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alternator? wiring? help!

T

thbarnet

New CEG'er
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
5
about 2 weeks ago I was driving 97 ford contour se and I noticed a slight burning smell (almost like burning breaks) coming through the vents, shortly after the smell dissipated and I parked the car. 5 minutes later I started the car (no problem with the engine turning over) and I drove it up to a different parking lot and parked it. 6 days later of not running the car at all I go to start it and there is no click, no turnover, nothing. I took the battery in to get checked and it was fine, just no charge left, so after charging it, I put the battery back in and it started fine, but this time there was no interior lights, no fan, heating, radio and after driving it for 10 minutes the rpms dropped to 0 (the abs break light was on, and then the airbag started flashing) and shortly after the car died. Thinking it was the alternator I got the battery charged again and drove it to a shop, the battery reading read 11 volts instead of the 14 it should have been when the engine was running, so they thought it was the alt. too. After getting the alt replaced, the car was running in the parking lot for 5-10 minutes (with the abs light off, and all other lights), drove it out of the parking lot, and the rpms died again, 5 minutes later the car started to die, it was in 4th and the car slowed down even though my foot was on the gas, then the gears started to get all crazy, and whenever I stopped, I had to pop the clutch out of 2nd and not have my foot on the gas at all, the car drove in 2nd without me touching the gas, but wouldn't run in any other gear, it would just die. I got it to the parking lot, and it died and wouldn't start up again. any thoughts?
 
Welcome.

When the car is running (now), is the Battery (charge) light on? 2 things to check.

1) Fuse 5 (or wiring for that) as it controls the Fog lamps and alternator charge
2) Megafuse.

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=3535

Edit. What engine? 4 or 6 cylinder?
Download an Owners' Manual free. www.fleet.ford.com

Fuse diagram
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=8691&highlight=fusediagram

Autozonelink for wiring schematics
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1e/b3/2d/0900823d801eb32d/repairInfoPages.htm
 
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