Recently I revived my daughter's '67 Cougar XR7/289-4v that had been sitting for ~ 5 yrs. I've noticed that it has some problems, which I'll list below:
1. Brakes - Takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop, even then it's gradual. I remember that the car had this problem back when my daughter was driving it regularly. Unless replacing the vacuum hose to the power brake booster cures it, I suspect the booster itself. In this case I hope that installing a rebuilt booster would cure it.
2. Flashers / turn signals - Turn signals don't work, but flashers won't turn off. The flasher switch on the steering column has in/out positions. I can't remember which is On, which is Off, but when I push it in, both turn signal indicators on the instrument panel light up, so I think In is On. But when I pull the switch to the Out position, those indicators are off, but the turn signal lights all keep flashing. This was an intermittent problem when I first got the car running a month ago - it would stop after a while. Now it keeps going, but strangely - a dozen flashes, then a pause of ~ 30 sec, then repeats.
3. Tach - I noticed that the tach won't go over ~ 2000 rpm, even when I can tell by engine sound that actual rpm is ~ 4000. The tach needle fluctuates a little, even when revs are low.
4. Engine keeps running with key off & removed! - Today was the first time I encountered this. I turned off the key, engine kept running! I removed the key, engine kept running. I had to pull the coil wire to shut it off - and got a little shock - grrr!
Background: When I first hooked up the new battery, the alarm went off & I couldn't turn it off - had to disconnect the battery. I found the remote for the alarm, put a new battery in it, and tried again - alarm went crazy, remote did nothing. I didn't know how the alarm system was wired (didn't install it myself), so I just cut one of the wires to the siren. Even after that, with new battery connected, the car would not start. I found a little switch on the bottom of the dash near the ignition switch, found that I had to press this switch while turning the ignition key, to crank the engine. Obvously this switch is part of the alarm system (for which I can't find the manual). I don't know whether this has anything to do with the engine's run-on problem and/or the turn signal flasher problem.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Bob
1. Brakes - Takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop, even then it's gradual. I remember that the car had this problem back when my daughter was driving it regularly. Unless replacing the vacuum hose to the power brake booster cures it, I suspect the booster itself. In this case I hope that installing a rebuilt booster would cure it.
2. Flashers / turn signals - Turn signals don't work, but flashers won't turn off. The flasher switch on the steering column has in/out positions. I can't remember which is On, which is Off, but when I push it in, both turn signal indicators on the instrument panel light up, so I think In is On. But when I pull the switch to the Out position, those indicators are off, but the turn signal lights all keep flashing. This was an intermittent problem when I first got the car running a month ago - it would stop after a while. Now it keeps going, but strangely - a dozen flashes, then a pause of ~ 30 sec, then repeats.
3. Tach - I noticed that the tach won't go over ~ 2000 rpm, even when I can tell by engine sound that actual rpm is ~ 4000. The tach needle fluctuates a little, even when revs are low.
4. Engine keeps running with key off & removed! - Today was the first time I encountered this. I turned off the key, engine kept running! I removed the key, engine kept running. I had to pull the coil wire to shut it off - and got a little shock - grrr!
Background: When I first hooked up the new battery, the alarm went off & I couldn't turn it off - had to disconnect the battery. I found the remote for the alarm, put a new battery in it, and tried again - alarm went crazy, remote did nothing. I didn't know how the alarm system was wired (didn't install it myself), so I just cut one of the wires to the siren. Even after that, with new battery connected, the car would not start. I found a little switch on the bottom of the dash near the ignition switch, found that I had to press this switch while turning the ignition key, to crank the engine. Obvously this switch is part of the alarm system (for which I can't find the manual). I don't know whether this has anything to do with the engine's run-on problem and/or the turn signal flasher problem.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Bob
