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Mercury Cougar Engine Questions

153 messages,  Last post on May 19, 2012 at 6:40 AM

You are in the Cougar Support Group Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mercury Cougar, Engine, Coupe

Messages Page 13 of 16

#120 of 153 Re: 2002 Mercury Cougar wont start [cougar21] by fordfinatic93

Jun 06, 2011 (6:45 pm)

Replying to: cougar21 (Apr 21, 2010 2:51 pm)
There is a sensor directly under the thermostat housing. If the clip breaks and the thermo housing slides the plug out the slightest bit, the car WILL NOT turn over. Reach down, pull the thermostat housing up, and push the plug as far back as you can. If it does no snap into place you can remove the battery and the air box from the throttle body and get a long zip tie around it and sinch the plug back into place. Hope this helps. This plug backing out a hair had me puzzled for days!

#121 of 153 Re: 1999 Cougar: hose on top of transmission case: where does it go? [vtraudt1] by fordfinatic93

Jun 06, 2011 (6:52 pm)

Replying to: vtraudt1 (Jun 21, 2008 4:03 pm)
It is a breather tube for the transmission dipstick. It is supposed to mount with a clip on the battery tie down bolt closest to the fire wall. It goes where ever its not in the way or hanging downward.

#122 of 153 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold by redcat99_

Jun 28, 2011 (1:22 pm)

My car misfires and sputters only when the car is cold and only when you're stepping lightly on the gas pedal, works fine on open throttle (runs fine when running at temperature). What could be the problem? Check engine light never comes on. I've changed spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter, cleaned the intake, oil & filter changed frequently. The car has had the stock air filter taken out & a short air intake installed (but ran fine with it). Also, when you take off the short air intake pipe at the intake (pipe has the MAF sensor in the piping), it works exactly the same... would have thought that it wouldn't run right without the air running through the MAF sensor...

#123 of 153 Re: 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold [redcat99_] by pf_flyer HOST

Jun 29, 2011 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: redcat99_ (Jun 28, 2011 1:22 pm)
I'm not an expert mechanic, but it seems like an issue with the throttle (I know... DUH)
 
When you say "stepping lightly on the gas" do you mean when you start out normal driving? Or is this something that you just happened to notice happening with the car sitting still just after starting?

#124 of 153 Re: 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold [pf_flyer] by redcat99_

Jun 29, 2011 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 29, 2011 2:39 pm)
Yes, it's during normal driving, when you are starting to accelerate (happens also if the car is in neutral and you press on the gas a little, so I know it's not a transmission problem). It has this problem only when the car hasn't reached running temperature. The car runs fine otherwise.

#125 of 153 Re: 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold [redcat99_] by pf_flyer HOST

Jun 30, 2011 (4:07 am)

Replying to: redcat99_ (Jun 29, 2011 6:38 pm)
With a little digging (I always try to learn something every day) I'm thinking it may be a problem with your engine coolant sensor since so many aspects of the engine management systems like fuel, ignition, and emissions are affected by engine temperature.
 
This makes sense to me and is where I'd check first (or have my mechanic check). If the sensor is malfunctioning and "thinks" that the engine is already at operating temperature, then the computers that now run our cars think that everything is ready to go as if the engine is warmed up, but since it's not, the computer trying to run the engine is using the wrong "settings".
 
Sound reasonable?

#126 of 153 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold by redcat99_ by decrotty

Jun 30, 2011 (4:49 am)

No codes, no check engine light. You're the one who changed the gas filter, plugs wires. Three things I had trouble with:
1. take off the air intake. Just inside there may be carbon clogging a couple of little holes.
2. There's differential pressure sensor that goes bad. Two types. One metal located just under the air intake, or it could be plastic just around to the back of the engine.
3. Take off the ignition coil block. Look at all the connectors. All should be shinny. If one is carbon dull, that one is missfiring. Replace the ignition coil.

#127 of 153 Re: 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold [pf_flyer] by redcat99_

Jun 30, 2011 (5:02 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 30, 2011 4:07 am)
That's something to definitely look into pf_flyer. Thank you!

#128 of 153 Re: 99 Cougar Misfires & Sputters when cold by redcat99_ [decrotty] by redcat99_

Jun 30, 2011 (5:04 am)

Replying to: decrotty (Jun 30, 2011 4:49 am)
Thanks decrotty, I will definitely look into this too!

#129 of 153 Not charging by vtraudt

Jun 30, 2011 (5:17 am)

Car dies while driving.
Jump start keeps it running until battery is drained.
Back of alternator has pos battery voltage, and continuity (so 'mega fuse' is good).
 
Is there another fuse in the charging circuit that could be blown?
 
Other checks that can be done before alternator has to come out for testing?

Messages Page 13 of 16

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