'97 Couger V-6

[S Liedes]

Ok i am stumped,

My friend has a '97 Merc Couger (rear wheel drive) and he drove it for about a year with no problems. Last summer he was driving along and the car died. After messing with it we found the Alt. power wire shorted to the bracket we repaired the wire but since then the car acts like the exaust is plugged. We removed the muffler, gutted the cats, the problem still existed so we reinstalled the muffler. Ran a timming light on it and the timmeng stays between 15-25deg. at idle and drops to about 10 when in gear. the coil packs were a little high on the ohm test so we replaced coil packs and wires and plugs. the fuel and air filters have all been replaced. So 2 weeks ago it had a leak at the head removed the factory header and it was cracked in 2 pieces repaired that and when trying to move the car the headers started glowing red. So we replaced the ECM with a used one with no improvement.


This is an OBD car and for the first 6 months had not tripped an engine light.

I think it may have jumped time on the camshaft but requires setting up a degree wheel to test it, because there is no distributor.

Any helpould be appreciated.

[JunkBird69]

Alright first things first.. Check the air in all the tires, Does the vehicle shift into park neutral drive, does the steering wheel turn ? the only reason i had you check all of this because it makes it easier to get it on the tow truck to the scrap yard....lol:cool:

[Kwikford]

First...stop replacing parts.

check the basic first.

check fuel pressure.
Check fuel pressure regulator.
Scan for codes.....I don't give a chit on "check engine" light ain't on.
Scan for codes anyway.

post back for results.


FYI...You don't need degree wheel to check the timing.
just do the basic first then go from there.

[S Liedes]

thanks for the reply

already checked fuel pressure, checked for air flow restrictions ex. and intake, changed coil pack cause it ohmed out of spec, checked timing with timing light it held around 12-20 crank degrees replaced tune up parts just because and a relacement ecm was $20.00 so replaced that.

And no codes.

fuel pressure was about 20-30psi

[Kwikford]

fuel pressure was about 20-30psi

that's low.

did you check with engine running?

[7DMACH1]

Fuel pressure needs to be 40lbs.