2000 mercury cougar alternator

[dave342a]

Does anyone know the best method for removal and replacement of an alternator on a 2000 cougar V-6? Would appreciate any help. Thanks!

[00coug]

I am having the same problem with my car. I"ve heard that if you take the passenger front wheel off and remove the inner plastic/rubber from the fender, that the alternator should drop right out. Your tensioner should be right in the middle of all the pullies. Pull it down to loosen the belt. After that take the belt off. Your alternator has 1 plug and 2 bolts. If what I hear is right we should be able to drop the alternator out the side. I'm going to attempt this tonight or tommorow morning. I'll try to let you know of my results. Sorry for not being much help.

[DXJ]

For those checking this thread, I had to take off the exhaust, and remove the driveshaft. It took 3 hours.

[badcat99]

Take the passenger wheel well covers off
disconnect the sway bar link from the strut
disconnect the steering knuckle
Remove the Y-Pipe
Unbolt the Intermediate shaft bracket from the Intermediate shaft bearing
Remove the Bracket from the ENGINE. You now have enough room to remove the alternator.
After you remove the bolts that are holding the alternator in, let it drop pulley down on the axle
You may need to rotate the axle to help the alternator out. It will come out the wheel well.

While the alternator is out make a SHUNT that goes from the red wire to the OUTPUT terminal of the alternator. This will solve alot of the silly charging
problems with the car.

Reassemble in the opposite order.

The SHUNT will help your alternator live longer also.

[Lhcougar]

My daughter just got a 2001 cougar. The alternator is bad. Plan on building a shunt as many people suggest.

This was a old post any other suggestions. What alternators to stay away from ? does The Shunt work as it states??

Thank you everyone for letting me join. Hope to hear your suggestions

PS how to build a shunt is it just a wire from the hot to small hot ??