PH Fleet: Ford Puma
Riggers' bargain coupe throws a minor strop - but at least it gives him something to write about...
Fortunately, in the context of having stuff to write about at least, my Puma hasn’t been quite so perfectly behaved. And it had all been going so well, too. I’d been quietly smug about the little Ford’s continuing reliability, especially given its infrequent use – we’ve made sure it gets a run at least once a week, but it has been spending a lot of time sitting on the drive – but one morning that all changed.
Flat battery sorted courtesy of PH Golf
“There’s a problem with the Puma,” said the OH over the phone, as I was 20 minutes into a 35-minute commute – too far to turn back. It seemed the Puma was almost entirely dead electrically. So while Mrs Riggers took the bus and I sat at work frustrated that I couldn’t go back and sort it straight away, I looked to Twitter for a spot of help (thanks in particular must go to @ProjectPuma here).
The general consensus seemed to be, as I hoped, nothing more serious than a flat battery. This indeed proved to be the case as I arrived back home that evening, jump-leads in hand. In fact, re-starting the car was a fairly simple matter, aside from the difficulty of shoving it singlehandedly out of the four neat depressions left in my driveway where the wheels go after nigh-on 30 years of constant use. And aside from failing to put the battery cover back on the PH Fleet Golf before shutting the bonnet and thus almost permanently wedging it into a semi-closed position, from which it was most reluctant to budge.
Sorted
Car started and my own incompetence sorted, a quick spin around the local country lanes brought a bit of charge back into the battery and reminded me just how much fun the Puma is to hustle along. Not at ten-tenths (my elderly clutch, suspension that I still haven’t sorted and less-than-marvellous brakes preclude this anyway), but at what you might call a healthy lick.
Puma vs TVR vs Sand Rail at M-BW SS
Sort of...
There has been another problem, mind you – the ABS and traction control warning lights have decided to intermittently come on, though this seems to be mostly when the car’s been rained-on for a prolonged period of time.
Whatever the cause, it’s something to add to the list of things to look at when I get it serviced ahead of its MOT, the renewal date for which - I note with dread – is due in the next month or so...
Fact sheet:
Car: 2001 Ford Puma
Run by: Matt Rigby
Bought: June 2011
Purchase price: 1,000
Last month at a glance: Mysterious flat battery appears to be a one-off. So far...
Previous reports:
Time to get AX51 GGA spruced up with a spring clean
Continental jaunts and Corrosion block for Riggers's Puma
Riggers is finding it tough to trust with his new Puma
Not really much of an issue although they aren't cheap (relatively speaking) to replace. The genuine ones are upwards of £100. Any decent Ford dealer should be able to single out the specific side to save changing both.
If the battery is low it could cause this.
It did on my 316 and would only go back off again once the battery was more charged.
With the ABS sensors avoid genuine Ford; nothing wrong with them but they are very overpriced. The sensors are made [for Ford] by ATE. ATE sensors are available from many motor factors and are the same on Puma as 95-02 Fiesta, Mk1 Ka and Fiesta based Mazda 121. Two individual sensors at the front, circa £45 each, one part includes both rears and should be under £100.
).If the battery is low it could cause this.
It did on my 316 and would only go back off again once the battery was more charged.
Get a multimeter on it, should be reading between 12 and 13 if its healthy at rest, 14 and over when engine is on. They will start and drive on anything as low as 10.9v, but headlights/dash lights will be very dim and almost every warning light other than battery will light up intermittantly.
We have a focus in the workshop atm with a less than healthy battery and it does all sorts of strange things, all the locks start clicking but not engaging, all dash lights start flashing and random warning lights will remain on even after a charge. Bite the bullet and buy a new battery and hope the alternator isnt the problem.
Would be interested to know what process you followed when rust proofing arches, your last update shows you liberally spraying under the arches but how did you clean/prep them...and did you remove the liners?
Would like to keep mine looking pristine or least slow down future rot
cracking cars by the way, only really thought about then as result of your fleet updates...oh, and that they appear as sotw every other month!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff