Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-78
My 2000 Cougar with 175K kicks butt!! I bought this car, used in 2004 w/45K miles and I, like country girl (above), drive this car hard, fast and don't baby it. This car has been all over California, both highway and town miles put on it. I don't change my oil regularly and frequently run the tank down to empty. Per tank of gas, I ALWAYS get above 30mpg. I have had no fuel pump problems and am amazed at the durability of this vehicle. The following are the only repairs that I have had to have done:
1) clutch replaced at 160k
2) timing belt replaced at 170k
3) brake pads and tires...That's All!
Problems I do have, but don't care about are:
1) Trunk latch sucks and I have to manually do it or have the kids lift while I push the button. :)
2) The carpet in the back seat has folded over and needs to be glued down.
3) Heater and AC works only at max (level 4), but screw it... it works and I don't need to leave it on for long... now. :)
4) Hard to get into the back seat... But is it really expected to be a breeze when you buy a coupe? I don't think so.
Frankly, this is a good buy. With gas prices the way they are, I'll take the good with the "not so" bad, as long as I keep getting good gas mileage. My goal for this car is 250K... and I think I'll easily achieve it. When I get there... I'll chime back in. Dave in No-Cal.
OK, I need help! Please!! I bought my 99 Cougar about a year ago, and so far, it's given me minimal trouble considering it's got 90k.
Had to replace a fuel filter, a dpfe sensor, clean the mass air flow sensor. Not too big a deal, old cars nickel and dime ya to death.
I had problems with flickering lights in the rain one night, but that could be because I was genius enough to drive through 2 feet of water. :P.
BUT here's the problem now.
My oxygen sensors are messed up, and I have a weird light coming on on the dash. It's shaped like a trash can with a big X on it. Is this the emissions light? I'm horribly afraid it's my catalytic converter, but also I wondered if this light, if it is emissions could be on because of the O2 sensors? They are somehow wound into emissions through the fuel system I thought...
Anyway, I'd REALLY appreciate it if anyone knew what was going on here, would please put in their 2 cents!
And, for anyone who has had problems with their fuel system (I'm going to look into this too) there is a factory recall from ford on it. The phone number to call is 18003923673 and the number thing to go with it is 04v421000. This covers 99-2000 Cougars up to ten years after the original purchase date. Hope this helps someone out!!!
(sorry had to do this again, messed up a number. my bad!)
We've had our 2000 Cougar since new and have had the same basic problems as everyone else. The major headache is the alternator (light flickering, replacing batteries and alternators) and if you refer back to some of the past comments the FIX is THE small wire that needs to be cut out and a new wire re-attached.It is something not easily done if you do not have some mechanical experience and a lot of patience. Find a mechanic that is familiar with replacing the alternator and get the info from Ford. TSB 00-25-6.
My new problem now is the auto transmission seems to shift on its own after about 10 minutes every time I drive it. It shift really quickly up and down and intermittently. Some times it can go on for more than 10 to 15 minutes. then stop and can come back again later. Does anyone know if its the transmission sensor and can be fixed or replaced by a backyard mechanic (me).Is there a way to re-set the main computer and /or the transmission computer. Any ideas would be great. Thanks My e-mail is sng@telus.net.
Regarding the previous question. The bucking after 10 minutes of driving or 10 miles of driving was from a faulty MANUAL LEVER POSITION SENSOR OR the updated name of HIGH RANGE INPUT SENSOR. It cost me $120 in Canada and I changed it myself. I talked to two different parts guys from Ford dealerships and they both tried to sell me the wiring for it as well but they were not sure if it was needed. You do not need it! The location is, if you were in front of the vehicle, just left of the battery at the top of the transmission pan. It is tri-angular in shape and a little smaller than a mans wallet. Ask for a diagram when you purchase it from (only from) Ford.
I've had my Nercury Cougar for a year (2000). The dash lights flicker as well as the headlights. Thought it was the alternator, but it seems to charge the battery fine.
The car is the 6 cylinder 5 speed version. Anyone know what it could be?
Also when I'm changing gears, the rpm meter shoots to 4000 to 5000 when I push in the clutch to change gears.
Please help!
