Faults:

I have a 2000 Cougar with 76000 on it. I bought it back in December with 74000.

I haven't had really any problems with it in the short time I've had it, except for I was parked idling for about 15 minutes, and then my car just turned off. Then it wouldn't restart. Nothing electronically will work in the car, it won't turn over at all, and it doesn't make any kind of clicking noise, so it can't be the starter.

My car has an after market alarm system because I have the door handles shaved, and I noticed that my fuse for the alarm was blown, but I replaced it and nothing happened. I've tried jumping the battery and putting a new battery in it, but I don't think the new battery was a reverse polarity. If anyone could help me out with this? I'm running out of things to check.

General Comments:

I like the Cougar a lot on the outside, and it's interior isn't too bad. The power isn't the best, but it still has some power to it. But the problems I have with this car are just way too much to handle.

Faults:

Lights flicker.

ECU was too sensitive and needed recalibration.

General Comments:

Always loved the exterior design and dreamt of purchasing it one day. Too early for me to fully review the model, but so far I'm satisfied with it. I'm planning to do as many repairs as I can myself.

It's my first stick car, and I'm still struggling to shift smoothly, does anyone know if I might have tranny problems or this model is a HARD shifter? sibtutor@yahoo.com

Faults:

My 2000 Mercury Cougar has let me down. Today the car kept getting weak on me, trying to die at stop lights. It was running just fine until yesterday when I put some gas in. I normally run 89 at BP gas station (this is recommended), but it will not run properly with 89 so I use 91 and it runs good, but this time it caused weakness in the idle.

This morning when I started the car to go to work, the car was very weak idling. Twice the car died on me today. I asked Autozone what could be the problem. They advised me to try "Heet". I also spoke to a mechanic who stated that the problem could be bad gas, catalytic converter, or MAF Sensor. This is the first time the car has ever done this - can anyone tell me WHAT IS GOING ON??

Faults:

The first thing that went wrong with this car was the sunroof broke and would not close. Also the drivers side window motor stop working and had to be replaced.

Then twice something went wrong with the fuel injections system, probably around 50,000 miles.

Also the sensor in the coolant tank has a short, and I was told it would cost close to $500 bucks to replace the whole tank, as the sensor could not be replaced alone. Took it to Jiffy lube and they filled the overflow tank to the tip top and the light hasn't come on since.

Not sure what the car does when it is cold, but it makes a loud noise until it warms up. One guy told me it was the alternator.

General Comments:

Overall, with the few things that happened above, the car has been VERY reliable. It drives like a dream at even over 100,000k on it. It picks up still and moves, and really isn't bad on handling for the type of car.

The problems list above were spread out and not all at once as well. So I can't down the car too much; if it has the regular schedule maintenance and is taken care of, it runs like a dream.

I would love to keep as long as I can, but I know I will have to move on to a new car. If Cougars were still being made, I would buy another one. Well as long as they didn't look like those ugly sedan ones that Mercury made.