# 2001 Mercury Cougar - Won't start, what next? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mercury\ **Created:** [March 28, 2019, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-mercury-cougar-wont-start-what-next/137370 "2019-03-28T00:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LindaLonn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eada6e/32.png) [@LindaLonn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LindaLonn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-mercury-cougar-wont-start-what-next/137370/1 "2019-03-28T00:32:15Z")
I have a 2001 Mercury Cougar that has not been started for a couple of months, so now it won’t start. I charged the battery, so it turns over, but still no starting. It was running fine when I parked it. ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-mercury-cougar-wont-start-what-next/137370/2 "2019-03-28T00:52:03Z")
Can you hear the fuel pump turn on for a few seconds after you put the key in the run (not crank) position? If not there’s pump problems if so, pull a plug, put the plug wire back on it and hold the electrode to engine ground. Is there a spark jumping accross electrodes while cranking? If not, there’s an ignition problem. If so, try spraying starter fluid in throttle body while cranking, If it fires, you have a fuel problem. Let us know what happens and get back with us. ---
**Author:** ![LindaLonn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eada6e/32.png) [@LindaLonn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LindaLonn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-mercury-cougar-wont-start-what-next/137370/3 "2019-03-28T02:04:47Z")
I thank you so much for your response, but I’m afraid that might be beyond my mechanical expertise.