We purchased the 2000 Cougar with the V6 new. It only has 15000 miles on it. We are on our third alternator and the lights still flicker... dealer said I needed a new battery but a new one was installed the week before, they never mentioned the TSB... go figure. Now I cannot get in the car with the remote switch, doors and trunk. Replaced the battery in remote but still will not work. From above see some have had this same issue, can anyone tell me what your remedy was, thanks again.
Help. I bought a 2000 Cougar used and over all it runs really well however we have 2 issues.
First being when we get gas and fill the tank up gas leaks underneath the car. I have no idea what this could be.
Second the door locks and the trunk release suddenly stopped working. I am hoping maybe it is something like a fuse being blown.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
The 2000 2001 mercury cougars all have electrical controlled engines.your problems might deal with the computer system in the car. check alternators battery power alternator system check and finally run your car through a computer either by urself or a dealer. also check caddy converter.
Regarding the Manual Lever Position Sensor, I think I have the same problem. How difficult was it to install?
I have an electrical problem but not sure it matches the issues brought up here. While running at night (headlights on adds to/causes problem?)the dash lights will be dim- (keying me into the fact that I'm about to be stranded) the airbag warning light goes on and off, the gauges fuel, water temp, tach and speed od will shoot all the way up and then bottom out, the car will continue to run and slowly die. Once its dead if you turn the key, the airbag warning light goes on and off, the gauges fuel, water temp, tach and speed od will shoot all the way up and then bottom out and the battery seems dead. If I jump it and it starts to run again it's like nothing is wrong. It can go weeks/months before doing it again. Sound familiar- please let me know.
Brian9526@hotmail.com.
Hi I havea 99 cougar with a wild elect. problem. Headlight blows fuses and parking lights and fog lights still work. Lights stay on for a while then go off, never consistent can stay on for 1/2hour then maybe 3 minutes. Any one have this happen to them e mail me spikedoctor@yahoo.com.
I bought my 2000 Cougar (auto trans, 2.5L, V6) in 2004 and immediately replaced the battery. The AC/heat blower only worked on level 4, which was a quick fix replacing the resistor.
Recently, the coolant light came on and has stayed on, then the check engine light came on and stayed solid. I thought it might be bad gas, but it wasn't. I used Fuel injector cleaner... no luck light just stayed on, but not accompanied by engine trouble.
THEN the alternator went, which I replaced myself for about 200 bucks and 6 hours of labor. (it wouldn't have taken so long, but it is very hard to get to one of the bolts on the alternator.) Car cranked like new and drove fine for about 50 miles. Then more trouble...
...seems like a fuel pickup problem, runs rough below 2000 rpm. Check engine light flashed. I was below a 1/4 of a tank, so I filled up. Problem went away until right below a 1/2 a tank. Now it seems like it wants to shut off, although it hasn't yet. Idles rough, slight stutter accelerating from red-lights. The check engine light intermittently flashes and then stays solid. I'm afraid it's gonna leave me on the side of the road again.
Does this seem like the fuel pump problem that everyone else is having?
Anything I should check before I go replacing the fuel pump??
P.S. if you need help replacing your alternator yourself, let me know!! (JessieDevL8402@aol.com, put Alternator in subject!)
2000 Merc. Cougar V6, 68k miles, 2nd owner in family. Replaced 1 fuel pump per recall and getting stuck on the road. Replaced 1 alt., died on road. If you have the light flicker problem, check the ground on the alt. Original alts., ground connection bad from factory. Have the problem with the display / instrument readings going bonkers and now it slides out of over drive over 60mph. Over all has not cost me over 1k in maint. repairs. Nice car, great gas mileage, you just can't abuse it because the parts are just generally made cheap by Ford.
I recently bought a 1999 Cougar. It had 89,000 miles and I had to replace the transmission, fuel pump and filter, A/C, and alternator.
I had an oil leak, which was going onto the alternator, basically everything on it is almost brand new except the motor.
My lights flicker so we thought it was the alternator, but we got that fixed and they still flicker. What could it be?
I've had nothing but problems with in since I've had it. Should I get another different car?
I have a 1999 Cougar and cannot get the RH parking brake to work. As I manually move the link arm the brake appears to be on when it should be off, and vice versa. The LH works fine. Any ideas?