What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

[catbus]

Changed the water pump tensioner..no more squeaky starts

Strangely the bolt I got from the FINIS code is different to what was on the car, on the car already was a 10mm fully threaded bolt and the FINIS is a 8mm half threaded bolt

New vs old

Thinking of changing mine whilst fitting the new water pump. Did the bolt come out easy enough for you? (Some here have found it a Pita )

 

[dandamano]

Thinking of changing mine whilst fitting the new water pump. Did the bolt come out easy enough for you? (Some here have found it a Pita )

It was in real tight with limted access , I used a 10mm spanner and a 2 foot bar on the end of it ( no space for ratchet) and came off easy then, wouldnt turn at all without the bar on the end

If your doing it the same time as the water pump you could remove the hose in front of the termostat then youd get a ratchet in easy

 

[catbus]

Ok cheers, I'll see how I get on (probably not good! )
Thanks for the advice.

 

[spjmorris]

I did mine without removing the hose(s) using a 3/8 6 point walldrive 8mm socket, then finish using a spanner.
Had to push the hose over with something to get enough clearance...it's very tight but doable.

 

[dandamano]

Started sorting out the rust in the inner sill

Attached a paintbrush to half a broom handle to get the top sections, just need to stonechip and waxoyl once thats dried

 

[backseateducation]

Good work Dan. It's an on-going battle!

 

[Relliott6879]

OK, I know this isn't a Cougar but, in my defence, I don't have one anymore! Seriously though, if anyone is unhappy then let me know and I'll move it.

So today, Dick and I tackled the job of swapping the headlights on Das Audi for left hand drive units, in preparation for the move. To say it was a sod of a job would be a huge understatement, the front bumper had to come off to access one of the headlight mounting bolts, the undertray and front wheelarch liners had to come off to take the bumper off, the front wheels had to come off to get the arch liners off... and I swear there are more bolts holding those few parts on than in an entire Cougar. Excluding brew and bacon breaks, the job took around 5 hours and extracted some very colourful language from both of us.

I can't thank Dick enough though, this is a job that needed doing, absolutely could not have been done by one man (on several occasions, one of us had to act as eyes for the other and 'talk' eachother onto bolts hidden in crevices) and would undoubtedly have cost me hundreds at a garage. Team UKC!

 

[D1CKL]

Ach, it was a doddle NOT. Once we figured out what we were doing it became a little bit easier, but, not a lot. It was a pleasure working with you again Rich.

 

[dandamano]

And I thought it was hard enough to remove a headlight in a cougar...what a pita...good to hear its sorted

 

[Pid_16V]

Did you try Halfords Rich?
Good job guys.

 

[mmikey82]

Bugger if only i had known,i went through exactly the same taking the A4 bumper off and i am sure i could have given you a few pointers
Well done though

 

[spjmorris]

Good to see this done mate I know it's been stressing you out

 

[Lucid]

Sounds like a proper bit of fun does that! Kudos gents for getting it done, and no doubt not in the warmest conditions.

 

[Relliott6879]

Sounds like a proper bit of fun does that! Kudos gents for getting it done, and no doubt not in the warmest conditions.

Glasgow in February.... we've been warmer!

 

[backseateducation]

Excellent work. Can you imagine how much audi would have tried to rob off you for that?

 

[mabo]

OK, I know this isn't a Cougar but, in my defence, I don't have one anymore! Seriously though, if anyone is unhappy then let me know and I'll move it.

So today, Dick and I tackled the job of swapping the headlights on Das Audi for left hand drive units, in preparation for the move. To say it was a sod of a job would be a huge understatement, the front bumper had to come off to access one of the headlight mounting bolts, the undertray and front wheelarch liners had to come off to take the bumper off, the front wheels had to come off to get the arch liners off... and I swear there are more bolts holding those few parts on than in an entire Cougar. Excluding brew and bacon breaks, the job took around 5 hours and extracted some very colourful language from both of us.

I can't thank Dick enough though, this is a job that needed doing, absolutely could not have been done by one man (on several occasions, one of us had to act as eyes for the other and 'talk' eachother onto bolts hidden in crevices) and would undoubtedly have cost me hundreds at a garage. Team UKC!

I might get shot down here but maybe you just discovered the difference in build quality between a car built in the states and an Audi with the associated German build quality. Looking at the Cougar engine alone shows it was built for the production line convenience rather than quality or reliability. Prime example being the IMRC, an electronic component being sat on top of an exhaust manifold. Why, convenience not reliability.
Still love my Cougar though !

 

[spjmorris]

I might get shot down here but maybe you just discovered the difference in build quality between a car built in the states and an Audi with the associated German build quality. Looking at the Cougar engine alone shows it was built for the production line convenience rather than quality or reliability. Prime example being the IMRC, an electronic component being sat on top of an exhaust manifold. Why, convenience not reliability.
Still love my Cougar though !

Not shot down, but you can't really compare a Cougar to a modern car.

As for reliability - I owned a 2002 Leon for five years, it was hand on heart the most unreliable car I have ever owned.

 

[Everton]

Nice one Rich, looks a right pain of a job

I need to change one of the front sidelight bulbs on the RX but keep putting it off as, you guessed it, it's a bumper off job. Sake.

 

[backseateducation]

Thats ridiculous John. And I thought the Mongy was bad!



















Wonder if Rich found the indicators?

 

[mabo]

Not shot down, but you can't really compare a Cougar to a modern car.

As for reliability - I owned a 2002 Leon for five years, it was hand on heart the most unreliable car I have ever owned.

Hi SPJ

I can and do. I drive both and enjoy both. The only thing missing in the cougar is the tech , which I miss a little for it's convenience, apart from that it holds up pretty well.
As for your 2002 Seat Leon, that would be a VW in another skin. should have been German reliability, maybe it was a Friday afternoon car ! My 2004 Passat ran faultlessly for 6 years and over 100,000 before the company replaced it.