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Messages - mjk289

1
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars FOR SALE / 88 Cougar XR-7 For Sale - 140k miles
My car is for sale.  Philadelphia Suburbs.  Please see my craiglist ad.  I've got offers and it will most likely be sold by Monday night after I get home from work and can go to the tag place. I'm hoping to get some more people to look at it tommorrow (Sunday) because I think I may have asked too little for the price and you guys here would know what its worth.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1059285537.html
2
Suspension/Steering / OEM Cougar Strut Mounts
88 Cougar XR-7. If I remember correctly, the strut mounts they sell at pep boys don't look like the OEM mounts which had the bushings molded in as one piece I think.  I've been having a problem with noise when turning.  I replaced my struts and mounts with just direct replacement parts from pep boys.  Gabriel Struts.  I tried lubricating and reinstalling the mounts, but no luck.  Can I buy the OEM type mount somewhere or am I just imagining that they are different.  Does anyone have a picture of the original equipment mount?  Its been awhile and I threw mine away.
4
Misc Tech / Vacuum Distribution Block
Thanks, but I just bought a couple standard vacuum tees and connected all the hoses together.  I'd prefer for it to look factory but I'll let you keep that part as a spare Vinnie. What happened was my brake pedal froze up while driving.  I couldn't press the pedal and the reason was that the main suction line going into that vacuum manifold was leaking and then completely broke off.  I didn't realize how serious a vacuum leak could be, but fortunately I was just down the street from my house when I lost my brakes.
5
Misc Tech / Vacuum Distribution Block
Does anyone know if they sell the vacuum distribution block for an 88Cougar XR-7.  I think that is what it is called.  Mounted on the fire wall on the drivers side.  One of the hoses broke off.  The plastic nipple is cracked and broke off.  Do I need to get this from a junk yard or do they make them new?  I can't seem to find one searching online stores.
6
Engine Tech / Duals on the cheap.
The headers after '93 have clearance issues with the drop stop.  Not just the part you pried back but the horizontal piece of metal plate also.  But the 86 to 93 headers which you probably have should be fine.  Also, if these are used headers check the welding on the passenger side header where all the tubes come together.  On two headers I've seen, right in the center of all four tubes, the weld was missing or worn away.  That would have been an exhuast leak.  So I had to get mine re-welded.  Hold it up to the light.
8
Electrical Tech / Ignition Switch fire
Has anyone heard of this issue.  I found this by searching the internet.
1988-89 Ford Crown Victoria, Tempo Topaz, Mercury Cougar; 1988-90 Escort, EXP; 1988 Mustang Thunderbird; 1988-93 Aerostar Bronco F150, F250, F350, Grand Marquis; 1988-91 Lincoln Town Car
Number of vehicles: 7,500,000
Ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit which can cause overheating, smoke, and fire in the steering column area.
I smelled something burning in my car.  A few months ago i posted a thread about my headlight switch.  I replaced that and it doesn't get hot anymore but now i started smelling something and I think I heard some sparks.  My ignition cylinder feels a little loose and some times it beeps like I forgot to take the key out when I did take the key out.  I just wiggle it until it stops beeping.  Today I'm going to see what I can find myself.
9
General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion / I bought an 87-88 Cougar New Headlight Lense.
Just wanted to let people know there are still some new headlamp lenses out there for 87-88 Cougars.  I did a search on directfordparts.com for Lincoln Continental headlights (since they interchange) and found them listed.  However, they emailed me that they didn't have them but could get them from their obsolete suppler.  I only ordered one b/c they are around 130 dollars each and anyway I had already replaced the other side with a good used one from ebay.  But now I have a brand new drivers side light.  It came from place called Vintage Parts in Beaver Dam, WI 53916 and was sold to Guadin Ford in Las Vegas, NV and then to me.

