• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

Horrible engine sound, rpm changes, Ford says nothing is wrong!

A

aguadawg

New CEG'er
Joined
Mar 26, 2008
Messages
11
Location
Central Coast of California
So a few months back I bought a 98 contour SVT. Thus far, while it is fun to drive, it has also been very expensive. I have had to replace the alternator, gee that's fun, spark plugs and wires, also fun and now have a beastly noise coming from under the hood.

This noise seems to be an air intake noise of some sort, it is a mix between a sucking sound and a howl and seems to be worse at start up and when the A/C or fan is on. When this growling starts the rpm's increase. It does seem to come and go as rpm changes though.

I just had it to the Ford dealer in town for a CEL (unrelated, #1 wire bad) and he told me that there was nothing wrong and that it was likely caused by the open air cleaner mod. on the car. He did mention that the IAC Valve may be leaking but that didn't make much sense to me either. Any help?
 
Hmm, I think you have just met the moose which lives in your engine bay... He is very sneaky and you have probably never actually seen him :laugh:

This is not a joke but a real problem, and it is called "moosing" since it sounds like a moose apparently... I have a Zetec (4 cyl) though, so I do not know how to fix it as it only applies to Duratecs... Here are the search results for "moose," but you should probably wait for a Duratec guy (basically everyone around here except me and zorrex :o) to come in here and confirm the moose...

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/search.php?searchid=373833
 
ahaha its funny that ford thinks thats normal!!! haha ive never see a moose in my neck of the woods thank god.


although it does make a little sense for them to assume that, because my dad used to have a 03 S2000 with a open intake and it had a horrible moose. but when you put the stock box cover back on it went away.
 
It is nothing to worry about, IF its a moose.. nothing is confirmed, so simply saying "oh.. don't worry about it" isn't very safe.

To the OP:

is the noise a loud, reverberating HOWL.. like a sick fog-horn?
THIS is what we need to know to get closer to determining what it is. Simply agreeing that its the moose (like all the rest of the replies) would be easy.. but not smart troubleshooting practice.
 
Even if it nothing to worry about, I want it to stop! It is affecting the RPM as it goes down the road. Also causes the rpm to not drop when off the throttle. It does sound like a sick fog horn and I suspect it is "moosing" but so far I haven't seen the fix for that. I am willing to return the intake to stock if that would stop it but I suspect there is something more going on here.
 
look up the moosing fix under the "Duratec Maintenance" forum, in the "read first" thread at the top.

2 or 3 copper caps (less than 25 cents each) and a drill and you are golden. It may also be listed under "TH" or "throttle hang" fix. (RPM's hang at a spot, won't drop, etc)
 
does your car have the factory "fix" the long tubes,or the barrel shaped pipe coming off of the iac hose:confused:
 
I'll have to look closer, I'm not sure what you're describing. There is a Y tube going into the IAC area, a small black cannister and a long (8-10") black tube going toward the front of the car with a cap on it. I'll take a picture and try to post that tomorrow.
 
So just replacing the Idle Air Control Valve will stop the noise? I haven't had a chance to try the brass cap trick yet but I'll do that and the IAC if it makes it stop! Thanks guys.
 
Sometimes replacing the IAC will stop the noise, sometimes it will not.

Start by cleaning the IAC and throttle body. If that doesn't resolve the problem, try the TH fix with the copper plug.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top