will last the journey.

Buy European recovery and enjoy.

MadMardegan

Del2005 wrote: »

Sort out the issues you know about. Give it a service before you go and make sure your tyres will last the journey.

Buy European recovery and enjoy.

Yeah that's the plan.

Was just wondering is there anything else I should be looking out for, timing belt etc

I know next to nothing about cars in all honesty so was hoping to get some ideas from people here

MadMardegan

MadMardegan wrote: »

................
Takes a long time to start after filling up usually (sometimes 5-6 seconds), sometimes longer. ................

Wouldn't fancy taking that for a long spin in case it didn't start at all one day, have no idea what could be causing it though unless the fuel pump is dodgy or something.

Bearings would resonate more than squeak though so I wouldn't be worried about them so much. Brakes can be checked out easily and sorted cheaply

2001 to 2007 Mondeos have timing chains in the 1.8 variety too so no timing belt

Would be worth getting the auxiliary belt(s) checked though and replaced if necessary.

MadMardegan

RoverJames wrote: »

MadMardegan wrote: »

................
Takes a long time to start after filling up usually (sometimes 5-6 seconds), sometimes longer. ................

Wouldn't fancy taking that for a long spin in case it didn't start at all one day, have no idea what could be causing it though unless the fuel pump is dodgy or something.

Bearings would resonate more than squeak though so I wouldn't be worried about them so much. Brakes can be checked out easily and sorted cheaply

2001 to 2007 Mondeos have timing chains in the 1.8 variety too so no timing belt

Would be worth getting the auxiliary belt(s) checked though and replaced if necessary.

So the timing chains don't need to be changed?

Yeah I want to get that slow starting checked. It only happens maybe 1/10 times but usually after filling up. Annoying as well.

MadMardegan

MadMardegan wrote: »

So the timing chains don't need to be changed?
............

Not unless they are rattling or stretched, some do routinely but not at 63k miles

MadMardegan

RoverJames wrote: »

MadMardegan wrote: »

So the timing chains don't need to be changed?
............

Not unless they are rattling or stretched, some do routinely but not at 63k miles

Cool, good to know

Thanks man

psychward

Are you driving back in the opposite direction too ? I'd probably get a better or same car for less money and dodge the VRT/punitive taxes by buying it outside of Ireland and getting it serviced abroad too since it wouldn't come into contact with Irish customs and excise unless I brought it home. It's a pretty long drive and wont do the vehicle's value or condition any favors.

MadMardegan

psychward wrote: »

Are you driving back in the opposite direction too ? I'd probably get a better or same car for less money and dodge the VRT/punitive taxes by buying it outside of Ireland and getting it serviced abroad too since it wouldn't come into contact with Irish customs and excise unless I brought it home. It's a pretty long drive and wont do the vehicle's value or condition any favors.

Definitely won't be buying a car for the trip.

I plan on sticking mostly to motorways where possible, know it won't be great for the car but can't see it blowing up or anything.

psychward

psychward wrote: »

..........I'd probably get a better or same car for less money and dodge the VRT/punitive taxes by buying it outside of Ireland and getting it serviced abroad too since it wouldn't come into contact with Irish customs and excise unless I brought it home.............

How would the VRT be dodged?

firefly08

Definitely won't be buying a car for the trip.

I plan on sticking mostly to motorways where possible, know it won't be great for the car but can't see it blowing up or anything.

You'll be fine. It's a common misconception that a long trip is hard on a car. Actually what you have planed will be the easiest 3600 miles the car will ever do. A lot of people would rack up the same number of miles in 3 or 4 months commuting to work and wouldn't expect any problems. But they'd be doing 60-80 journeys in the car, lots of cold starts, lots of clutching and braking and the whole lot. You'll be doing hardly any of that.

One thing though...Bulgaria gets hot in the summer - it might be worth having the cooling system flushed and bled if it hasn't been done in while.

psychward

RoverJames wrote: »

How would the VRT be dodged?

Legally avoided rather than dodged. Why would you have to pay punitive Irish VRT/customs taxes on a car which never enters Irish territory ? These taxes make up what something like up to 50% of a car price over here ? Far better to drive the sh1t out of a cheaper yet better spec car and then offload it before you re-enter Ireland. Anyway that doesn't suit the OP.

Oh right, buying and selling it abroad, that'd be a pain I imagine.

psychward

RoverJames wrote: »

Oh right, buying and selling it abroad, that'd be a pain I imagine.

It might not be as much pain as handing the government a few grand in return for nothing.

The chap already has a car
He won't be paying VRT

psychward

RoverJames wrote: »

The chap already has a car
He won't be paying VRT

That fact was already established earlier

MadMardegan

firefly08 wrote: »

Definitely won't be buying a car for the trip.

I plan on sticking mostly to motorways where possible, know it won't be great for the car but can't see it blowing up or anything.

You'll be fine. It's a common misconception that a long trip is hard on a car. Actually what you have planed will be the easiest 3600 miles the car will ever do. A lot of people would rack up the same number of miles in 3 or 4 months commuting to work and wouldn't expect any problems. But they'd be doing 60-80 journeys in the car, lots of cold starts, lots of clutching and braking and the whole lot. You'll be doing hardly any of that.

One thing though...Bulgaria gets hot in the summer - it might be worth having the cooling system flushed and bled if it hasn't been done in while.

Exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Cheers man