What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?
- Thread starter Axximilli
- Start date
Ooooh, nice knob sir - suits you 
Loving the radio/CD player, is that a Ford unit?
Loving the radio/CD player, is that a Ford unit?
Thanks. 
Yes, it's a US Ford head unit usually fitted in a Crown Victoria. I was lucky enough to find a brand new one on US eBay. The connections are completely different to the standard Cougar connections though so I had to make some alterations to my wiring. I also added Bluetooth capability via a hard-wired FM modulator and a BT dongle.
Yes, it's a US Ford head unit usually fitted in a Crown Victoria. I was lucky enough to find a brand new one on US eBay. The connections are completely different to the standard Cougar connections though so I had to make some alterations to my wiring. I also added Bluetooth capability via a hard-wired FM modulator and a BT dongle.
The cheapest way of adding Bluetooth is to use one of these:
Plug it into your 12v socket, tune in a spare FM pre-select on your radio to the frequency suggested on the item and then link your phone to it via Bluetooth. When you select that stored frequency the music from your phone will be played out through the car speakers. I found that using something like that didn't give very good results as the 'hiss' on the 'empty' frequency was still audible behind the output from the phone.
I found using a hardwired fm modulator like this:
linked to a Bluetooth dongle like this:
resulted in much better audio quality and meant I could keep it all out of sight behind the HVAC/Headunit surround panel.
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Plug it into your 12v socket, tune in a spare FM pre-select on your radio to the frequency suggested on the item and then link your phone to it via Bluetooth. When you select that stored frequency the music from your phone will be played out through the car speakers. I found that using something like that didn't give very good results as the 'hiss' on the 'empty' frequency was still audible behind the output from the phone.
I found using a hardwired fm modulator like this:
linked to a Bluetooth dongle like this:
resulted in much better audio quality and meant I could keep it all out of sight behind the HVAC/Headunit surround panel.
That looks good Andy. I have something like that for the Cougar, but as it's like the former type you mention there is a fair bit of background noise.
Yes Matt, I found at anything like a decent volume the background noise was just too much. Most of that type do have the advantage of being able to handle phone calls though.
I've used a Roberts Radio 'Blue Tune Sync' adaptor plugged into an Aux input. Only because I thought they were good quality and I got several of them quite cheaply. I too had a lot of noise, but it was coming from the alternator and varied with engine rpm. I don't mean the alternator is faulty, its just that the the adaptor is sensitive to noise on the power line. I got rid of the cheapo 12V to USB cigarette adaptor in favour of an Anker one ( No, spelling is correct ). That is much better made and the noise is now gone.
I suspect that these cigarette adapters are made specifically for phone charging, where the smoothing of the output voltage is of little importance. However, with analogue audio in the mix, very good suppression at all frequencies is needed. I plan to pull the cheap one apart and add some more capacitors if they will fit inside the case....
I suspect that these cigarette adapters are made specifically for phone charging, where the smoothing of the output voltage is of little importance. However, with analogue audio in the mix, very good suppression at all frequencies is needed. I plan to pull the cheap one apart and add some more capacitors if they will fit inside the case....
I had a Griffin i-Trip years several years ago which plugged into the 12v socket, connected to an iPod via a wire and transmitted the output on FM, much as the Bluetooth devices described above. Sound quality was mediocre at best, with a lot of hiss, and had the unfortunate side-effect of also blocking the signal to the dash-mounted Garmin sat nav.
DG got a new 12 months tax today. Mot due 7th August so she'll go in on 28th July. 
I put £50 in the fuel tank. It’s months since I put fuel in either car. She was down into the last 1/8th on the gauge when she started misfiring whilst driving up hill.
Fortunately she coughed her way to the top then it’s down hill or level all the way the petrol station. Anyone else noticed fuel starvation uphill ?
Fortunately she coughed her way to the top then it’s down hill or level all the way the petrol station. Anyone else noticed fuel starvation uphill ?
Yes, if my car is on the last 1/8th or so on the fuel gauge he’ll run ok on the flat but uphill is a bit fraught (I tried leaning forward 
) If it’s that low when parked on the flat driveway he’ll cough n fart and won’t run properly at all, the last time this happened I had to go to the petrol station in my wife’s car, get 5 litres of super unleaded (5 Star for the oldies) and once I’d emptied the can into his tank he ran perfectly fine 
When I say flat, I mean the driveway is flat, not that I live in one (been there, done that)
) If it’s that low when parked on the flat driveway he’ll cough n fart and won’t run properly at all, the last time this happened I had to go to the petrol station in my wife’s car, get 5 litres of super unleaded (5 Star for the oldies) and once I’d emptied the can into his tank he ran perfectly fine
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When I say flat, I mean the driveway is flat, not that I live in one (been there, done that)
Interesting!
I find that if I use Shell super unleaded in my bike it really stinks the garage out when it vents out a little through the tank cap vent - utterly awful plus I don’t get the same mileage per tank as I do with ESSO or BP Super so yup, I guess all fuels are not the same!
I did fill up the Cougar once with Super Unleaded (pure decadence) and whilst I didn’t feel any difference regarding the power, I got nearly 30 more miles from the tank (I always take note of my actual mpg per tank - makes my wife roll her eyes more than usual
)
I find that if I use Shell super unleaded in my bike it really stinks the garage out when it vents out a little through the tank cap vent - utterly awful plus I don’t get the same mileage per tank as I do with ESSO or BP Super so yup, I guess all fuels are not the same!
I did fill up the Cougar once with Super Unleaded (pure decadence) and whilst I didn’t feel any difference regarding the power, I got nearly 30 more miles from the tank (I always take note of my actual mpg per tank - makes my wife roll her eyes more than usual
)
ive just fitted this today to suzi...came from the USA..