The reservoir on my 2000 Cougar is behind the front passenger strut tower, it should be the same on your 2001, they are the same car under the hood.
* No power steering fluid in reservoir * The power steering pump is not operating
That means that you need power steering fluid!!
low or leaking power steerinng pump fluid or hoses, loose belt on power steering belt or power steering pump going bad
Into the power steering reservoir.
According to the 2004 Mercury Sable Owner Guide : ( Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid )
Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid ( according to the 1998 Mercury Sable Owner Guide )
According to the 1997 Mercury Sable Owner Guide , Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid is used for the power steering fluid
According to the 1998 Mercury Sable Owner Guide : ( Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid )
According to the 2002 Mercury Sable Owner Guide : ( Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid )
According to the 2009 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Guide : ( Motorcraft MERCON - V , automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid )
On a 1998 Mercury Tracer : The power steering fluid reservoir is at the front of the engine compartment towards the passenger side < of the vehicle ( when looking from the FRONT of the vehicle , the power steering fluid reservoir is the reservoir on the RIGHT )
According to the 2009 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Guide : ( Motorcraft MERCON-V automatic transmission fluid is used as the power steering fluid )