http://www.directfordparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214290&chapter=DP2FS0&appSectionid=3&groupid=10009&subgroupid=20071&componentid=60295&make=21&model=Continental&year=1994&catalogid=1
10
Electrical Tech / Headlight Switch Overheating
Well I haven't had time to do much yet except check the fog light wiring.  Thanks for posting the wiring diagram.  I actually have that book somewhere.  Anyway the company I ordered the switch from emailed me that they don't have it anymore and its discontinued, but I have a lead on one.  About the autolamp option I don't have it.  And I can confirm that inside my switch there is a metal strip that bends away from its contact when it gets hot.  Also to be clear there is two different switches that come up for my car in the parts stores computer systems.  One they have in stock and its only like 25 bucks or so.  The other is the one I have and is much more expensive, but discontinued.  Tomorrow I'm going to call a place in another state that shows has having one in their inventory.
12
Electrical Tech / Headlight switch
Quote from: stuntmannick;182993
Just replace the switch.  Had this problem on my '86 TC.  The headlights would cut out at random after they had been on for more than 10 mins.  New switch solved that. 

If you're cheap, you can pull the switch apart, clean the copper electrodes and re grease (using dielectric grease).


Thanks everyone.  I have sylvania silverstar headlights that I think are stock wattage.  I had fog lights but I disconnected them.  I don't think I have the Autolamp option (jcassity).  I've cleaned and di-electric greased my switch but you can tell the contacts are bad.  I've had this problem for a while and I did replace the switch  with a used one off eBay, but it still overheats. 

I just found out the switch is discontinued from Ford. E7SB-11654-AA.  The parts stores like Pepboys and Advance can't get it and none of the local dealers have it.  The dealer did a search and there is one in Illinois.

As I was pulling out of the dealer I heard two guys on their break commenting about the 88 being there favorite cougar.  My car is not in the best shape, but people always ask me about it.

thanks again guys.
13
Archive & Library (Read Only) / Roughen the Glass by Sandblasting
I have an 88 Cougar.  My glass has been been working great for over a year and a half now.  After trying many things, all of which are mentioned in this thread, I found that taping off the glass and sandblasting where the clips go as well has drilling two small holes in each clip for the adhesive to anchor to has worked with no problem so far.  I used 3M 8609 urethane from an autobody supply store.  I've tried other stuff like jb weld, gorilla glue, and permatex epoxy, but the windshield urethane is the only stuff I used with the sandblasing. 

I took the glass completely out of the door and also took out the horizontal piece of track that the clips bolt to so I could make sure the clips were glued in the correct spot.  I had to pry up a little metal tab in order to slide that piece of track out by itself.  I sandblasted the area and put the clips on.  On my previous attempts I found that the glue was breaking away from the clips not the glass, so those small holes drilled in the clip I think helped.  I used small c-clamps to put some light pressure on the clips while they dried.  Installed it a day or two later, but didn't put my window down for at least a week just to make sure it was fully cured.

Having said this and reading these posts I think the real problem is in the track that the glass slides in, but I don't see how it can be fixed as the person who posted before me said.  Both my driver and passenger door glass start to come out of the track slightly when they are half way up but they align back in and it hasn't been a problem.  My passenger side glass was going up and down really slow, but after I greased the scissor track with white lithium grease it was fine.  Never had the passenger side come out of the plastic clips like the driver side did.

Also be aware that there is an adjustable bracket to play with in the top middle of the door that pushes against the glass.  The glass tracks with the felt in them don't seem to be very adjustable.

Hope this helps someone.  Thanks.

Mike
14
Electrical Tech / Headlight Switch Overheating
Has anyone had a problem with there headlight switch overheating and cutting off power to the headlights.  I have an 88 Cougar XR-7.  I'll be checking it out but I wasn't sure if it could just be the switch or I have a wiring problem.
15
Misc Tech / Fuel Filler Neck Seal
This reply is a little late, but I just wanted to say thanks for all the replies.  Especially for the part number, 88Turbo.  That helped alot when the guy looked at me like my car was too old to get parts for.  I could have gotten one for 19.00 online, but shipping was expensive so I just ordered one from the local Mercury dealer.  And it was indeed about 30 bucks.