Another Puma

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Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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Picked this up back in November, not had a chance to get some pictures of it clean until now!



As you can see, standard issue rust (this is its better side!)



Bit of a large stone chip, not got round to looking at it yet





Looks a bit better from afar!

Apologies for the piss poor camera work, I took these on my phone

So it needs a bit of TLC, had the cambelt done recently and found a multitude of other problems. Also making a somewhat worrying ticking noise (water pump/alternator bearing?) but everything else seems ok, well apart from a sick sounding power steering pump.

I didn't intend to buy it as a project, but it looks like its turning into one, unfortunately cant do much at the moment due to a lack of job, but I do intend to treat some of the rust in the next few weeks, if the weather gets better.

Despite its issues though it still puts a smile on my face in the twisties, and I guess that's all that matters!

Edited by Merry on Wednesday 3rd February 16:51

soad

33,333 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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Always liked those Pumas, and still do. Yours is in a good colour too.

Shame about the ticking noise/power steering pump going.

How easy is it to sort out the rust? Pretty straighforward or not? What's the likely cost? Cheers

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
quotequote all
soad said:
Always liked those Pumas, and still do. Yours is in a good colour too.

Shame about the ticking noise/power steering pump going.

How easy is it to sort out the rust? Pretty straighforward or not? What's the likely cost? Cheers
It would be quite expensive to do the arches, i'm guessing because of the paint needed. I'm sure i've seen someone mention £500 on another forum.

To be honest all i'm doing is getting rid of the surface rust underneath it before it takes hold, i'll worry about making it pretty when I have the money!

Any suggestions for rust treating products?

soad

33,333 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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To be honest, i just got an itch to buy one of these at some point this year.

Seems the rear wheel arches are the worst hit area but also the sills, front wings, bottom of doors etc also are weak points on nearly every one I have seen so far.
Have been looking at X/Y/51 reg ones so not that old and from what I have seen some will be probably be scrapped in a couple of years time.

Probably i'm expecting too much...



Edited by soad on Thursday 4th February 16:02

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
quotequote all
Possibly, it seems to me there's some vast price differentials out there. Some are going for £2k+ other, like mine around a grand.

To be honest the rusty arches arent worth worrying about, or so I've been told, the other points maybe. I think it is often the case with these that the rust looks worse than it actually is, but i'm no expert.

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Friday 12th February 2010
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Had a bit of a love/hate thing going on with the Puma of late, so I thought i'd take it out this morning for a bit of a drive to try and remind myself why I got it.

Heres a few pics on Ankerdine Hill (I think! Not lived here long)









Sorry for the quality (again!) I forgot my camera and had to use my phone. I did a couple of videos too, mainly because I wanted some advice on the din its been making but it didnt really come out on the video.

Ordered some paint and Kurust for it so i'll be taking it back North on Wednesday and giving it some TLC. If anyone knows any breakers or scrappers with any Pumas in around the Wigan area it would be helpful.

As for keeping the thing, well it certainly is fun to drive I just need to get on top of its little niggles.

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Thursday 4th March 2010
quotequote all
Right things aren't going so well in the Puma camp. Aside from sorting out a bit of rust on the nearside sill I haven't done much. I'm also having quite a bit of trouble elsewhere and could do with some help/advice on a few problems.

1) Engine light appeared today, not blinking. Apart from the light the car is running fine, coolant and oil levels are fine, no misfires. Any ideas?

2) I've had some juddering, mainly coming off throttle when cold., although its now occurring when warm too and is getting worse. This may partially explain (1).

3) A right bloody din when turning left, my thoughts are/were CV joints. The guys at Pumabuild didn't seem to think so. Power steering pump?

4) Clicky sound coming from the Aux belt/Cambelt. This happened after i'd had the cambelt changed, though not the water pump (I only got told it may need changing after the garage had put the cambelt back on).

5) I currently have exactly no money to fix any of the above problems so i'm going to have to attempt to fix them on my own (within reason)or cheaply.

To be honest i'm really getting rather annoyed with the thing, but i'm not in any position to do anything about it, and certainly couldn't get my money back if I sold. So meh.

Any help would be much appreciated.

joshc

487 posts

178 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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You might need a new oxygen sensor, it can cause weird issues like the stuff you mentioned.

As for the rust, there will be lots of it hiding, and whatever you "repair" now will come back to haunt you later unless new panels are welded in. What is the condition underneath in terms of rust?

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Friday 5th March 2010
quotequote all
joshc said:
You might need a new oxygen sensor, it can cause weird issues like the stuff you mentioned.

As for the rust, there will be lots of it hiding, and whatever you "repair" now will come back to haunt you later unless new panels are welded in. What is the condition underneath in terms of rust?
Fine, took it back to bare metal. Looks like water had got under the paint, but I got to it quite early. If i'd have left it it would have probably needed welding at some point. The arches are probably going to need welding, but i'm going to have to learn how to weld first! I'll be leaving that until the summer I think!

How much am I looking at for an 02 sensor? I know its a quite an easy fix.

Any ideas on the din when turning left?

Thanks

soad

33,333 posts

182 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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Might be better off asking in General Gassing for more exposure.
Should get a better responce.

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Friday 5th March 2010
quotequote all
soad said:
Might be better off asking in General Gassing for more exposure.
Should get a better responce.
Yeah, I just didnt want to be a spamming bugger!

Xenocide

4,286 posts

214 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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I'd say O2 sensor aswell.

As for your knocking noise, take a look at the lower control arm bushes. They just love falling apart.

Also check tie rod ends.

Is the noise when you're turning the wheel or when the wheels are turning?

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Friday 5th March 2010
quotequote all
Xenocide said:


Is the noise when you're turning the wheel or when the wheels are turning?
When the wheels are turning, it generally appears at speeds above 20mph in longer radius corners.

joshc

487 posts

178 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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I think the suspension on the Puma and Ka is very similar, and the bushes on the Ka are known to only last 30,000 miles and then need replacement. It's actually a good idea to fit a set of Powerflex polybushes - they stiffen up the suspension and last much longer than the ordinary bushes.

For the oxygen sensor, check eBay - prices around £40.

dxbtiger

4,432 posts

179 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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I recognise that plate, do you have the details of previous owners?

If so, does the surname Palmer appear anywhere? probably about 7ish years ago?

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Friday 5th March 2010
quotequote all
dxbtiger said:
I recognise that plate, do you have the details of previous owners?

If so, does the surname Palmer appear anywhere? probably about 7ish years ago?
Hmm i'll have a look. Was previously owned by my Uncle, but he bought it in 2003 I think.

Lucie W

3,473 posts

188 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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Looks the same as mine - mine's got the 9 spoke wheels too (its a 1.4 though).

No idea about the O2 sensor - sorry - but as for looking for a breaking Puma...I haven't managed to find one in a scrappie yet (I have looked in a few), but a lot of the parts are the same as the Fiesta I believe...what bits are you looking for?

Someone mentioned Powerflex bushes...I looked into this and found that the general concensus of Puma owners was that they're not good on the rear (aside from not needing to replace them again).

If you haven't already, post your query on PumaPeople...you'll no doubt get some knowledgable answers.

Hope you get the problems sorted...they're great cars.

Merry

Original Poster:

1,410 posts

194 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
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Lucie W said:
If you haven't already, post your query on PumaPeople...you'll no doubt get some knowledgable answers.

Hope you get the problems sorted...they're great cars.
I have done, not much in the way of replies....

texasjohn

3,687 posts

237 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
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Always wanted to have a drive in one of these. Good car.

davidspooner

23,956 posts

200 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
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Nice bins! Like the colour!