What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

Rubber.

Let me explain.

There's this natural substance that comes in really useful in the automotive industry. Tyres, bushes, seals, gaiters, drivebelts, hoses, cables and wipers.

Trouble is, it perishes. Which means, come MOT time (or earlier!) it needs replacing.

So my mechanic took MV51 on my behalf (due to my working hours not being amenable) to MOT yesterday.
Rear anti-roll-bar (droplink) bush and a split wiper blade, are all that prevented a pass (I'd noticed the blade months ago but since it still cleared to my satisfaction, being the passenger side, had forgotten to change it).
These things corrected and today, pass acquired.
 
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And.....not so well done.
Had occasional 'flooded roads' recently, followed by bouts of ECM fault-light: 'drivetrain misfire cyl 1', also cyl 3, which cleared after 'drying out' (a day or two).
Last week, it returned and persisted, so I ordered a set of HT leads which arrived yesterday.
So after Christmas dinner was cleared away, I set to and swapped them over, seemingly successfully. Except there's no improvement.
Coilpack just ordered.
 
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Coilpack arrived in today's post; returned home from work, had meal, fell asleep in front of TV until Eastenders started so decided to install.
Just finished and stowed tools.
Misfire eliminated.
Hope to see normal MPG return tomorrow (instead of throwing two-thirds of the fuel straight out the exhaust!)
 
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Was going to fit the front brace today, this is as far as I got before the biting cold wind set in, looks good but I'll leave it till spring. :)

Front Brace.jpg
 
Always handy to have a spare battery around when the drill comes out! That’s my top tip !!


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Took her months-old battery off to charge it. :oops:

Turns out that 12 days of occasional 2-mile journeys plus the dashcam running constantly will kill the largest battery that you can fit to a Cougar. Only took 1/2 an hour to charge though so there's no harm done.

I'll refit tomorrow or the day after and take her out for a good 1/2 hour run. Unfortunately this means I'll have lost all the map adaptations at exactly the time I didn't want to (before I fit the ST200 upper parts). Oh well!

Happy new year, all! :beer:
 
This time of year with stop start, blower, lights ,heated screens etc, doing short journeys soon drains the battery! Have the same problem Chris! Happy bla bla etc to you Cats!


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nvingo said:
Coilpack arrived in today's post; returned home from work, had meal, fell asleep in front of TV until Eastenders started so decided to install.
Just finished and stowed tools.
Misfire eliminated.
Hope to see normal MPG return tomorrow (instead of throwing two-thirds of the fuel straight out the exhaust!)
Click to expand...

Playing with a Cougar, always the best treatment for dealing with an outbreak of Eastenders, glad you got it sorted.

Jongibbon, there’s a brief description of fitting a front strut brace in post #95 of my ST200 cams thread, it was a bigger job than I expected. No nails is certainly a quicker option.
 
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Cheers Mabo, I've just read #95 and have previously read a few other threads regarding braces.
I've decided to go with rivnuts to start with, if I mess it up then it'll be nuts & bolts.
I'll keep you posted. (y)

EDIT:
Just watched a few videos on the right and wrong way to install rivnuts, think I'll have a few practice runs before drilling holes in the car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6N40VvFAJI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Og-tHIR_0I
 
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Fitted this courtesy of Andy(y)
IMG_20200123_143151.jpg

The lighter socket seems a long way back, but I guess this is because I'm using a Mondeo centre console.
Now, anyone want a burr walnut ashtray?:devilish:
IMG_20200123_143213.jpg
 
The deep recess for the cigarette socket could be an advantage. I find them a little tricky sometimes to get a good connection on the centre pin, especially if a previous owner, or regular passenger was a smoker. I usually manage to knock the plug / power adapter and lose the connection. You won't have it sticking out that far...
 
Depending on what you're planning on plugging in there, you might struggle. For example, most dashcams come with a male side plug that has a large chassis.

Not sure what - if anything - you're planning on plugging in there but if you need a slimline USB adaptor, I have two of them (but now only need one).
 
Cheers guys, I use a Bluetooth adaptor but it has a permanent wire output rather than a socket. I might look at a twin socket adaptor mounted to the side of the console.
 
I did that to Tiger (hers wasn't lit up, but did have a voltmeter in between the USB sockets).

tckmceg.jpg


Looks neat, but be aware that you cannot run a high-speed inflator off of it. I had to buy an adaptor with crocodile clips and a female aux power recepticle that I connected directly to the battery. Total PITA.

These USB power ports would be best served being installed somewhere else, maybe in the pax footwell plastics? That's what I'm planning. Rear console under the ashtray might work too. I've done the power calculations for the fuse/wiring and it's well within spec.
 
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