What is the problem with 99 and 2000 Mercury Cougar sunroofs?
To understand the design flaws in the sunroof, you first need to understand how the transport mechanism in the sunroof works. The sunroof is moved along its tracks by two arms. Each of those arms is attached to a metal guide that moves inside the track, controlling the sunroof tilt and its position on the track. Each of the metal guides is connected to the gears that are driven by the sunroof motor. In the 1999 and 2000 Mercury Cougar, those metal guides are each connected to the gears by a small piece of plastic. (Yes, a piece of plastic.) Often in an alarmingly short period of time, the plastic becomes insufficiently strong to withstand the strain of the sunroof weight (when open) and the strain of opening and closing the sunroof, and one or both of these pieces of plastic break, causing the entire sunroof to be non-functional. This often happens when the sunroof is partially open, and owners may be unable to close the sunroof, causing water damage to their car’s interior. Many owner
