99 cougar problems need help !!!

[dawnduchess]

Hey I recently purchased a 99 cougar and I have a whole list of things that are wrong with it......for starters when the weather has rain in store for the day, my cougar will lose power occationally for no reason...Yes I can still drive and operate my vehicle when the power goes out...the only components of the car that seem to be effected by the water induced power outage are the power steering.....what happens with that is it will go out so I have to manualy drive with no power in the steering wheel....This usually last about 30 sec to 1 min then the power will kick back in...The next component that is effected is the a/c or the heat which ever one is on at the time...and lastly the battery light will come on in the mist of all this

The next set of issues involve the check engine light.....My check engine light has been on since 2 weeks after I bought the car...at the time it was inspected so I really didn't think too much of the fact that the check engine light was on and expecially since it ran like a brand new car....
SO far I has diagnosed the car and a list of codes popped up....they are as follow:
- P0401..... EGR flow insufficient
- P0420......catalyst sufficiency below bank code
- P0430.......catalyst sufficiency below bank tube
- P0171....... system too lean
Since then I have replaced all of the O2 sensers, the EGR and had the other codes looked into so far no one can tell me why after the computer has been reset that the check engine light continues to come on.....I really need my car inspected PLease HELP>>>>
The car does not have any other problems other than the fact that the brake symbol stays on and the exterior bulb light .....Please help me repair my cougar looking for mechanic (good) advice, and and information......
We have replaced everything that every mechanic has told us to replace !!!

[Terry_Lee]

The micro v serpentine belt drives the alternator, the power steering and the AC compressor. My guess would be the belt slips when wet causing your battery light, power steering woes and the heat/AC to act up. Get a new belt. I work at Gates and they make very good belts. You can get them at Oreilly's.

[discnik]

If the codes are listed in the order that they were in the scanner, fixing the P0401 code should remedie the others.

P0401 Egr flow insufficient: Causes: Bad DPFE sensor, it is the sensor with the two specisl rubber hoses attached to the tubes on the exhaust pipe on the exhaust manifold.
Check that the hoses are not cracked, tubes are not cracked around welds to the pipe, tubes are not plugged, EGR pintle is not stuck open.

If the EGR is allowing un-metered vacuum, P0171 Lean Code, into the system you will get the:

P0420: Catalyst system efficiency below catalyst threshold Bank 1 sensor 2.
P0430: Catalyst system efficiency below catalyst threshold Bank 2 sensor 2.

Had there been no P0171 code the Catalyst codes would have pointed to bad cats. as it is the O2 sensors are telling you that there is a vacuum leak.

The DPFE, EGR pressure differential sensor can cause all sorts of problems if it is the old metal type. Also check the vacuum resivoir, plastic ball w/ vacuum line, for cracks.

Also check that your belt tensioner is in good working order, maintaining constant tension on belt, and not freezing up or inoperative.

Hope this helps