Just picked up Mondeo from dealers. Turns out the aux belt tensioner=20 pulley wasn't the problem but the alternator was.
Anyway, they fitted a new one - total bill =A3210 - without telling me=20 first.
=A3210 is a lot of fooking money for an alternator, even with main dealer= =20 labour so I do a bit of ringing around.
Well my favourite reconditioners won't even touch them as they're such=20 a bastard to do so that kind of got me a bit worried. Phones a few=20 factors to be told it'll be between =A3140 and =A3170 depending on which=20 one of 4 it is that's fitted to my car.
So..potters off to the main dealers and gets the bill. =A3114+VAT for a=20 brand new genuine Ford alternator. FUCK ME, THAT'S CHEAP. 1.5hrs labour=20 for investigation and fitting.
Turns out I got quite a good deal. Bit of a heart attack with the=20 labour but you need a special tool to relieve the aux belt tensioner in=20 the first place (could do it with a 1/2" ratchet but the engine is too=20 close to the inner wing to get it in) and it's still a good hours job=20 just to change the belt.
Explained to the woman who had rung me that I'm used to =A350 for a Capri= =20 alternator and it being 10 minutes to swap it over - 5 of that spent=20 putting the kettle on for a brew when the job is done, so it came as a=20 bit of a shock.
--=20 Conor
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't=20 looking good either. - Scott Adams