Oh dear. Ford dealer said clutch was dragging...

I did put the possibility of gearbox mount being the issue to the tech there. He said he'd NEVER encountered that as being a cause of tough gear change. He also said it wouldn't make sense for this to be the culprit as the Mondeo has a cable clutch. Oh dear...!

Ignore the tech - all Mk3 Mondeos have hydraulic clutches. Take the car to a decent independent who specialises in Fords. The dealer's tech is obviosly an idiot, or is talking about the cable operated gear selection. Clutch is definitely hydraulic.

As I said, I had the exact same problem. Clutch was done, problem was still there. Mechanic said it was common for the bottom mount to go, so knew exactly what was wrong once he'd taken it out for a test drive after doing the clutch. My clutch wasn't worn, but it was contaminated by fluid leaking from the slave cylinder (see? Hydraulic!)

He fitted a new mount from a breakers for £60 including the fitting.

The mechanic is use is an ex-Ford Master Technician who worked at a local Ford dealership that closed a few years ago. He's then gone and opened his own garage, specialising in Fords.

Edited by ChannelZ on 01/02/2012 at 20:16

I took the car back to the dealer who supplied it. His mechanic does not agree the clutch is dragging (but he would say that...) and says the gear change problem is 'slight' (he would say that too!). But he has replaced gearbox oil with the correct oil - resulting in a slight improvement, apparently. At my behest, he is about to check the gearbox mount.

Please excuse my complete ignorance about mechanical matters... is the gearbox mount in fact the same thing as the engine mount? Also, I am very interested as to how I could definitely determine whether clutch is dragging 'at home on on my drive'.

Many thanks for all replies. :)

Well the latest on this is that dealer's mechanic changed the gearbox oil (with little improvement) and checked lower gearbox mount and engine mounts. He found all mounts to be fine. He is of the opinion that the issue could be down to gearbox cables having stretched...

I've also now tested the clutch in the way unthrottled described and the wheels do stop immediately the clutch is depressed. What has become apparent is that the problem seems to disappear in the wet weather! Yes really, I've noticed this a few times now. So perhaps I will repeat the clutch test in the dry...

Might the 'whining' I mentioned (when car is in neutral and clutch not depressed) provide any clue?

Edited by cosmicjazzer on 22/02/2012 at 14:32

The car is a good'un apart from the gear change issue so I'm dabbling with the idea of getting the complete gearbox replaced (with a used box from breakers).

But before thinking about going there I must ask: Given that it appears clutch cannot be the issue and that gearbox/engine mounts have been ruled out too, am I right in thinking that the issue MUST be the gearbox?

As mentioned, the dealer's mechanic has already replaced gearbox oil and has also lubricated at top of box. He speculated that a stretched gearbox cable might be the culprit. Presumably, changing the box would include cable right? (really showing my ignorance here, I know!)

Am also wondering how many hours labour replacing the box might take...

Edited by cosmicjazzer on 25/02/2012 at 18:29

I had the 2.5l petrol with a similar problem with engaging reverse and first.

1 -solution engage reverse and then start car- problem solved.

2 - solution with engaging first when cold- dont- just start off in 2nd - no problem.

check to Ford Mondeo owners forums - LOTS of useful info

ChannelZ: I have some reason to think the dealer's mechanic DID check the mounts, as he claimed.. He struck me as being a decent chap and seemed to want to get to the bottom of the issue. He spoke about the indents in the mount washers showing no sign of having been replaced in a different position (or something like that - I didn't follow 100% if the truth be known...) Having said that, I guess it could do no harm to get a second opinion - presumably it wiil be evident if a mount is persished?

I do have a question I'd like to throw out there: As I mentioned, I checked the clutch by raising front wheels and putting into gear. The wheels immediately stopped turning when the clutch was depressed while in gear.

Now it's obvious that if the wheels had continued spinning this would prove the clutch was dragging, but I am wondering if the fact that the wheels stopped necessarily proves that the clutch is NOT dragging. If a clutch was dragging only slightly is it possible the wheels would still stop?

It seems that used gearboxes are available from £75, so if gearbox replacement seems the way to go, it need not be a complete disaster financially.

Edited by cosmicjazzer on 28/02/2012 at 03:46

Thank you ChannelZ. Appreciate it!

I'm not mechanically inclined and have no axle stands so will have to take car somewhere....

what a loada garbage mate.talking outta yer a***