New Puma owner - at last !

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John Woodward

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Messages
590
Location
Near Oxford
Have today collected a 2001 Medium Steel Grey Puma, has a fairly comprehensive service history, absolutely standard, NO modifications, is a local car and done just under 50k miles, new MOT last week. First saw the car in early September, so its been a long wait.
It appears to drive very well. Has a couple of minor issues, the 6006 Radio/Cd, doesn't accept CD's, won't tune any stations and the volume control isn't working, would like to keep it original, but I gather the 6006 is not very reliable. I have a Kenwood DAB head unit that can be used if I can't fix it. Also the boot interior light is not working, so I'll remove the lock tomorrow and check the switch.
Looking forward to using it, when the weather isn't too bad and hoping to take it to several Classic cars shows next year, Covid permitting.
 
Thanks for the welcome. Fixed the volume control on the 6006, but still won't accept CD's or tune stations, so waiting for the adapter plate and DAB Ariel, fixed the boot light switch contact, waiting for Osram HB3's and loads of other bits and pieces.
Have done a lot of research since September, especially on Project Puma and it has helped no end, so at least I've some idea what I'm looking at.
 
Glad to hear you've found the site useful!

The 6006 is notoriously bad for the CD changer, most people just replaced it. Can always keep hold of it in case you decide to seel in the future. Or buy a 6000 single disc unit
 
I've fitted a Kenwood single DIN DAB unit, using an adapter plate, but will have a look in the breakers and see if I can find one, a black one would do, as you can change the front panel for the silver one, just to keep in case I need to sell in a few years.
Fitted Osram Nightbreakers Lazers today and whilst they're a bit better, still not that good. Just read the "How to guide" on adjusting the headlights, so that's on the list to do.
May I suggest that there is a link added to the quick links, for the "How to Guides", as a new owner they're an essential read and very helpful, but not that easy to find.
 
i was surprised to find that my Puma had rusted through at the front of inner arches, behind the liners, as it passed its MOT a few days before I purchased it. its a tricky repair on the nearside, so having it done properly at a well respected local body shop.
I was in the midst of treating any rust underneath, before repainting and applying Waxoyl, then its on to the sills and inside the chassis members etc. with Dynax S50, just trying to preserve it a bit. Did the same treatment on my classic Mini and in the 5 years
before I sold it to buy a Puma, it hadn't deteriorated.
 
Managed to purchase a 6006E head unit with a black facia today, fitted the silver facia from the broken head unit, tested OK, so removed for when I have to sell the Puma, so have the DAB head unit with MP3 to use until that day, hopefully in many years time
Got the Puma, the inside story book, thought it was good for £30 for the 2.
Also got the 5W30 semi synthetic today, genuine Ford filter and some engine flush and new sump plug, so that's another job for this week.
 
Changed the oil and filter yesterday, as the car had always been serviced by Ford dealers, they had used fully synthetic ! Now using 5W30 semi synthetic to Ford spec.
So decided to use an engine flush first, replaced the sump plug and filter using genuine Ford parts, it appears most aftermarket filters are smaller.
I live less than a mile from a Ford main dealer, but they have a terrible attitude and can't be bothered with the likes of us. Fortunately I have a Ford Service dealer (Kernahan's Witney) about 10 miles away who are very helpful, a few years ago managed to order some small items that the main dealer had said was obsolete and had them next day !
 
Hi John
Eurocarparts exclusively sell the Crossland range & the oil filter is the correct length.

With their current discount its £3.89
 
I was told a few years ago that Crossland is now a Eurocarparts owned brand and the quality wasn't brilliant, certainly not the old Crossland we knew years ago. I usually use Mann filters on my other cars (all Ford), but beginning to think genuine oil filters are probably the best option. having seen some very dubious Chinese made filters for the classic Mini I used to have before the Puma.

Genuine Ford filter was £5.47 +vat
 
Hi DOH,
Yes exactly the same EFL600 part no. 1119421
The sump drain plugs were £2.64 +vat
They gave me discount on the filter, should have been £7.29 + vat.
I'm usually near them once a week, so doesn't mean driving out of my way. They seem to service a lot RS + ST cars, the owner used to do rallying in an ex works Escort MK1, haven't mentioned that I used to know him, way back then. The Local main dealer is not helpful, as I said previously.
 
I think I've at last finished the rust treatment. I have NO external rust on the arches at present, but the inner seams were showing rust on both sides, the drivers side being the worst. I did find a black plastic bag with foam strip filling it under the seatbelt mechanism in both sills, decided to remove it, as redoing the sills through the front seat bolt mounting point would be easier in the future.
Does any one know of its purpose of this black plastic bag ?
 
This one?
Seat Belts Lower Mounts RH 1.JPG
I think it's for sound absorption/anti vibration. I put mine back after rust treatment.
 
Thanks for the reply.
That's the one, except mine was directly under the seat belt reel.
I've done about 40 miles this evening in the Puma and to be honest I haven't noticed any vibration or any greater noise yet, but I've kept them, just in case.
 
The bin bags are garbage. Took mine out. If the polythene splits it's full of spongy bits and it'll just suck in moisture.

Typical Ford cost-save NVH measure!

If you are in deep enough to access these (as in seats and trim removed etc) give it a good squirt with rust proofing goo. It's important to get this on the *inside* of the sills.
 
grogee said:
The bin bags are garbage. Took mine out. If the polythene splits it's full of spongy bits and it'll just suck in moisture.
I sealed mine with Zip-Bags, and taped the seals. Also rust treated the interior panels:
01A Interior Rear RH.JPG
 
The trim and seats were removed specifically to gain access to the rear arch seam. Where I had treated the sills (from the seat belt rail fixing hole) the black bags had stopped the rust proofing reaching the rear part of the sills.
Also the rear brake backplates were very, very rusty, so after removing as much as possible, they were then treated, with Deox gel which worked vey well, so now primed and repainted.
Also replaced the Discs and Pads with Mintex ones, the Discs were the only advisory on the MOT, before I purchased the car 2 months ago.
Whilst the car is low mileage, low owners, with full Ford service history, a lot of work has been needed to try and prevent what rust there is getting any worse. This sort of treatment worked very well on the Classic Mini that I sold to purchase the Puma, in 5 years of ownership the rust on the Mini didn't get any worse and it had far more rust than my Puma has.
 

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