People forget that used versions of this car; have reservoir dipsticks that break off. The reservoir itself is mounted on an angle at the rear passenger side corner of the engine compartment. The angle makes the fill markers on it useless. Filling it to the angled jug lines; causes it to be constantly overfilled. Without realizing it; filling it to the line; adds too much fluid to the hydraulic system. The fluid has to go somewhere. Bubbling from the pump's resulting O ring imbalance. Fluid leaking from the pump pulley and the high pressure hose side of the pump that leads to the steering rack.

Initially it isn't a great problem; though over the months and years; little by little the power steering system is faced with an invisible menace. The recall on certain parts of that very system including hoses; could be caused by a juggle in the supply houses on reservoir lids. Do the supply houses even take the Cougar 2001 1.5 L seriously.

With all of this said; hopefully the factory specified screw on cap; has an adjustment factor applied to its' design. Without that adjusted dipstick level included in the cap's design; the entire system is flawed.