Description of the car body

Hour last «European» Ford with rear-wheel drive struck in 1993. The Sierra successor has been branded Mondeo ever since, from model year 2001 in its second generation: no old wine in new hoses - the latest Mondeo is a thorough new design that convinces conceptually and is in tune with the spirit of the times. This rookie has had a flawless, lightning-fast start – and not just in Germany. The 2001 edition is offered in three body styles and three trim levels: as a 4-door sedan; as a 5-door car - a hatchback and as a 5-door station wagon under the Turnier name - all together forming a company from «Ambiente», «Trend» or «Ghia». Only the ST200, with its special status, still flaunted relevance in the old «tracksuit» - at least until the serial launch of the ST220 in early 2002.

The positive features of the new Mondeo include, among other things, a light and stable body structure. In basic equipment (Ambiente) «empty» The 1.8-liter Mondeo, which has a sedan body, shows 1374 kilograms on the scales - up to 1600 kilograms increases the weight of the station wagon in the configuration «Ghia» with 85 kW DuraTorg direct injection engine. From the front to the B-pillar, unupholstered and unpainted bodies «eat» mostly the same details.

Vehicle interior

Mondeo manufacturers to some extent «sculpted» inside out: according to the system of the world of engineers, Mondeo offers up to five passengers «high level of ergonomics, comfort and functionality». Mondeo buyers initially benefit from a 2,754mm wheelbase and majestic roof: benefits that are bestowed on Mondeo crews everywhere in the form of ergonomic seats, easy entry and exit, and plenty of knee, shoulder and headroom. Without a doubt, in the middle class Mondeo flaunts its size - its landing places are more «upper class».



And all this in «suit to order», which even in narrow multi-storey parking garages or during peak hours looks «by air»: with 4731 mm in length (station wagon: 4804 mm), 1931 in width and 1429 - 1460 millimeters (station wagon: 1441–1514 mm) in terms of height, the modest Mondeo appears here. A completely different picture on the roads - here Ford trumps to a greater extent: even with a full payload (461–589 kg) on board, he quickly passes the turn like «Baby» and copes with potholes, cross seams or ground folds as «adult».

High level security

Significant structural elements of the raw and unpainted bodywork have been designed by Mondeo's manufacturers to be future-proof - heavily - with safety and collision requirements in mind. A decisive factor in Mondeo's high safety standard is its maximum «tough» passenger cell: Structural elements at the front, rear and sides of the vehicle absorb the energy generated by the collision «team». CAD models and Ramsis modeling enabled a more accurate on-screen analysis of new projects. For example, a computer colleague provided a picture of the nature of deformations on a scientific basis - real experiments with collisions were also used by engineers as confirmation of virtual data «reality». Only from 10 to 15% of all experiments were real collisions in kind, the rest were carried out on a computer through computer simulation.

50% more secure than its predecessor - front legroom

One of the main requirements for «unupholstered and unpainted body structure» says: front legroom should be more secure than its predecessor. This has been implemented - the risk of injury in the new Mondeo is 50% lower than in its predecessor. The reason: the subframe not only takes over the drive unit together with the front axle, it also has the function of an auxiliary frame with strictly defined deformation parameters.

«bends» from hydropower - front shock absorber

The front shock absorber is a steel transverse beam, which under the influence of strong water pressure (deep hydraulic drawing) from the inside to the outside can be deformed. At low collision speed (15 km/h) «trick» with water basically minimizes deformation behind the located structures of the car. A purse is always a cautious argument for insurance and for the amateur himself: Mondeo confirms this fact with its favorable hull rating and moderate post-accident repair costs.

Deforms under strong water pressure: front push rod holder up to (above) and after «trouble» (from below).

