Hello All. Im New

S

shaggygareth

Forum user
Aug 23, 2012
46
1
Lincoln
Hi, My name is Gareth. I live in Lincoln, I am single with 3kids, I am a computer engineer by trade, tho currently unemployed :(

I'd class myself as a Needy forum user as I know very little about cars, and nothing about the Cougar other than whats in the manual.

I have just bought my first ever Ford ^^ No really, never owned a ford before, In 18years of driving..... So I chose a Cougar as my first.
I bought an X Reg Ford Cougar 2.5l V6 with X Pack, Silver with 103,000 on clock. No tax, 6months MOT
Cost me £300+121 for Tax. so £421 Total, but I got £200 back from scrapping my Rover 75.
As I expected from buying a car at 300 squid, it has quite a few faults. I know virtually nothing about cars at all, so a Mechanic is going to have a look this weekend, so far I have noticed these things:-

The Bad:-
Stereo has no sound. Has power, all leads connected, speakers seem to make a sound from the Nokia Phone adapter but thats it....
Front Discs/Pads need replacing
Rear Pads Need Replacing
Power steering makes a very quiet whine at full lock.
Slight knock sound over a bump, seems to come from rear of car.
Front Tyres need replacing.
All corners are scratched (Previous owners couldnt park :( )
Big Scratch on drivers side, looks like a Multistory car parking fail lol.
Alloy wheels in dreadful condition
2 Front Tyres needed.

The Good:-
Gears/Clutch seems to be good - No sticking, Clutch Bite quite high on pedal.
Engine Purrs and is sooo quiet
Air Con Works
Trip computer Works
Exhaust seems in good condition.
All Heating/Cooling fans work, windscreen & Rear screen demisters work
No warning lights
Engine Temp reads normal
Still goes very fast, (Not saying how I know ;) )
Got it to 36MPG driving home from Shrewsbury to Lincoln according to Trip computer.

And the Ugly:-
Engine seems sooo hot, even bonnet is untouchable after a run....
Tyres! I am struggling to even find some to fit, and even then they start at £80 per tyre ^^
Missing a few switches/bolts like boot cover bolts and the flippin Alloy Wheel Key grrrrr

I really am hoping to restore it to a better, safer car than I bought, but with very little money and no experience I am up front saying If I manage it, it will be with help and hopefully some knowledge from the forum.... I am being open and honest and I hope I dont offend anyone by that

But If you need to know anything computer related, cheap parts or tech support, especially gaming harware/software/servers then Im your man !!!
 
Welcome!! Sounds like a small mission you have there ;)

Tyres I'd swap to 225/50R16, did this with my first two cougars with no issues at all, bonus being much more readily available and much cheaper.

Steering whine whilst common, depends on how loud it is, may just want some fresh fluid. If there's a leak, the common faults etc are in the Subscriber sections.

Engine, they all get quite hot, not driven a V6 that doesn't. Do you have the bonnet lining still in? Sounds like it may be missing.

Regards the stereo, that'll be an in car diagnosis depending on the kit fitted and how well??

Lastly the knocking noise is either drop link or sub frame related, only an examination will clarify it, ones cheap and one isn't! Again, full information on all this can be found in the subs sections. They're all issues that one of us has encountered at some point and is all recorded on here. Have a gander and importantly, enjoy! :)


On a side note, my last Cougar lives your way and we've even a couple of people in your neck of the woods :)
 
Hi, Im new

I tried posting before, but my post never went up, I dont know if i said something wrong?

Anyway I just bought my first ford, a ford cougar 2.5l v6 x pack silver. Cost me £300 and is in a rather poor state :( Seems to drive ok atm though.
 
hi and welcome. There is a derth of information on here to help to you get the car back up to spec. It costs £18 per year, but more than worth it.

Some of us also have lots of parts for sale if you need em
 
Welcome chap, i would not worry too much about the state of your car, mine was in pretty poor condition when i got it, it looked like it had been used on a farm for 5 years..
Take a look around the forum, as already been said the subscription is £18, but it's the best £18 i have ever spent, everything you need to know is in here.. (y)
 
Welcome chap, mine was in a right state when I bought it too, so long as it's straight enough underneath they're worth doing, good luck with it!
 
shaggygareth said:
I tried posting before, but my post never went up, I dont know if i said something wrong?

Anyway I just bought my first ford, a ford cougar 2.5l v6 x pack silver. Cost me £300 and is in a rather poor state :( Seems to drive ok atm though.
Click to expand...

According to your profile, you've posted twice but only one of them - the one I'm replying to - is searchable. If you posted something in the wrong place, it might have been moved to an area that you (as a non-subscriber) don't have access to.

So, that's a very cheap Coug you got there. In what way is it in a bad state? Mechanically or cosmetic? What servicing have you done?
 
shaggygareth said:
Now i am posting in the right place or posting at all I can tell you lol.


Has a very slight whine on steering at full lock.

knocks when going over bumps, but sounds better than my old Rover 75 lol
Click to expand...

I think the whine on full lock is normal on most cars ?
The knock will be anti-roll bar drop links, they are a cheap part (about a fiver each) and quite easy to change. There are two at the front and two at the back. The expensive suspension item to look out for is the front wishbones, the rubber perishes and they are over a hundred quid each.
 
Well it doesn't sound like there's anything terminal there. I guess the first things I'd be doing are;

a) Check that the brake lines were replaced after that advisory,
b) Work out what that engine whine/howl is, (Belt? Idler?),
c) Get those lockers removed before you get a puncture.

Seems to me you've got some work that needs doing, but nothing more than I'd expect from a £300 car. Have you looked at the underside? Particularly the rear?
 
Mako said:
Well it doesn't sound like there's anything terminal there. I guess the first things I'd be doing are;
Seems to me you've got some work that needs doing, but nothing more than I'd expect from a £300 car. Have you looked at the underside? Particularly the rear?
Click to expand...

a) Check that the brake lines were replaced after that advisory,
b) Work out what that engine whine/howl is, (Belt? Idler?),
c) Get those lockers removed before you get a puncture.

a) Like I said, I am not mechanical at all. I cant see anything wrong personally, but judging by the brakes, Im guessing nothings been done.
b) No idea - Might just need a service - Oil sparks etc.
c) I have the original ford code for a key, am ordering one on monday, but It takes 3-4weeks to arrive.
 
shaggygareth said:
a) Like I said, I am not mechanical at all. I cant see anything wrong personally, but judging by the brakes, Im guessing nothings been done.
b) No idea - Might just need a service - Oil sparks etc.
c) I have the original ford code for a key, am ordering one on monday, but It takes 3-4weeks to arrive.
Click to expand...

a) That's a shame. If you own an older (but sound) car, being able to do things yourself will save you a fortune. If you're interested in learning, do you know a friendly mechanic who can help you learn the basics?

b) Yeah, that's the stuff I'm talking about. You don't even need expensive tools really. I understand if you don't really want to learn, but most service items really aren't that hard if you have a £35 socket set. The belts though are a little more involved and a cambelt failure will kill a car of that price, so I'd definitely get that looked into.

c) Then I wish you 4-6 weeks of nail- and bottle-free driving!

Good luck, shaggy. (y)
 
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