Well this list is quite long. First the sunroof broke, then somebody tried to steal it. Driver door window motor and mechanism was replaced. After that the fun started. I have had 2 coolant overflow tanks replaced. The alternator, fuel pump and engine!
Yes I said engine. This problem was from a thrown connecting rod. I had complained to the local dealer that the car has a hesitation around 3-4k rpms in 3rd gear, they had the car for a month and a half and said that the car was operating normally. Also at the same time I had complained about a rattle at start up (connecting rod) they said that it was because the oil hadn't been primed properly and to not start the car right away. They said to put the key in turn to the on position and wait till the count of 3 then start the car. The new engine cost 5000. The engine light has been on for a month and they replaced the IAC motor 500 bucks. Engine light still on. Was told that 3 of the 6 injectors were not getting the proper pressure. Bought new injectors 400 bucks, engine light still on. Was told all four 02 sensors were bad replaced them and wouldn't you know the engine light is still on. Now the story is that because I have an after-market intake and 19lb/hr injectors that they cannot diagnose the car unless the original parts are put on the car. The reason it has those parts is because before the engine blew I was only getting 18 mpg. With the aftermarket parts It brought it up to 21mpg with no engine light on. About one week before the engine blew the light came on. And they get it turned off and it comes back on and they say it's something all together different. I have gone ahead and leaned out the running rich problem myself and am going to reprogram the ecu to better suit the engine.
The garage should have scanned the car's computer to see what fault codes were stored. This would have told them which components to replace.
The engine light can be triggered by the leaks in the vacuum lines, or by the gas cap, which is an 'emissions' cap used to maintain pressure in the gas tank. apparently, there are also a number of emissions-related triggers, including the DPFE and the EGR itself. I carry an AUTOXRAY code reader in my 2000 cougar, as well as enough tools to replace alternators, starters, DPFEs, steering pumps, and half shafts. my cougar has 140,000 miles, and, I suspect, its engine will need replacement soon (150,000 miles).
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