I have a 2000 Mercury Cougar 2.5 engine...this happened about two weeks after i changed the battery termanals...the battery light comes on...i didnt know what it was...in about two more weeks it starts flickering and one morning it dies on us. i jumped the battery and it dies again. so i take it to autozone they say the battery is good (new battery) but the voltage regulator on the alternater is bad (new alternator) i have it replaced (second alternator) still doing the same thing....anyone know what the problem would be

Make sure your fuses are good first. There are two in the ubderhood fuse box as listed below.


1. At the voltage regulator connector, back probe the Orange (OG) wire and check for full battery voltage with the engine running and everything connected.

2. If the voltage is low, check the voltage on both sides of fuse #5 15A in the engine compartment fuse box.

3. If the fuse shows full battery voltage, check the OG wire for high resistance or open circuit between the engine compartment fuse box and the alternator and repair the circuit as needed.

4. If the OG wire shows full battery voltage at the alternator, perform a voltage drop test from the output terminal of the alternator to battery positive with the engine running making sure it's not showing more than 0.3v. If the voltage drop is high, locate and repair the high resistance in the circuit. Start with checking for a damaged 175A mega fuse.

Ford has released a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for this problem. See TSB 00-25-06 for repair details Make sure your fuses are good first. There are two in the ubderhood fuse box as listed below. 1. At the voltage regulator connector, back probe the Orange (OG) wire and check for full battery voltage with the engine running and everything connected. 2. If the voltage is low, check the voltage on both sides of fuse #5 15A in the engine compartment fuse box. 3. If the fuse shows full battery voltage, check the OG wire for high resistance or open circuit between the engine compartment fuse box and the alternator and repair the circuit as needed. 4. If the OG wire shows full battery voltage at the alternator, perform a voltage drop test from the output terminal of the alternator to battery positive with the engine running making sure it's not showing more than 0.3v. If the voltage drop is high, locate and repair the high resistance in the circuit. Start with checking for a damaged 175A mega fuse. Ford has released a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for this problem. See TSB 00-25-06 for repair details

I am having the same issue....however I have replaced the battery four times,rebuilt the alternator and put two new alternators in the car and it still will not hold a charge. At this point I am putting the car on a charger every night just to drive it aroud 1 to two hours the next day, and during this time I cannot turn on the radio,lights or air conditioner because it drains the battery and that is all I am driving on. The alternator is not charging AT ALL...so don't waste your money on another one. The alternator will ALWAYS test bad on the car...then test perfectly fine off of it. I have done some research and many people are having this issue. Ford has a recall on the battery cable being misrouted but most people have a car conveniently NOT included in it,although it was manufactered during the SAME time. Mine being one of those not included. I did come across someone who replaced the MEGA175BP Main Power Fuse on the cable from the starter to the battery. She said it was broken and would come out causing random electrical issues. I have not tried this yet...as I am still trying to find an exact remedy to the problem....but I am starting to doubt that there even is a fix. I'm just at the point where I do not want to waste anymore money. Only a handful of people have actually kept the car long enough to get this resolved (the girl who replaced the main fuse and others who had loose fuses but not the root of the issue), while others just get rid of it. At this point...all I can say is try the main power fuse and cross your fingers...I'm going to try it as soon as possible. I am having the same issue....however I have replaced the battery four times,rebuilt the alternator and put two new alternators in the car and it still will not hold a charge. At this point I am putting the car on a charger every night just to drive it aroud 1 to two hours the next day, and during this time I cannot turn on the radio,lights or air conditioner because it drains the battery and that is all I am driving on. The alternator is not charging AT ALL...so don't waste your money on another one. The alternator will ALWAYS test bad on the car...then test perfectly fine off of it. I have done some research and many people are having this issue. Ford has a recall on the battery cable being misrouted but most people have a car conveniently NOT included in it,although it was manufactered during the SAME time. Mine being one of those not included. I did come across someone who replaced the MEGA175BP Main Power Fuse on the cable from the starter to the battery. She said it was broken and would come out causing random electrical issues. I have not tried this yet...as I am still trying to find an exact remedy to the problem....but I am starting to doubt that there even is a fix. I'm just at the point where I do not want to waste anymore money. Only a handful of people have actually kept the car long enough to get this resolved (the girl who replaced the main fuse and others who had loose fuses but not the root of the issue), while others just get rid of it. At this point...all I can say is try the main power fuse and cross your fingers...I'm going to try it as soon as possible.