My 2000 cougar 2.5L won't start. Makes a high pitched noise. Is this for sure my starter

It could be the Bendix inside the starter which engages the
starter drive.

not sure what holds the gear to the shaft i would start with looking for a spring pin or pin the held the gear to shaft it may have been sheared off if so try and line it back up and use a punch and hammer to knock it out but please dont go crazy on it and bend the shaft

check the belt tensioner.

Make sure that starter wears a condom.

If you meant that the starter makes a high-pitched whine but does not turn the engine, that starter is bad. More specifically, its drive (the "Bendix") is bad.

If the starter makes a screeching noise as it turns the engine, like it is working too hard and is irritated about the situation, you need to shim the starter. There are shims available at the parts store that fit around the mounting bolts, between the starter and the block. They are used to ensure that the starter drive gear teeth are not too close to the ring gear. If they are too close, the starter has to work much harder as it forces the teeth to mesh.

If you meant that the starter makes a whining noise for a short while after you start the engine, don't worry. Many starters do that.

If you meant that the starter makes a loud whine constantly after you have started the engine, it is staying engaged. It is either bad and that is the source of the problem, or there is another problem (like incorrect shimming) that caused it to stay engaged, and it is now bad. The same gear reduction that allows a small electric motor to spin a big heavy engine can work in reverse if the one-way clutch in the starter drive goes bad, and the high speeds that the starter guts would be subjected to if this happened would lead to self-destruction.

There are several places to look. If it is a lower pitch vibration, look into front wheel bearings and rear axle bearings. A bad u-joint will produce a higher pitched vibration and may lessen as you lift the throttle. They also will give a hi-low squeak when backing up.

Not normal. Is your Beetle turbo?

sounds like you need to have the battery checked,this is most likely cause of your problem

sounds like a defective bendix at starter drive!

May be the belt tensioner is starting to go out.

Did you get the right starter? Did you put the starter straight? Did you lock the screw evenly? where this noise from?You mentioned the noise like high pitch grinding noise, is it from the starter area or flying wheel?