It's with a heavy heart that I must report that I believe my Mondeo is critically ill.
I've had a "noise" since before her MoT, last December, but only in the last couple of months has it been loud enough to work out roughly where it was coming from.
It seems to be the front nearside so I hoped wheel bearing, although it didn't sound quite like one . . . It wasn't, I checked and it was fine.
Maybe drive shaft, then ?
The drive shaft does have a bearing, apparently, but this is on the other side . . . I took her to the garage yesterday and after a test drive and a few tests, the verdict was gearbox.
I also have a buggered rear shock, too (nothing major in itself).
A unknown secondhand gearbox will be around £100, labour at least £300.
Shocks will be £50, labour around £80.
Tax and MoT run out at the end of December.
She passed 249,000 miles yesterday.
I think the plan will be to re-new my AA membership and try to get her to December.
Maybe Santa will buy me something nice for Christmas.