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She might be dead

D

Dunbar21

CEG'er
Joined
Dec 25, 2006
Messages
47
Okay I drive a 99 Contour with the duratec and a 5 speed. I've driven this car for 202k miles and the only thing thats gone wrong with it is the fuel pump went out once other then that nothing has gone out on it.


Anyway I went off to college a month ago and I get a call from my parents saying the contour doesnt start. So I came home this weekend and tried starting her. She just barely turns over. And this turn over is weak. Its almost like the motors seized. We tried push starting it and the tires just skidded to a stop.


My dad said something like the timing could be way off or the timing chain could have slipped off or something like that. Has anything like this ever happened to anyone.
 
Have you tried the obvious

Have you tried the obvious

1. Jump start it?
2. If it won't start with a jump start, remove the serpentine belt. A siezed up air conditioner compressor will prevent the motor from turniing over fast enough to start.

3. If is starts, find which serpentine belt accessory is siezed up

Best of luck
 
If the car was OK when last driven (and did not overheat then) I'd still expect you have battery trouble. Or a loose or corroded cable. How old is the battery? I have had good voltage and lights work, but no cranking because the battery lost all current load capacity. The seized accessory drive is definitely possible.
 
Who drove it last??? I would start there if it wasn't you.

Timing chains don't slip off, they snap, and if that happens It wouldn't start at all and you would hear crazy bad noises for sure.

I would take the battery and drive it down to a autoparts store. all of them test/charge batteries for free.

At 202K, when was the last time you changed oil? :laugh: but actually plugs, wires, coil pack even! Thats a good haul for any part, so theres a bunch of stuff that could be aiding its poor starts. Also when was the fuel pump done? Not sure, but it may be possible you have a defective part.

Also make sure NONE of the hoses are lose on the intake. The car will basically stall if it has air incoming past the MAF meter. So if you have a bad leak somewhere between the MAF sensor and the TB, that would kill it for sure.

And of course, did you have your CEL? I'm sure you have something if the car is stalling out.
 
andreslobo said:
2. If it won't start with a jump start, remove the serpentine belt. A siezed up air conditioner compressor will prevent the motor from turniing over fast enough to start.

3. If is starts, find which serpentine belt accessory is siezed up
Click to expand...

quoted for reassurance as to the likely reason for your problem.
 
Well I hate to say it but shes gone. My parents decided to give her up to the junkyard heaven. T'is a sad day. I loved that car. Everyone else hated it, but that was the best car I have ever drove.
 
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