Even Deader Cougar in the driveway

**Kingsley** · 13-07-2016, 07:12 PM

My daughters Cougar has died. She topped the car up at a servo but a little over 10kms down the road the car began running rough and wouldn't rev over 2000 RPM. Today the car is hard to start and won't go much past 1500 RPM. It feels like its starving for fuel. We had the fuel pump replaced in January (low pressure/stuttering) and it went ok. Still stuttered occasionally however. Anyone had a similar problem? Whats the best way to test the pump or even the fuel?

GTLEGEND · 13-07-2016, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit05

My daughters Cougar has died. She topped the car up at a servo but a little over 10kms down the road the car began running rough and wouldn't rev over 2000 RPM. Today the car is hard to start and won't go much past 1500 RPM. It feels like its starving for fuel. We had the fuel pump replaced in January (low pressure/stuttering) and it went ok. Still stuttered occasionally however. Anyone had a similar problem? Whats the best way to test the pump or even the fuel?

Sounds like she got a tank of contaminated fuel (usually with water especially after all the rain we have had). You need to get a fuel sample either from the fuel line at the engine, pump or filter.

Its just too much of a co-incidence that the fault happened after she fuelled up!

**Kingsley** · 13-07-2016, 08:09 PM

Thanks again GTLEGEND!!
Thats what I thought but she said there was no problem till she got near home, 10kms after she fuelled up.
Her solution was to the problem was to buy another car.....She wants nothing more to do with the Cougar. So it looks like I've inherited a Cougar!!!
It also needed the spark plugs and leads changed but she hadn't got that far. I was thinking of doing the coil pack if it was only the fuel to gt it running properly..

GTLEGEND · 13-07-2016, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit05

Thanks again GTLEGEND!!
Thats what I thought but she said there was no problem till she got near home, 10kms after she fuelled up.
Her solution was to the problem was to buy another car.....She wants nothing more to do with the Cougar. So it looks like I've inherited a Cougar!!!
It also needed the spark plugs and leads changed but she hadn't got that far. I was thinking of doing the coil pack if it was only the fuel to gt it running properly..

You would still have had good fuel in the lines, filter etc and about 10kms is about right to get through what should have been the last of the good fuel until the dodgy fuel cam through. Get a sample in a clear bottle and let it sit for a few hours until the water separates from the fuel.

REDDYZ · 14-07-2016, 07:20 AM

Bad fuel could be a possibility but personally I don't think that would be the issue considering there were fuel pump issues in the past. Fuel pump issues is a known issue with many Cougars that non one exactly knows what the cause is. However in other cases it is a problem only when the fuel drops below 1/4 level. Replacing fuel pump didn't resolve the issue. Some were lucky but not many. Before you consider any expensive/complicated options I would suggest to check all the usual suspects first. Vacuum leak is a common problem with cougars. Look around the engine for any loose vacuum hoses. Check IACV is working as it should. Open while foot off throttle and closed otherwise. Fuel pressure regulator is another one to check. Some Cougars were equipped with bigger fuel regulators that has big diaphragm and a vacuum hose going in. This can be located next to IACV. These were the models that had fuel pump issues as far I have seen.

I need to tell you getting fuel out of Cougar is a nightmare. Dropping tank is another one. Many have cut open the floor under rear passenger seat to access tank or pump. Am sure whoever has replaced the pump in the past would know this better. Just open the rear seats and see if the floor is already cut open. If so, its easy to access the pump or to get sample or to empty the tank. One option is to hotwire the pump to get fuel out. I don't recommend this unless you know what you are doing. See how you go.

**Kingsley** · 14-07-2016, 09:12 AM

I'll try later today to switch it on to see if the fuel pump primes/builds pressure. If I can't hear anything I'll take it back to where she got it repaired since the original repairs were and still are covered under their warranty.
I'll test the fuel but no-one else had problems according to the servo.

**Kingsley** · 15-07-2016, 06:07 PM

Tried to start it today, it ran for 10 seconds then stopped. Refused to run though sounded as though it would nearly fire. Checked all the vacuum line and found one split. Fixed it but no luck. Tried again and then removed the spark plugs which were 'wet'. I'm guessing this might be a spark issue?
Tried to siphon fuel out of it but the hose wouldn't get into the bottom of the filler tube.

REDDYZ · 15-07-2016, 06:31 PM

There's a flap at the bottom of the filler neck that blocks anything other than liquid going through the filler hose. I had tried all possible things to siphon through the filler with no luck. The filler tube has U turn bend at one point which makes it even harder. Next time the engine stops take fuel pump fuse off and spark plugs off (one at a time) and see if there's a spark when you crank the engine.

REDDYZ · 15-07-2016, 06:32 PM

There are 2 flaps altogether one at the neck and one at the end of the filler tube.

**Kingsley** · 15-07-2016, 10:52 PM

Just been told that when they looked underneath it was glowing red and smoking near the exhaust on the right side. Up on a jack tomorrow to investigate.

REDDYZ · 16-07-2016, 06:43 AM

Looks like no spark and exhaust is flooded with fuel which is when this happens because of catalytic converter. There are 3 catalytic converters on cougar. Two pre-cats where exhaust manifold becomes single pipe (near engine block) which I think are glowing red because of unburnt fuel and the other is the main big one in the middle of the exhaust line.

