Engine problems

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Unstable engine

Ford Contour 1998  190007 miles
I have a Ford Contour 98, 4 cylinders, standard, and its problem is that the engine is unstable and stalls. The battery does not charge properly and the Check turns on. A tuning has just been made but I still do not know why it keeps failing.
sharon from United States 9 years ago  
SH
3 replies 
Bedelia from United States 9 years ago
It is the alternator that is failing. You should take it to be checked or simply buy a new one.
Tony from United States 7 years ago
Mine the coil is bad but it will start if you put your hand over the intake
Jakey B from United States a year ago
Maybe but not necessarily. Mine the alt. Was replaced...still did the same thing as described by person asking questions. Never figured it out. Had erratic voltage. Wired a volt meter inside cab. Watch volts go from 8 to 24...that was with battery and alternator replaced
Comment

Transmission engine

Ford Contour 1996 gl 2.0 automatic 4cylinder 200000 miles
My car starts well reverses and parks well 1 gears is good second gear is good but drive isnt. I put it in drive and it takes off smoothly but when its supposed to kick in to second gear it's accelerates as if it's in neutral and won't speed up just accelerates and I have to put it in neutral or park for it to go back into first only way it will upshift is if I manually shift it from park to first second then drive. It'll jerk at a certain speed and kick in to gear after that it's all good but if I turn it off I have to do the manual processes again. Also my o/d light is off when I start the car but when I do the manual thing it blinks.
rockzoner from United States 8 years ago  
RO
5 reports 

Overheating SolvedSolved

Ford Contour 1992  100000 miles
Hi, I own a Ford Contour 98 and it is overheating too much. An oil and hoses change has been made and even the radiator has been plumbed. The water and fuel pumps' head gaskets have been replaced, but still the overheating is occurring. Even once, the overheating was so huge that it stalled and did not want to start again by no means. It was only today, after several days, that I tried starting the engine and it was possible to do so. However, strange noises can be heard and it is still overheating. What can I do? What is it that is failing?
Cinderella from United States 9 years ago  
CI
1 reply 
Solved
Best answer (according to Cinderella)
senie from United States 9 years ago
Check the temperature sensors and bulbs and, if you need to replace them, I recommend you to buy the original ones.
Comment

Overheating

Ford Contour 1998  366049859 miles
I have a Contour 1998 but I have recently installed an engine from a newer Contour. I've had it for more than 7 years and it was only after changing its engine that it started overheating really fast. I've already changed hoses, removed the thermostat and changed the water temperature sensor. What do you recommend me to do? The needle sometimes raises over the normal temperature of the vehicle, even sometimes reaching the highest point in the indicator.
ferdinando92 from United States 9 years ago  
FE
2 replies 
Tick from United States 8 years ago
Your battery must be wrongly installed, probably all the way around.
Marjorie from United States 8 years ago
It is an easy solving problem, buddy. You should adapt to the hose going from the radiator to the engine a tube with the entrance of a temperature bulb from a Tsuru or Caribe. By doing so, the needle won't go over half of the indicator and your vehicle will always be at the right temperature.
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Jerks and feels overheated

Ford Contour 1998  300000 miles
I have a Ford Contour 98 and my problem is thant, when accelerating, it jerks softly. After driving for a while, it feels as if the vehicle was overheated even though it is not.
Poley from United States 9 years ago  
PO
1 report 
oswald from United States 9 years ago
Check your fuel pressure or if the exhaust is blocked.
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Starting

Ford Contour 1985  200000 miles
The engine starts, I turn it off and it won't start back again.
xina from United States 9 years ago  
XI
4 reports 
Bedelia from United States 9 years ago
It is the ignition switch that is damaged.
Comment

Overheating

Ford Contour 1996  146000 miles
Good afternoon, I have a Ford Contour 96 and its problem is that it warms up way too fast. The thermostat, hoses and pump have been checked but they are alright. But it happens that, only after driving for some blocks, it is already overheated and, when adding some water, it swallows it but has been found that it does not go to the engine. I need some help, it is automatic.
debby from United States 9 years ago  
DE
2 replies 
marion from United States 9 years ago
By what you are saying, it must be happening that the head gasket is already damaged. If water disappears, it might be moving to the cylinders through the head gasket, which might be burnt at some point near the piston. It might as well be that the engine is failing and it is because water is leaking into the combustion camera and thus overheat. Another suggestion I can give you is to remove the oil with a clean recipient when the engine has already cooled down. And you will have to check carfully if there are water drops on the walls and also if the oil is a bit whitish. If it has a colour similar to coffee with milk, then it is certainly the engine head gasket. This happens due to an overheating in which the fan never turned on because either the fuse is no longer working, there is a refrigerant deficit or the fan sensor is damaged. I hope my comment helps you find the solution to your problem.
Cathy71 from United States 9 years ago
I went through your same problem and, the only way to solve it, was by replacing the radiator, which turned out to be absolutely blocked with dirt; only three of the cooling lines where working. Once I changed it, the problem was solved. Hope it helps.
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Speed sensor stop's working

Ford Contour 1999 SE Seden 2.0 5 speed 186670 miles
When check engine light is on speed sensor works but when check engine light goes off speed sensor stops working
Bill from United States 8 months ago  
BI
1 report 

Speed sensor stop's working

Ford Contour 1999 SE Seden 2.0 5 speed 186670 miles
When check engine light is on speed sensor works but when check engine light goes off speed sensor stops working
Bill from United States 8 months ago  
BI

Speedometer/wiring problem

Ford Contour 1998 Ford Contour 15032 miles
Found wires in my engine not connected to anything. Want to know where they need to go. And if it is the reason my speedometer don't work?
1
Tymmy from United States 4 years ago  
TY
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