93 Cougar, new owner August 24, 2009, 08:05:19 PM Last Friday I stopped and looked at a Cougar, the price was right $700.00. 64,000 miles (yes they are the real miles)Typical problems from what I am reading. rt window gears, hood struts, door hunges and replaced the DOA radio this am.Ok now the only problem I cannot figure out there is a rattle in the front end, cannot seem to find it left front wife says my hearing not being to good (Army) nothing seems to be loose but on a slightly bad paved road its pretty bad.The car has been owned by a litle old lady (really!) and I called her, she said her son had been driving the car for about two years and of course the grandkids don't think the aqua marine Cougar is cool. So their dad her son traded it off for a cooler car for the kids to drive to school.Anyway the rattle in the front end I do worry abit about, anyone know of anything that is a common problem in these front ends?The car has independent rear suspension.Its a southern i.e. North Arkansas car and never been out on the salted roads!!Arky. Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #2 – August 24, 2009, 09:17:17 PM sway bar end links can be the culprit. (stab links) Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #4 – August 25, 2009, 06:58:02 AM My car did that (although it's an '88).It would rattle when I drove it,but couldn't ever replicate the sound while the car was stationary.Turned out to be the strut mounts. Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #5 – August 25, 2009, 08:54:10 AM Check your brakes. There are these pesky little metal pieces that hold the front brake pads down so they don't rattle. I had to buy new ones someone had thrown them out when they did the brakes on my 94. Then you say Northern AR. Well I'm in SW MO not to far from there. Stuckman Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #6 – August 25, 2009, 09:44:20 PM Going to check it out on my friends lift next week.Checked out the prices at the MT Home ford Dealership for door hinges, whoa!!1 $190.00 a pair thats two for one door. Man they love those things.I am just down the road from Branson, matter of fact we spend a good bit of time there. The movies are cheaper and a lot more places to eat. I grew up in Harrison and wife was born in Scabs, uh I mean Skaggs Hospital.Anyway we split our time between Branson and White River at Flippin. Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #7 – August 27, 2009, 08:06:58 PM Took the car on the road today a 300 mile trip, handled very well in the corners and the fuel milage was almost 30 mpg, I am really in love with this car!! Big comfortable, roomy and better MPG than the wife old 4 banger Camry.Bought headliner materials at the upholstry supplier so that a project for next week, bought 3 yards to do some tinkering with. found a hide that matches the leather and the Uph. supply is going to hold it till Oct. $400. for the hide but its a perfect match.Anyone know where to get new door hinges cheaper the ford dealerships?Yep this car gets better everyday.Arky Quote Selected
93 Cougar, new owner Reply #8 – August 27, 2009, 08:24:09 PM It is most likely the sway bar end links (the noise) I had to replace them in my t-bird, and on all the other mn-12's I've had, they all had the same problem. Sooooo.....is it a 5.0 or 3.8? Guessing by the ,mpg's, I would say 3.8, but ya never know! And throw up some pics if you can....we love them here Quote Selected