22nd Jun 2011, 23:35

Hey there.

Your Cougars are based on the Contour/Mystique platform and that is the same as the Ford Mondeo everywhere else on the planet. Therefore if you want a car with that 4 cylinder engine you should have no problem finding one and not too expensive either. Make sure the recalls have been taken care of etc.

A good source for information is the Contour Enthusiast Group (CEG) and "Mad Moles". You will learn that the water pumps with plastic impellers don't last...

Good luck!

13th Jul 2011, 10:18

Your fuel injectors need cleaning, and check the spark plugs.

13th Jul 2011, 10:35

Hello. My 98 Cougar V6 has an acceleration problem. When I accelerate and then go to change gear, the rpm stays high, then drops. 2 seconds later it's the same. When I let off the gas pedal, there's no engine braking. It's got 145000 on it. It's got 100% full service history. It's never missed a service. Can anyone help?

19th Jul 2011, 04:34

Check the throttle cable first. Clean the throttle body inside and out. And don't drive until you have taken care of the problem. A car with stuck wide open throttle can be very hard to stop. A concrete wall could help.

19th Jul 2011, 20:18

I too have had that happen, but make sure the small gray wire that plugs into the back of it is making a good connection, that was my problem.

20th Jul 2011, 08:17

I'm on board with lemon law about 3k into it and now front end work :( Could only imagine that bill.

8th Dec 2011, 20:37

Do not buy the car.. It has more problems than any car out there.

9th Dec 2011, 21:01

I have the same problems. I replaced the battery and alternator, and the battery still dies. I don't get it at all.

2nd Apr 2012, 14:26

Well as a Ford fan, I admit this was a problem car. But as auto manufacturers go, all have had problem cars. But look at simple facts, Ford is the only one who didn't need a bail out, and didn't have to close any lines of its vehicles like GM (Saturn, Pontiac) hint hint hint. I would highly recommend Ford to anyone!

6th May 2012, 19:22

OK, 1999 V6 Mercury Cougar...

Brake light and ABS light is on.

The blower used to work only on 4, but now it doesn't work at all.

My power locks also do not work any more.

I've had to personally change the alternator twice.

Don't get me wrong, great car, love the Cougar, but I moved to Dallas, and will not pass the state inspection with the car the way it is.

In case 2 and 2 were not put together, I just moved to Texas, and don't have A/C... It's going to be a long summer if I cannot get this taken care of.

I prefer to do these repairs on my own, because I am 23 and enjoy doing my own car repairs...

Anyone have any thoughts on alternator issues, blower motor, no power locks, and brake light (I am told because there is a kink in my e-brake line, that this is why the light is on, but why the ABS light?) Any advice on repairing my baby is appreciated.

15th Apr 2013, 23:54

My Cougar has gave me nothing but non stop troubles, and I plan to get rid of it soon. Never ever going to buy another Ford in my life.

11th May 2013, 15:38

The screeching noise is your flywheel. Some of the teeth have been ground down or are missing. This can also be caused by trying to start the car while it is already running. If your starter goes out, it will make a humming sound when you try and start your car.

18th May 2013, 01:26

When you had the catalytic converters replaced, do you know if they were all the same part or three different types?

21st May 2013, 11:21

I currently have a 99 Mercury Cougar. All in all it's a great car. I have a V6 automatic with 123xxx miles on it, but I have noticed the gas smell. I don't know what is causing it, but I've lived with it.

The car has went through a lot with me. I've driven in creeks and took it off road LOL, and it's still going.

The way to turn the engine light off is to unplug the red battery cable or black one for 20 seconds, and then don't go over 70 because it will come back on.

The best way to fix your locked doors; there should be two cables under the driver's side dash, that are either cut or not connected. Well connect them and each one will unlock and lock both doors.

Always keep air in your tires. BTW, I've noticed when just a little low, the gas goes really fast as if it's got a leak. Don't worry, put air in the tires :)

I've had this car for 2 years and never have had a problem out of it. I've got it tested and I do need things for it, but it seems to be going now I'm fixing everything I can on it.

Another thing with my car, after driving it in the creek, I noticed my brake lights went out. I've replaced bulbs, checked brake switches by a mechanic and everything, so I'm checking wires next. Should I or did I leave something out?

When I got this car, I fell in love and I'm still in love. I'm black, driving a Cougar :D I love it!

16th May 2014, 18:34

What did they do to fix it blowing fuses?

30th May 2014, 19:52

I tried programming a spare key fob manually today. I followed the instructions to program the fobs in regards to cycling the ignition between off and run, and then pressed a button on my fob. Voila, first spare fob programmed. I then pushed a button on my other spare fob and nothing happened, so I pulled it apart and saw the battery was in backwards. I flipped the battery around and closed the case, and as I attempted to program this second fob, the alarm started going off. I put my key in the ignition and turned on the car, and it still went off. I put my key in the driver's door, and the alarm is still sounding. So I pulled the security system fuse and that has silenced the alarm for now, but the red alarm LED is on to indicate the car knows I am screwing with it. Any ideas?

forsaleunfs@outlook.com

8th Aug 2014, 03:00

Hello everyone. I purchased my first Cougar in 1974, and it had to have been a 68 or 69. I was a 19 year old female at the time. Well I loved that two door cream-over-lime green beauty, but life dictated something a little larger.

Now fast forward 35 years, I buy a 1999 Cougar with a V6 engine and 118k miles on her. I didn't know she was a Cougar at first, but when told that, it brought back memories. Before purchase I took her to our family mechanic, test drove her, and our mechanic did also. This was in 2009, and outside of maintaining yearly upkeep, I had to replace the engine, which I blew driving in second gear on the open highway after being distracted with a phone call while putting her in gear. Our mechanic did find another engine with 73k on it, and the car drives like a dream. In town or on the open highway, the pickup is great and she drives real smooth in town. My husband loves her for those very reasons, and that's why he doesn't have the second set of keys.

Now my problem. I live in north western Indiana and the winters can be grueling. This past one being the worst. Well in April she was struck by another vehicle, and upon taking her in for estimates, the rocker panels are very rusted and need to be replaced. No can do since the Cougar has been discontinued. The body guy said a patch is possible, but don't expect it to last long. I've been online (Craig's List, junk yards etc.) no luck. Any suggestions out there?

OH! To all the prior comments, get a good mechanic and stay with them; some of them are car fans and love a challenge.

14th Mar 2015, 18:58

If your dad is a mechanic, why would all these things still be an issue... or costly?

23rd Mar 2015, 18:26

If I had this problem, the first thing I would check is the condition of the serpentine belt. The next thing I would check is the deflection pressure of the tensioner pulley. As for having to change the alternator... everyone who buys a used 99 Cougar should check to see if the undercarriage splash guard is in place. The alternator being situated on the underside of the engine is a bad placement, since the alternator contains the electronic regulator, which should not be allowed to get wet. I just had my alternator replaced for this self-same reason.

23rd Mar 2015, 18:33

The hatch problem is about a 3-5$ fix. The two springs that sit on opposing sides of the hatch latch are just a millimeter or two too short, so if you buy an adhesive rubber bumper to put under each of the hatch springs, it will allow you to use your hatch release button. That is how I fixed it anyway.