Chassis / Suspension & Steering Malfunction When driving Always
Q: Had a kinda roaring sound coming from front end, turned out to be a bad wheel bearing, but I was also told the TIE ROD ENDS WERE NO GOOD
I just want to know if this is a common problem for 1999 mercury cougar 4 cyl
I cant figure out why the wheel bearing would be bad so quickly either
car has 46,600 miles on it
Thank you
A: Its a ford. No offense. The Ford Conturs have the same problem. The Cougar is basiclly the same thing as the Contur but with a different body on it
Drive Train / Driveline Other When accelerating Always
Q: LOST OVERDRIVE ALL AT ONCE WHEN PASSING GEAR LINKAGE CLIP BROKE, TIGHTENED IT AND STILL DON'T HAVE OVERDRIVE, JUST WON'T GO INTO IT.
A: make sure the throttle cable is connected to the thottle body.
i just replaced a tranny for the same problem when i took the new one out to drive the same thing was wrong, i looked under the hood and the cable to the transmission had busted.
Q: my 92 cougar started acting like it was trying to shift while at a stop light and then as I continued down the road The engine kept clicking and acted like it wanted to shift. I pulled into my car port and it still did this. I went out this morning and started the engine and let it idle and it clicks and then revs up like it wants to Change.I am afraid to drive it like this. Can you help me out? I also thought I smelled oil or gas, when I got out of the car. Dariel
A: Have a transmission specialist check it out. mention the transmission pan might be leaking
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: Idiot light "check engine" comes on shortly after starting and remains on until engine is turned off.
A: This indicates a fault that has been monitored by your cars computer. When the light turns on a 'DTC' (diagnostic trouble code) is stored.
Using your favorite search engine, type in: automotive trouble codes.
From here you will find many sites to choose from that give instructions on code retrieval (and trouble codes definitions).
Never guess which sensor/circuit/or component is the problem. Your money would be better spent at the casino. Retreive DTC's! The only exception to the rule is an underhood inspection of wires/vacuum-hoses/etc.
Heating / Cooling System Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: My rear defroster does not work. When I press the defroster button the indicator light turns on but the ice on my rear window does not melt. I have tried over and over again. Now, that winter is so near I am very worried about losing this accessory. What can be the problem? I have closely looked at the wires that heat the window and I have not found any breaks. Also, if you could help, the dispay on my manufacturer's radio does not show completely. If it were 12:50, I can not tell whether it is 12:50 of 12:30.
A: Radio is LED's(mini bulbs) and the rear defrost has a broken wire ir ground. You need a test light to find out where and can get a kit to repair. Ed
I had the same problem last year and replaced the water pump, worked fine until about a month ago and it seems to have the same problem again.....
Anyway, when it overheats and I pullover all of the coolant is in the resovoir and not very much in the radiator.....
A year and half ago someone told me it had a cracked head, no oil in coolant or vice versa either or coolant out the tail pipe.....
I am wondering if something is clogged causing that water pump to work overtime and the pump is ready to give out again????
Please help...
A: I bet you have a 3.8 liter engine and have a head gasket priblem. Check the thousands of complaints on the NHTSA web site. Ford reimbursed my daughter for her costs as part of a huge class-action law suit.
Q: No power brakes. The hydroboost pump doesn't always go on. It's a 1989 Cougar LS 3.8 V6 with ABS.
When you tap the accumulator or the pump it goes on and power brakes are approximately 40% effective for a couple of days.
Two years ago I replaced the entire brake assembly for the same reason but problem returned within a couple of weeks. The mechanic said then he thought the contacts caused the original problem.
He cleaned them and the replaced system worked OK for a year and a half. Now it's back.
Could the hydroboost fail twice for the same car? Could it be the contacts that causes bad connection both times or is the the hydroboost pump?
Dealer said that a new hydroboost costs over $1200.00 and complete brake assembly over $3500.00 !!!!
Please help.
Thanks,
bernie0203@yahoo.com
A: Yikes Bernie....... big question with big expenses possible for you...... I usually go with history...
