What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

As described in the owner's manual:

The Traction Control System 'prevents wheel spin at the driven wheels'. 'As soon as a driven wheel starts to spin, the system automatically reduces the torque to that wheel.'

The Spark Fuel Traction Control 'reduces the power output by slowing down the wheels' and 'engine torque is reduced.'
 
Fitted the second rear mud flap.
After 6 months in my garage that completes all of the planned works......
Alternator plug refitted.
Cranks shaft oil seal replaced.
Water pump replaced for metal impeller type, and replacement thermostat fitted.
Treat any surface corrosion to front subframe, inc rad base.
Fit cougar 2 main dash top, sourced from Cougar uk member.
Fit LED lamps to various dash position.
Remove centre console, fill with expanding foam to improve rigidity, refit.
Rear subframe dropped, fuel tank dropped.
All surface corrosion treated and painted.
Fuel filler replaced with caged rubber hoses.
Fuel tank refitted with custom built stainless straps.
Refurbished rear subframe fitted.
Any other corrosion spots treated, including welding a patch onto drivers side sill.
Fit rear mudflaps sourced from Cougar uk member.

Future plans, Summer drive her. Visit Combe maybe but she'll need a professional polish or you guys will laugh at me !
Next winter, considering chopping out the sills and replacing with galv steel.

Merry Xmas and happy new year to all.


Merry Xmas
 
A bit more on the 'Traction Control' issue. From the Ford Cougar Workshop Manual, Cougar 1999 (08.1998-01.2001) :-

The anti-lock control - anti-wheelspin control is an expanded version of the anti-lock brake system. The system is integrated with the anti-lock brake system and uses the same wheel speed sensors and similar hydraulic control unit.

The hydraulic control unit has additional internal solenoid valves incorporated to enable control modulation of the wheel brake pressures.
The system works by transferring torque from the spinning wheel(s) to the wheel(s) with the most traction. This torque transfer is achieved by the hydraulic control unit applying the relevant brake(s).
The system is only active at road speeds up to 85 km/h (53 mph). When the system is active the driver is made aware of the fact by the illumination of a warning indicator located in the instrument cluster.
Anti-wheelspin control, after a road speed of 85 km/h (53 mph) is controlled by a combination of fuel and spark adjustment using the vehicle engine management system. 2.0L - For additional information, refer to Section 303-14A Electronic Engine Controls / 303-14B Electronic Engine Controls. 2.5L - For additional information, refer to Section 303-14A Electronic Engine Controls / 303-14B Electronic Engine Controls.

Here is a link to that page :-

http://workshop-manuals.com/ford/co...operation/anti-lock_control_traction_control/

Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the two sections referenced at the end of the article. But it is interesting to note that there are two 'modes' of 'Anti-wheelspin control'; below 53mph using the ABS unit and above 53mph using 'spark and fuel adjustment' via the ECU. Of course, this means the ABS unit is applying the brakes for us ! ( all a bit weird ) However, just to be clear, as I hope I was in my original post, as to what is fact and what is speculation - I assume that rather than any kind of crude disabling of all or part of the ignition system, that would surely invite misfiring / backfiring from the wasted unburnt fuel, that existing engine control methods within the ECU / PCM, such as ignition advance / retard and injector pulse timing / length, would be used to provide the reduction in engine output.

I would be most interested in seeing the relevant parts of 303-14A Electronic Engine Controls / 303-14B Electronic Engine Controls, if anyone has them. Also, why all the (s) in the description, as that would only apply to AWD ? Presumably this was still a generic text ?

Also, if you can get past the first few annoying paragraphs, there are some interesting snippits in here ( handful of salt would be useful ) :-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_control_system

As for the lines in the 'Users manual', I assume the Ford sales team had done their magic on this, as it varies between the obvious and the counter intuitive...
 
Quicksilver said:
303-14A and 303-14B are in Section 3 - Powertrain.
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Indeed, but there is no content as far as I can see in the online version ( a dead link ). I am hoping someone may have a .pdf or even a paper copy...

...just checked in case my browser had grown lazy ( Firefox users will know what I mean ), and tried Internet Explorer as well, still no joy. It looks like this 'free' version is incomplete ? Or is it me ? TIA...
 
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I'm really annoyed that I can't find my original source that described the TC function. I didn't bookmark it and I didn't question it, especially since the way mine behaves matches the description I saw, (my TC does feel like a temporary misfire while the light is on, for example when transiting a damp roundabout at 40MPH).

But in the face of the documented evidence you all have presented, I'm going to have to retract my original post; I don't want to perpetuate a wrong answer.

Anyway, today was a fluid, belts and body check. The patch job I did on the offside rear isn't holding so that needs urgent attention. I've always loved Tiger despite all her bodywork faults, but it's getting me down now.
 
backseateducation said:
Not really the weather for bodywork mate. Is it still cosmetic, or more serious now?
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Probably no more serious than it was before I started. Still cosmetic and nowhere near as bad as Goblin was - I'm not chopping steel yet.

Whatever the case, I'm sure as hell not doing it now. I'm just down about it. She needs a bath soon if nothing else.
 
backseateducation said:
As ever mate let me know if you need a hand. I was supposed to be doing some more rustproofing over this week but the lurgy has struck me down again(n)
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As always, thank you.

Seems like you're not the only one suffering - T is in pieces right now - so get well soon all of you who are propping up Kimberly-Clark's share price.
 
What did I do to my Cougar today?

Well, I actually stored the car for the foreseeable future:

30k3lz4.jpg


2017 was quite an eventful year for us. We moved to Germany for professional reasons and to ensure mobility also for my wife (doesn't drive manual car), we bought a new car. At the moment I can't afford to keep two cars running and insured, but I just didn't have the heart to sell the Cougar: too many emotional attachment I guess :) so for now I found a nice and dry place where I can park her for at least the coming 6 months, which also gives me the opportunity to do some larger maintenance now that I don't need it as my daily driver (some rust, other replacements).

Although the new car is comfortable and fast (we bought an Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia Sports Tourer V6 4x4), I already miss the rowdy roar of the Cougar V6 as well as driving a manual...looking forward to spring, when the Cat can come out to play again!

In the meantime, I will continue to read and browse the forums, over the last years of driving the Cougar I've found so much helpful information and got so many advises from the members. Thank you for that!
 
Over the last week or 2 I dropped her back onto her own 4 wheels, reversed her out of the garage, gave her a quick wash.
Driven her around the block to settle the replaced rear subframe. Put her back in the garage, jacked up the back end again but lowered her onto blocks to put normal(ish) weight on the back wheels and dived back underneath with various sockets and spanners to tighten everything up.
I also pulled 3 sample bolts from the spare rear stuts. The plan is to take them to my local engineering supplier to obtain 2 replacements for each. These are the bolts that attach the strut to the suspension arms. The ones I have fitted aint pretty so they're days are numbered. After that I actually did some gardening, perhaps not that noteworthy but it is a rare occurence !
 
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