Hello

walnut

Forum user
Dec 9, 2012
10
1
Lincolnshire
Hi everyone, just checking in as a new Cougar owner :)

I can't say I was particularly looking to replace my car but was talking about it on a Skype call with the old man and we spent some time flicking through AutoTrader and saw this one. I must admit I was hooked on it's good looks right from the start - I'm so shallow. Anyway, it's sat in the drive now, looking as good as new, no dings or scratches that I've seen so far which is better than I was expecting for a car of it's age. It's a T-reg, 99k, V6, gray/silver job. Thoroughly enjoyed the drive back home with the stereo off so I could hear it's grumble.

The poor thing must have been thirsty as it glugged 56ish miles for a quarter of the tank though!
 
Hello Walnut and welcome to the forum.
Grey/silver will be Silver Frost if it's not had a non standard colour respray.
The fuel computers are notoriously inaccurate especially at the bottom end of the tank. You should be getting around low 30's mpg depending on the heaviness of your right foot and the condition of the engine.
 
Hi, welcome to ukcougar.com, your in the right place for all things cougar related, as well as some crazy banter. You will also be able to find all the fixes you need in our subscriber sections. Have a browse around the open forums and get a feel for the place. Remember! ukcougar.com is the only workshop manual for the big cat. Sounds like you got yourself i good example. Give it a good service though asap, including a new fuel filter. (y)
 
Welcome Walnut!

Do you have any history with the car? 56 miles on 1/4 tank is not good, but as Pid says, it probably just wants a good service. But if that's a way off for the moment, at least reset all the counters and see how you go.

A good V6 should give you low to mid 30s MPG depending on where and how you drive.
 
Hi walnut and welcome to the home of the Cougar. Everything you need to know about your car will be found on this site somewhere. I would suggest paying the 18 quid subscription for access to all areas as there is a wealth of knowledge available.
 
Welcome to the club mate, have a browse around the sections that are available to you and see what you find.


JJ
 
Thanks for the welcome, including the french one. I see a lot of piccies around here so I'll probably upload a couple so you can see how nice it makes my driveway look.

I may subscribe but as I'm in no way mechanically minded, I don't honestly think it'd do me all that good. Just rechecked the history and it was serviced 6k miles ago, although it didn't mention the fuel filter. If it's easy enough to access, I may tackle that one myself. Am I right in thinking I need one for a mk2 Mondeo?

I've been reading about the IMRC because I'm not sure if I feel a surge at 3500rpm or not. Unfortunately, I haven't really had time to take it out and get to grips with the car yet but I'll be able to see what's what at the weekend. Is it a significant boost?
 
Bonjour again! To be honest, the information on here really is for your reference as an owner more than anything. We have fully detailed how to's purely so if you want to have a go at something, you can muster the confidence and know you're not alone. Many people that have been members like yourself have eventually been able to maintain there own cars and do all the simple stuff like brakes and servicing themselves saving a fortune in garage bills. It is also there as over the years people have been turned away from garages for owning a Cougar as the garage have not encountered one before.

The IMRC kick is noticable, not like a harsh noticable but you'll know if it's working or not, it's just like a little help with acceleration from roughly 3500 rpm. If it feels like you're flooring it and sod all is happening then chances are the IMRC will be at fault somewhere. Using that as an example, a garage would happily bill you £140 for a new IMRC plus labour when the actual fix costs just a few quid for the actual part and just requires being able to use a socket set and a screw driver to remove the IMRC and a soldering iron to do the fix. Failing that send it to Rob who will do all the necessaries for £20 :)
 
Hello and welcome aboard.....ignore the mpg...just get in, start her up, floor it and listen to that glorious V6 roar!!!! LOL!!!!
 
Hello and welcome aboard.....ignore the mpg...just get in, start her up, floor it and listen to that glorious V6 roar!!!! LOL!!!!

...followed by a nice rub-down, warmed 5W/30 from a sterile pipette, and a pat on the flank to say "good night".

I...I'm not...I'm not the only one who does that, right? o_O
 
Bonjour again! To be honest, the information on here really is for your reference as an owner more than anything. We have fully detailed how to's purely so if you want to have a go at something, you can muster the confidence and know you're not alone. Many people that have been members like yourself have eventually been able to maintain there own cars and do all the simple stuff like brakes and servicing themselves saving a fortune in garage bills. It is also there as over the years people have been turned away from garages for owning a Cougar as the garage have not encountered one before.

The IMRC kick is noticable, not like a harsh noticable but you'll know if it's working or not, it's just like a little help with acceleration from roughly 3500 rpm. If it feels like you're flooring it and sod all is happening then chances are the IMRC will be at fault somewhere. Using that as an example, a garage would happily bill you £140 for a new IMRC plus labour when the actual fix costs just a few quid for the actual part and just requires being able to use a socket set and a screw driver to remove the IMRC and a soldering iron to do the fix. Failing that send it to Rob who will do all the necessaries for £20 :)

Subscribed :D

I was coming home a few minutes ago and there was a chance to make a quick get away from the lights so I give it a bit of the jollies in 1st, but didn't really feel a difference from 3500rpm. Maybe a tiny bit, but I could have easily not noticed anything. When I'm next out, I'll give it some profound jollies and see if it's any different, see if it propels me back through the driver's seat and into the back buckets. It's looking for all the world like I need some IMRC magic though.
 
Just been reading a bit more and watched a youtube video of someone fiddling with the IMRC. If I wanted to check that the secondaries are engaging, can I pop the lid off the IMRC to check the cogs turn, then just close it back up? I'm assuming so. Could I even just unplug the cables going into it from the right and see if it performs the same? That would conclusively identify whether or not the IMRC needs attention, right?

Have I mentioned I have no confidence/knowledge whatsoever in car related jiggerypokery?
 
Subscribed :D

I was coming home a few minutes ago and there was a chance to make a quick get away from the lights so I give it a bit of the jollies in 1st, but didn't really feel a difference from 3500rpm. Maybe a tiny bit, but I could have easily not noticed anything. When I'm next out, I'll give it some profound jollies and see if it's any different, see if it propels me back through the driver's seat and into the back buckets. It's looking for all the world like I need some IMRC magic though.

Not everyone gets the massive kick from the secondaries opening, For me they have always been just a little extra surge in power not a kick of any description, this has been the same for me with all 3 of the cougars i have owned... Put it this way, you will know if the IMRC is not working as the car will feel really sluggish from around 3500rpm..
 
Not everyone gets the massive kick from the secondaries opening, For me they have always been just a little extra surge in power not a kick of any description, this has been the same for me with all 3 of the cougars i have owned... Put it this way, you will know if the IMRC is not working as the car will feel really sluggish from around 3500rpm..

If you start the car, stand on the passenger side and rev the engine using the throttle body you will see a linkage bar under the throttle body connecting the LIM butterflies front and rear bank, if the IMRC is working you will see this bar move a couple of inches after around 3500rpm. then the IMRC is working, if the bar does not move then it's not working.. .
 
That's a bit disappointing to hear. I was hoping I was there was more poke to be had. Thanks for the heads up.

Would still like to know if I can check by the methods I mention above. Can't hurt, right?