REDDYZ · 16-07-2016, 06:45 AM

Got to be careful not to burn out the cats.

**Kingsley** · 16-07-2016, 09:10 AM

He reckons the exhaust wasnt glowing but something near it. I doubt he really knows. Either way I'll have a look tomorrow to see whats been toasted under there.

**Kingsley** · 16-07-2016, 04:20 PM

Nothing toasted so I'll drop the exhaust tomorrow and have a look.

thearrow · 18-07-2016, 10:57 AM

I read somewhere a way to drain the fuel was to disconnect the fuel line from the motor and let the fuel pump MT the tank.

It was a backyard fix from the US site.

**Kingsley** · 28-07-2016, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thearrow

I read somewhere a way to drain the fuel was to disconnect the fuel line from the motor and let the fuel pump MT the tank.

It was a backyard fix from the US site.

There's a valve (same as a tyre valve) on the fuel line near the manifold. You remove the valve and turn the ignition on but you have to bridge the relay so the pump runs continuously otherwise it'll only deposit whats under pressure to the fuel rail. I'm not game to bridge the relay as I'm not confident which terminal does what. Apparently it can do some damage if its not done right.
Not so sure it's the fuel either. We took out about two litres using the above method and let it sit overnight. Didn't see anything unusual in the bottom of the bottle. From what I've found so far if they almost run under full throttle (like this one) the coil pack is ****** or the crank angle sensor is ******. Ordered both this week so when they arrive I'll replace both and see what happens. We were going to replace the coil pack anyway to chase a small miss it had on take off. Also found a vacuum connection on the manifold badly split as well.

thearrow · 29-07-2016, 11:14 AM

I had a vacuum leak one day whilst crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge northbound the car would almost but not quite stall on a hill but would run perfectly on the flat/downhill managed to get it back to my mechanic.

The problem was a plastic hose connector had cracked and when it was going up hill it opened up the leak but on the flat or down hill it closed up again talk about a pain in the derriere.

**Kingsley** · 29-07-2016, 06:58 PM

Since we had planned to anyway today we replaced the coil pack, plugs and crank angle sensor. The plugs were old garbage with gaps up over 2mm wide with cracked and burnt ceramics. The crank angle sensor had a large crack in it. We then found a small diameter vacuum line with a broken end under the coil pack. Spent a fair while trying to find where it came from and where it was supposed to go but no luck. It fired briefly for about 5 seconds then returned to nearly firing with full throttle. Draining the fuel tank is next and its going to be a pita. Seems the quickest way is to remove the fuel pump and do it manually.

REDDYZ · 29-07-2016, 10:58 PM

Send a pic of the vacuum hose I can tell where it would go..

**Kingsley** · 30-07-2016, 11:18 AM

The vacuum leads in peril.

**Kingsley** · 30-07-2016, 12:15 PM

Also found a large white plug on the right side of the fuel tank. Is it a screw out plug or some type of plug that once removed its permanent and we'll need a new tank? I thought it might be an easier solution to draining the tank. Can't upload a pic.

**aussiblue** · 30-07-2016, 04:49 PM

This might help locate the vacuum hose correctly http://www.newcougar.org/forums/2-5l...e-diagram.html as may this http://www.newcougar.org/gallery/fil...l-vacuum01.png

REDDYZ · 30-07-2016, 05:08 PM

The one from first two pics connects to a big think plastic hose that goes into intake manifold on the top near throttle body. See pic below:

Third one is from rocker cover that goes into flexi rubber air intake hose between the airfilter box and throttle body.

Mine looks different to yours as its from an SVT.

REDDYZ · 30-07-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz290

Also found a large white plug on the right side of the fuel tank. Is it a screw out plug or some type of plug that once removed its permanent and we'll need a new tank? I thought it might be an easier solution to draining the tank. Can't upload a pic.

I know the plug you are talking about. Its kind of hard to access being on side right next to the side rail. Not sure what's the purpose of it. When I had to empty fuel to drop the tank (to replace fuel filler neck seal which was a nightmare

), I didn't choose to undo it. If it is one of use plug then you will find it hard to find a replacement. If you do choose to undo it be mindful of the fuel pressure and put it back accordingly. Cheers.

**Kingsley** · 30-07-2016, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiblue

This might help locate the vacuum hose correctly http://www.newcougar.org/forums/2-5l...e-diagram.html as may this http://www.newcougar.org/gallery/fil...l-vacuum01.png

Thanks aussiblue!

**Kingsley** · 30-07-2016, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDDYZ

The one from first two pics connects to a big think plastic hose that goes into intake manifold on the top near throttle body. See pic below:

image

image

Third one is from rocker cover that goes into flexi rubber air intake hose between the airfilter box and throttle body.

image

Mine looks different to yours as its from an SVT.

Thanks REDDYZ!. Those pics are handy. Wouldn't of looked under that hose.
Fuel tank plug is one of those will or won't I dilemma's. I'll do a bit more research and try and find it's purpose.