I have a 2000 mercury cougar for about a year. Two weeks after I got it the alternator went out. I had it replaced (with a bad one, then had that one replaced). Months later my battery light would come on and then go off, then it would come on and for longer periods of times, then it just was on all the time. Then it stopped working, like no power. The problem with that was a wire to the alternator, got that fixed. Months later again the battery light is doing the same thing. I also have a new battery in the car. Any ideas, that is not going to cost me 300 dollars?

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.