My Mercury Cougar Broke Down????

Question

Right after thanksgiving last year my 1999 Mercury Cougar just completely broke down, I took it to two different garages and they said I will need a completely new engine (which will cost me over $3000), I didn't have the money to pay for that. So my father-in-law told me his friend works on cars and if I got a new engine he would install it for me.

I bought a new engine, but the company I bought it from canceled it before it ever got shipped out, and they never told me. I have been trying to contact them but they never answer the phone and I know they are still in service because they are also a taxi service in FL.

First how can I possibly get my money back for the engine I purchased and do I really need a new engine or could I just replace a few parts and get it running again?

If anybody knows anything please help!

Also is there such a thing as a personal engine diagnostic machine, something I could buy and use at home myself instead of paying the outrageous money to take it in to get a diagnostic?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Contact the Better Business Bureau  

Answer 2

I just bought an Autoxray 6000 - I love it.  It's about the cheapest thing that'll do OBDII and OBDI.  You could get by with something cheaper.  It used to cost about $700, but they've come down to about $300.

To be honest, you probably will not need that until you've become a very highly accomplished mechanic.  Most of the time, car problems are much too simple for that diagnostic tool.  Usually the computer doesn't even know what happened. It only knows enough to squirt fuel. That's about all it does.  It knows where the gas pedal is, and how fast the engine is running, and whether it's warmed up.  Very little else.

Fixing stuff is a way of life with me.  It's therapy (not my profession). It's always cheaper for me to buy the tool and do it myself, even if I only use the tool once.

P.S. The diagnostic tool  you should use most is your brain.  It takes some real intelligence before you can start trying to use artificial intelligence.

Answer 3

==sounds like youve been sliced=diced=and fed to the mice=what taxi company is going to sell you a new engine ?  ==

Answer 4

What on earth are you talking about? You're thought process is terrifyingly scattered. Have your father in law intervene. What do you mean the engine the engine was canceled? How? There is no machine that is going to teach you how to fix an engine. Get your money back for the engine, maybe, I don't know, call them as ask....then take the car to the shop or get rid of it. You're car didn't break down, it committed suicide.

Answer 5

you can go to any auto parts store and buy a device that u plug in  under the dash and it gives u a code . and u look it up in  a code book  and it tells u whats wrong. u have to buy code book too.