How to change the alternator on a 1999 mercury cougar?

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench. Remove the air intake resonators, air cleaner-to-throttle body tube and mass air flow sensor. Remove the terminal nut from the alternator and unplug the electrical connectors and remove the cables. Raise the vehicle and release the tensioner for the drive belt so you can remove the drive belt from the alternator.

Remove the alternator’s mounting bracket with a socket wrench and lower the vehicle. Remove the power steering pressure hose bracket from the engine lifting eye. Take out the mounting bolts from the alternator and remove the alternator.

Install the new alternator and tighten the mounting bolts with your fingers. Replace the power steering hose bracket and tighten its retaining nut to between 70 and 106 inch pounds with a torque wrench. Raise the vehicle so you can install the alternator’s mounting bracket and torque the retaining bolts to between 15 and 22 foot pounds. Release the tensioner for the drive belt and install it over the alternator pulley.

Lower the vehicle and torque the alternator mounting bolts to between 15 and 22 ft. lbs. Install the cable and electrical connectors for the alternator. Torque the terminal nut to between 80 and 97 inch pounds Install the air cleaner-to-throttle body tube, mass airflow sensor, and air intake resonators. Connect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.