I'm currently looking at buying a 2004 ST TDCI (ex company car from my employer) with 60k on the clock.

There are 2 main known issues with the car so I was just wondering if anyone had experience with either....

1) black cloud of smoke on start up - disappears as soon as its running (ie it doesnt persist until up to temp or anything like that).

2) air conditioning - I believe the compressor is cracked or somethign along those lines. is this a mega bucks main dealer job? I've been told by the lad who used to run it that they'd had a quote of near £400. I'm not really bothered about air con and the price will reflect.

3) Drivers heated seat seems to work but not anywhere near as well as passenger - tbh i can live with this but wondered if there's an easy fix?

Other than that it seems spot on.

 

You can get the aircon compressor much cheapr if you buy a recon unit and have it fitted privately not by a dealer...prolly about £250 all in and filled

Cloud of black smoke on startup is fairly normal

 

Ive no experience with any of your problems with the car. Mines only on nearly 27k tho.

STDrivers forum might help. Lots on the ST TDCi on there.

Andy

 

smoke i really wouldn't worry about unless it's obviously cloads of smoke and you cant see accross the street.

heated seat, most likely the element has burnt out, involves stripping the seat down.

air con, no common probs, avoid buying one on ebay though, moisture in the air gets into to them and fucks them up.

 

101K on mine and it still runs bang on, no smoke, nothing. Take it somewhere independent to be checked, dealers just want to bum you and charge you for the privilege.

 

I've got a 2005 Mondeo ST TDCI with 50k on the clock. I have the cloud of smoke on startup and clears as soon as it's running as well, but I've had loads of Ford diesels and they all seem to do that after they've done a certain amount of miles. Mine was one owner before me and it's fine.

The other problems I've not experienced to be honest.

The only other problem I've really had with mine is that it goes through a lot of front tyres. Check for cracks on the walls of the front tyres as well because both of my original set of front tyres cracked badly and had to be replaced well before the tread ran down. I think it's due to the amount of weight on the front end so make sure you have a good brand of tyre on the front. This is the third set of front tyres I've had on mine.

 

Mine lasted 26k. That was on the orignal Conti SC2's. Probally been swaped from the rear at some point. Just put new Uniroyal RainSport2's on all round.

Andy