INDICATIONS:
Steering - Increased steering effort - Vehicles with 2.5L engine.
Lamp - Charging system warning lamp illuminated - Vehicles with 2.5L
engine.
Accessory Drive Belt - Front end accessory drive belt slippage - Vehicles
with 2.5L engine.

APPLICATION:
95-98 Contour/Mystique

PROBLEM:
The Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD) belt may slip at the crankshaft
pulley in wet weather conditions or driving through puddles while
turning.  This may cause increased steering effort and the Charging
System Warning Lamp to illuminate.  This is a result of water being
ingested by the FEAD belt.

SOLUTION:
Install revised FEAD belt, revised steel idler pulley, and new two-piece
splash shield kit, where applicable.  The amount of splash able to reach
the crankshaft pulley is reduced, thereby lessening the concern under
normal driving conditions (puddles of 102 mm (4") in depth or less).  The
revised crankshaft damper and belt include an updated profile to reduce
slippage in wet weather conditions.  The revised idler pulley was changed
from nylon to steel to reduce belt wear and maintain the proper
coefficient of friction.

PROCEDURE:
Install revised FEAD belt, revised steel idler pulley, and new two-piece
splash shield kit on all vehicles built through 1/15/97.  1998 model year
vehicles already have the new splash shield and should receive a belt and
steel idler pulley only.  For vehicles built through 6/1/95, install an
updated crankshaft damper in addition to the belt, steel idler pulley,
and splash shield kit.  Vehicles produced after 6/1/95 already have the
new crankshaft damper.

For 1998 vehicles, first inspect the idler pulley prior to performing any
repairs.  If the vehicle is equipped with a steel idler pulley, do not
perform this procedure because the vehicle already has the updated
components.  If the vehicle is equipped with a nylon idler pulley,
install the steel idler pulley and FEAD belt.

1.  For customer concerns of increased steering effort and charging
system warning lamp illumination after driving through puddles while
turning, install the revised components applicable to the model year.

2.  Refer to the appropriate year Contour/Mystique service manual,
section 03-01B (or workshop manual, section 303-01B) 2.5L engine, for
crankshaft pulley and FEAD idler pulley removal and installation
procedures.

3.  Refer to the appropriate year Contour/Mystique service manual,
section 03-05 (or workshop manual section 303-05) accessory drive belts,
for FEAD belt removal and installation procedures.

4.  Service procedures and instructions for installation of the splash
shield are included in the splash shield kit,

Part Number             Part Name

F5RZ-6316-CA            Crankshaft Damper
F83Z-6C348-AA           Steel Idler Pulley
F83Z-8620-AA            FEAD belt (A/C)
F83Z-8620-CA            FEAD belt (non-A/C)
F8PZ-6775-CA            Splash Shield Kit