my 2000 mercury is hard to start at times, cranks than dies out,any sugestions

not much of a clue. try cleaning battery terminals & connectors. may need new battery/

Get a new car, and not another Mercury!

l would just say get a new one. It does not have to be a 2000 it could be new.

sounds like the idle control solenoid

Do a tune up and clean your battery connections.

Check for holes/cracks in the tube that goes from the air cleaner box to the throtle body. The hole should be after the electrical connection. This will cause hard start/stall because the MAF(Mass Air Flow Sensor) will not sense the extra air.

The IAC valve is sticking. Try holding the throttle a little, if it runs then dies after you let off then it is stuck. It is a shinny valve next to the throttle plates and has 2 wires. Yours may have a hose going in to it if it is Marquis. Or it may be behind the motor at the lower intake, Ford changed its position around that year. Tap it not hit it like a nail with a hammer while someone is cranking the motor. It will unstick and be ok for a while but will act up again.

fuel filters