If the problem is the same as before... those are the things to check first.... wish I could help more, but without facts and figures as to specifications from you, I am in "nervous to spend your money land"...... Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: Digital instrument cluster does not light up although the LED part works. All gauges and functions are available except the display will not light up. Have tested by placing another digital cluster into the car. Same exact problem.
A: Dash lights part of the ignition switch in-op????...... Ed
Q: I need the detailed schematics for the wiring harness on the 75 ampere alternator, my alternator started on fire, could this have been caused by not using the special gel for the connectors?
A: Not usually for the gel...... diagram at your local library.... Ed
Chassis / Suspension & Steering Malfunction When turning Not applicable
Q: The power steering fluid is leeking from below.
As soon as you pour it from the top it comes right out of the bottom.
I believe it is either a hose or seal of piston??
What do you think and how much will it cost?
A: Prices are very much a locally controlled thing. Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: ok my cars dash like the speedometer and everything else wont light up. i dont know if it is the computer chip or a light in there somewhere. the speedometer works and tells me the speed it is just you need to hold a flashlight up to it to see the speed. so can you help me? email me the answer at wickedclown820@aol.com
A: There is a dimmer switch that cotrols all of the lighting inside the car. This switch is probably bad and needs to be replaced. In fact,it's probably the same switch that turns your headlights on and off.
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: Dash lights not working,all digital. When they went out it also knocked out the radio, ac/heater compressor, rear window defrost. Looked at wiring diagram. Looks like there's a relay connected to all of these. "LCD Illumination Relay". Could this be the cause? If so where is it? Looked all over for it.
Q: Well I was coming from Va when all of a sudden The car started making a growling noise. I thought my rear end went out so I changed the axles because of a little wear. The car is still doing the same thing it lacks power on the highway. All the time. At about seventy it gets louder, it feels like its struggling. I've tried everything I know any ideas? Also the exhaust (tail pipe) rattles sometime its new from the converter
Electrical / Lighting Systems Other Happens always Not applicable
Q: What is it when the digital speedometer, won't work, but the amperage light comes on when I start the car?
A: Does the amperage light stay on. Or just iluminate when car is first cranked, then turn off when engine is running. That is what it should do.
The amperage light should be a separate circuit from the digital speedo.. That is why the amp light would still work, when speedo wouldnt.
I can't really offer good advice on the digital speedo. I know they have a high failure rate. They are expensive! Most often is the circuitry around the dash, or the in dash speedo unit itself. It generally takes a highly qualified individual to diag properly. But costly.
Chassis / Suspension & Steering Other Not applicable Always
Q: My steering wheel has about 4 inches of free play. I've replaced a bad ball joint and all the bushings look good.
It has power steering with a shock-like pinion arm? Is there an adjustment in the gear box?
Can I get parts? Thanks
A: This shock-like arm has an adjustment to help with this. Study the procedure carefully. Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Not applicable When warm
Q: I was accelerating and suddenly the engine cut off and smoke starting coming from under the dash. I pulled over and removed the key from the ignition. I opened the hood and every old wire (none that were recently replaced) was smoking and burning all of the covers off. I went into my trunk where my battery is (I displaced it there 3 years ago because it rusts out the firewall) and felt the positive & negative wires, which were hot. I disconnected the positive and the burning stopped. All covers on all of the old wires are burned to the wire. What the heck happened??? And more importantly, how do I fix it? I'm thinking new wiring across the board, but there must be another reason that ALL wires would overheat like that.
A: A main hot wire shorted to ground and once it started, everything went up. The extent of damage will tell you if complete or partial rewire is best. Ed
Q: just got a 1967 cougar thats been siting for a year anyway when i put on the brakes it pulls to the left really hard and locks up.we checked the brakes and the cilinder on the front left needs to be replaced,and the front right one has a gouge on the drum.is there anything elce that would cause it to pull like that.
Thank You.
Jeremy
A: If the cylinder on the left leaked onto the brake shoes, that is the problem. Replaceing both cylinders and shoes should fix your problem.
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