General Comments:

I have only had my 2000 Mercury Cougar for 2 months, and I've already had to get a new sunroof, alternator, starter, new bottom grills for the bumper because they won't stay in properly, and now I hear some kind of squeaking coming from underneath the car when I pull into my driveway or over any kind of bump.

My windows squeak when I put them up and down, and at night my interior and exterior lights flicker, but other than ALL that, I love it...

Faults:

I got my 2000 Mercury Cougar from my parents when I was 16. I am now 18 years old and I'll admit there have been a few problems.

1. I was traveling on the highway one day and my car completely stalled on me while I was trying to accelerate on a bridge. Pinned in the middle lane, I managed my way over and rolled down the bridge in the breakdown lane. I noticed I was very very low on gas, and I brought it in to see what was wrong. Apparently the gas pump was faulty and needed to be replaced.

2. The sway bar that turns the wheels had to be replaced once, and tightened twice. I would hear groans when I turned the wheels, and it sounded like something was clicking while I drove. I also felt the clicking in my feet.

3. The next thing that occurred was at night my lights would flash like a strobe light. My alternator was going and needed to be replaced.

4. The speed setting for the heater would only work on the 2 highest settings. Turns out the blower motor which controls that had to be replaced.

General Comments:

Other than those few things, this car is amazing. It is amazingly reliable and handles curves like nothing.

It is pretty decent on gas considering I drive like an ass. And let me tell you, I beat the crap out of that car.

I never have a start up problem, or dashboard lighting problem, and I've never experienced my car dying on left turns, cause like I said, I really beat that car up. My trunk latch never gets stuck.

All in all, I really don't have too many problems at all with this car. It runs great and handles amazingly. It looks nice and is decently fast.

Faults:

Alternator fix.

General Comments:

Ford put the alternator near the drive shaft on the underside of the engine. Very stupid place, because all of the road dirt and oil flies into the alternator, causing alternator failure within six months of replacement. Some owners have replaced the alternator as many as eight times.

I have replaced it three times in less than two years, because of dirty engine oil leaks being spun into the alternator. The fix is to keep the engine area as clean as possible. Most car builders keep the alternator at the top of the engine bay away from the road filth. I understand that the four-banger also has similar problems.

Faults:

The A/C compressor went bad, but I don't really use it. The most recent problem was the alternator. The only reason it broke, is because the vehicle was parked for 2 years without anyone to let the engine run.

General Comments:

The car handles very well and has reasonable power for a 2.5L.

The Duratec engine was designed and built by Ford. Duratec is one of Ford's best engines that is currently still in use, but as a 3L in the newest vehicles.

Faults:

So I hooked up these 12 inch led tubes in this 2000 Cougar. I used the power wire and ground wire from the CD player like I usually do. I didn't think nothing out of the blue. Well I had all the wires hooked up to the toggle switch, I know they were right, 100% positive. well anyways I went to turn on the toggle and the lights didn't come on. so I figured the car had to be on so I turned the key and no dash lights came on, nothing came on and it didn't start, they only thing that was on was the dome light and the blinking security light, so I would like to know what I could do to get this thing running. I tried charging the battery, nothing. jumping off another car, nothing. I checked all the fuses and relays I could find and nothing, so please give me some advice. thanks you much.