In addition, the structure of the front wall, the A-pillar, the B-pillar and the body floor components have been reinforced in the Mondeo. Wherever the absorption and transfer of deformation energy takes place - in the aggregate on 43% of the protruding parts of the metal sheets of the body - high-strength steel is used. In order for the steering column to have very little chance in a frontal collision «without abbreviations» to enter the salon, the dashboard cross member screwed between the A-pillars in the form of a rigid, closed tubular profile blocks its way. Together with the lower and upper stringers, which are designed to absorb energy, all this creates «humanely» the ongoing deformation process of the front of the car with the formation of sufficient space for the survival of passengers.

Rejects the steering column: the dashboard cross member in the form of a rigid closed tubular profile.

Provides fast dissipation of collision forces on the roof - B-pillars

Your Mondeo is also effectively protected from side «unpleasant encounters»: in this case, the B-stances take on the bulk of the forces - but they are here «not spent», but quickly «burn down» on the roof. To enhance its protective function «metal sky» got its own reinforced roof ribs. Additionally, the Mondeo can of course also be found with door protectors and, of course, impact-absorbing door trim or brake-inertia-compensating seats with appropriate fasteners.



Not only front or side «opponents» fends off the Mondeo with great flex and the necessary stability, its rear end can also «take over» collision energy without endangering passengers. Well, if the driver’s neighbor becomes completely «hot», then the emergency switch on the right front pillar cuts off the fuel supply, thereby preventing the appearance of large «puddles of petrol» and subsequent conflagration. To make it easier for rescuers to get inside the cabin, the doors of the 2000s Mondeo can now also be opened with a strong arc handle: it withstands the load of large traction forces and thus does not capitulate to «clamped» doors.

Favorable for a purse - an easy-to-repair body

As a result, the second generation Mondeo satisfies the legal requirements of ECE and Euro-NCAP regulations. In addition, it is also located in the green zone of Ford's internal transferable standard. Any standard does not distinguish between a man and a woman: therefore, all security measures should fully reveal their optimal protective effect for both 5% of women», and for 95% of men. Legislative regulations «knew» still only 50% of men. And in the Mondeo, parents fasten their children in child seats at Isofix base points.

However, the modern Mondeo acquired its body, relatively favorably related to repairs, from its ancestors: good information for those who like to delve into the car themselves, you deserve to know it.

Structural elements of the body - front and rear glass

The following sections will be devoted exclusively to simple body work that you can do yourself. The front and rear windows, as well as the glued-in side windows of the station wagon, of course, must be handled by a professional: for these structural elements of the body, this is a typical case for a workshop.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Hobbyist hands off seat belt pretensioner The front three-point seat belts are in principle equipped with pretensioners. In a collision, within 10 milliseconds, the belts are instantly tensioned using a squib, and within the next five milliseconds, they are riveted «crew» car to the backs of the front seats. This happens automatically. Once the pre-programmed delay value is exceeded, the gas generators ignite and tension the belts. Work on the automatic winding and tensioning of the seat belts must always be carried out by professionals who have completed specialized training courses and have been trained in the proper handling of airbags, pretensioners. Thus, their practical experience should be learned, for your own safety and the safety of your neighbor is always of great value. Attention: BEFORE carrying out body work under the vehicle «defuse» seat belt pretensioners and airbags. Please always carry out body work in the areas of the airbag and seat belts with pretensioner carefully: even light blows from a hammer or vibrations from an impact driver can be misinterpreted by the sensors as an emergency. And as a result: they work for no reason. Therefore, before doing any body work below, disconnect the battery and allow the airbag and pretensioner capacitors to discharge for at least five minutes. Detects a loaded seat belt: Hall effect sensor in the seat belt buckle. 1 - Seat belt buckle with Hall sensor, 2 - Pyrotechnic pretensioner, 3 - Mounting wire of the seat belt buckle, 4 — A control lamp of a workplace of the driver.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Body work Most of the repairs described in this chapter can be carried out using basic tools. The hood, tailgate and side doors are quite bulky elements, so it is advisable to have at least one assistant. And finally, one more useful tip when working with the hood and tailgate: you can make installation easier for yourself if you mark the position of the hinges during dismantling.