usually that the battery isn't taking a charge. have the alternator checked, many shops will test the charging system for free
I have what looks like a battery light on my dashboard. What does this mean?
u dont
Check for a blown fuse.
You are low on coolant.
On a 2000 Mercury Cougar : That's your Anti-theft system status light
its below freezing temperature
This happened to me on a road trip in my 84 Cougar. It was a long time ago, but first make sure your belts are tight! But I believe you may need to replace the alternator. If the battery is old, its cheap insurance to do both.
It's grounded on the front of the Mercury Cougar frame next to the headlight assembly.
Means you have an issue with the engine coolant level.
I can tell you that on a 2000 mercury cougar it is a fuse on the positive cable between the battery and the alternator
It is quite possible in a 1996 Mercury Cougar, that when the dashboard instruments all quit at once, there is a fuse that has been blown. Most of the gauges in the dash run off the same fuse in most vehicles.
According to the 2000 Mercury Cougar Owner Guide : Both the 2.0 litre four cylinder and the 2.5 litre V6 engines came with the Motorcraft BXT-40R battery ( that's BCI group size 40R )