96 Cobra buyer........Any Issues We Should Look For?

[White98SVT]

I know that certain year Cobras had some issues. I know with the 98's they had issues with the bad Borg Warner trannies. I think I remember something about the 96's having over heating problems.

Well a buddy of mine is going to look at a 96 and I was wondering if there was anything he should look for. The car has 30k miles on it and he isn't sure if there are any mods.

Thanks for the input.:bounce:

[johnbasf]

I've had no problems. The cooling was an issue depending on where you lived.

[28 Fangs]

True.I also heard of a recall on the emergency brake.Mine works fine though..Good luck:D

[temjin9876]

yeah my friend got his 96 in January. It has the overheating problem (what do you expect, its hotlanta) but your friend is still under 36,000 miles. I know that the warranty was up in 99 but the guys at Team Ford said that they might consider doing it under warranty if it didn't have that many miles on it (he had 54000). He could give that a try if it indeed overheats. The E-brake recall, if it hasn't already been done, he can do anytime for free (they just put a little medal retainer on the mechanism to keep the hand brake from slowly coming down if parked for a long period of time.)

Thats all I know about it. The radiator TSB has been done if the honey comb grill in the front has been removed (correct me if im wrong)

hope it helps

[Mystic_Cobra]

Some did overheat, mostly in the southwest. If it's under warranty, they should do the cooling upgrade for free. If not under warranty, just buy an aluminum radiator. My rad was leaking. Sometimes the honeycomb grill was not removed when the TSB was done. If you car is not overheating, they won't do the TSB. The Ford/SVT computer should be able to tell you if it was done.
E-brake recall can be done by the dealer for free anytime.

[White98SVT]

Thanks for the help fellas:thumbsup:

[tnturbo]

Only other things I can think to add are 96s have the junk T-45 in them as well. If it is bad you will know. Also while test driving make sure to shift into 2nd at 6000+ rpm if it shifts ok and doesn't grind you should be ok. Rear swaybars are prone to breaking, but are cheap and the new ones from Ford don't break as easily. If the car is local to you and has not had the cooling upgrade done I would no worry at all. Cars either got hot or didn't I live in East TN and mine does not have it and I have no problems. Runs hotter than I would like, but has never overheated. E brake recall is no big deal and affected all Mustangs I believe.

[tgentry]

Originally posted by temjin9876
The radiator TSB has been done if the honey comb grill in the front has been removed (correct me if im wrong)

OK, you're wrong! :rotf:

My '96 got the cooling TSB while still under warranty. Since I live in northern Illinois it took some convincing to get the dealer to do it but I wanted it for open-track and traveling.

Anyway, it included a new radiator, fan and parts needed to install them. Afterwards, the little plastic trim that attaches to the coolant tank and covers the top the radiator was gone, but the honeycomb was still there.

[28 Fangs]

Originally posted by tnturbo
Only other things I can think to add are 96s have the junk T-45 in them as well. If it is bad you will know. Also while test driving make sure to shift into 2nd at 6000+ rpm if it shifts ok and doesn't grind you should be ok. Rear swaybars are prone to breaking, but are cheap and the new ones from Ford don't break as easily. If the car is local to you and has not had the cooling upgrade done I would no worry at all. Cars either got hot or didn't I live in East TN and mine does not have it and I have no problems. Runs hotter than I would like, but has never overheated. E brake recall is no big deal and affected all Mustangs I believe.
That's the first I've heard of the tranny going bad...I don't know about taking it to 6g's and downshifting down to second either...

[smashedheadcat]

I think he means taking it up to 6g's in 1st gear, then UPshifting to 2nd;)

[tnturbo]

Yeah take it to 6-7k in 1st then upshift to 2nd. One of the modes of failure for the T-45 is to have 2nd gear synchros go bad and/or bend the shift fork. Symptoms of this are grinding going into 2nd, much more pronounced at high rpms, as the tranny gets worse it will do it at lower and lower rpms.

[HORSEMAN321]

I HAVE A 96 LASER RED METALLIC COBRA .I DID NOTICE A SMALL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE REAR SWAY BAR WAS BROKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM THE DEALER. IT WAS EASY TO INSTALL. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT SEEMS TO HAVE A HESITATION FROM 3100RPM TO 3200RPM. IT DOES THIS IN 1ST , 2ND, 3RD, IT ISNT AS NOTICABLE IN 4TH OR 5TH. DOES ANYONE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND IF SO IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO FIX IT?SOMEONE TOLD ME ITS A WAY TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN TO SHIFT. I DOUBT IT . MY CAR HAS NO PROBLEMS OF OVER HEATING, I LIVE IN KY. IT HAS 80,000 ON IT NOW AND IS IN MINT CONDITION.

[tnturbo]

Sounds like to me you are feeling the IMRCs it will feel a little like a hesitation if you are just casually going up the tach. Probably not noticeable under WOT.

[HORSEMAN321]

THANKS SO THERE SHOULDNT BE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? WHAT IS IMRCS. NEW TO THE GAME SO HOPE YOU DONT THINK IM STUPID. HAVE HAS PLENTY OF MUSCLE CARS , BUT NEVER A NEWER ONE.

[Mystic_Cobra]

IMRC is intake manifold runner control. Our motors came with an intake that has two sets of intake runners. The second set opens up at at 3250 rpm. This allows the motor to breathe better at higher rpm and make more power and also keeps low end torque up.
What you're feeling is normal. After the engine is warmed up, try accelerating from idle up to about 6000 rpm or so with the throttle on the floor it's much smoother that way!
Oh, and don't forget to shift. :)