Puma’s Getting older... A few issues

ProjectPuma

Help Support ProjectPuma:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Timedweller

New member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
17
Hi,
My 2001 Black Puma is still going but bit by bit things are starting to deteriorate. Still drives nicely but... y’know.
Did a £500 welding session 2 years ago so I know about rust. Replaced clutch, tires, and brake stuff but wondered what’s next and how long it might have left.
Got the MOT coming up in May and wanted some advice if anyones’s got a spare minute or 2..
1. Burning oil smell. After journeys of 45 mins or so.
2. Door open warning light on dash permanently lit.
3. Rear wiper not working.
4. Glove box hinge broken on right hand side.
5. Rusty wheel arches.
6. Cracked plastic radiator front cover grille.
Love my car! & would be sad to have to ditch it.
We all know how little they’re valued at and I’m not very handy at DIY repairs. Wish I was. Willing to try!
Cos they’re great to drive, as we all know.
Cheers,
T
 
Hi T

1. Possible leaking rocker cover gasket, leaking oil on to exhaust manifold. REPLACE GASKET?
2. Broken bonnet switch or faulty switch on boot catch. CHECK BONNET SWITCH, CHECK ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON BOOT CATCH?
3. Possible bad earth. Pretty sure the wiper is earthed through the boot pins. REMOVE PINS & CLEAN/DE-RUST?
4. Wonky glove box when opening. REPLACE HINGE WITH ONE FROM PUMA OR FIESTA (Mk4, Mk5).
5. Looks like a typical Ford. CUT OUT AND REPLACE?
6. Not known this myself. REPLACE?

* point 3 - I could be wrong so you would need clarification on that!
 
On the rear boot, get some scotch-brite-like material and make sure the rear copper contacts are clean. Otherwise like mine its the bonnet switch that is broke, I snapped mine taking the head off the engine.
 
sickofguessing said:
On the rear boot, get some scotch-brite-like material and make sure the rear copper contacts are clean.

Also, I think the contact for the boot open/ajar is actually spring loaded and should move down if you press it. If not it could be jammed in the upper position making the car think the boot is open when it isn't.
 
Timedweller said:
Thanks!
Sorted the rear wiper - contacts on the boot were dirty.

Someone modified mine I think by adding extra earths using the rear boot gas struts.
Unless someone has a picture of it being original I have no idea what the hell its for.
 
The boot gas strut on one side is used as an earth. The strut will have connectors on it for the wires to connect to. Pretty sure it's the earth for the boot brake light... :eek:k:
 
MOT passed first time!!

Advisory on the oil leak.
Garage said difficult for them to work out where it’s coming from. I think they need to clean the engine exterior in order to see where it’s spraying from, and they didn’t have the right equipment. Does this sound right?

Going to try and sort the other bits. It’s a black leather seats and chrome gearstick model and I’m proud of it getting this far in life
 
I should take a picture but my rocker gasket is getting worse and just ejecting oil. When I cane the thing the pressure is just immense. You can clearly see the oil leak by looking over the top right end of the engine and see the telltale oil on the flat cut surface from the head. You can hear the oil cooking on the cat. Not sure if I want to even spend a penny on this engine as I have a spare engine to fit.
 
Keep it original, replace the relevant gaskets wipe off the excess oil and all will be fine , spend an hour or so now is easier than changing the engine, and Sod’s law says that might need new gaskets anyway
 

Latest posts

Back
Top