Car died and won't start (codes and symtpoms long post)

[mankyle]

Hi All,

I like the new forum layout. It has been a long time since I have posted at Contour.org (I guess I had one of the good ones

Anyways, My problems started last week when my car would just die while driving down the road. No warning, noise or anything. The only thing I noticed was the tach dropped to zero (maybe crankshaft poition sensor?).

It is a 1995 SE (V6) and has the falling apart wiring harness.

The first 3 times the car was hard to start but it started and I was able to go again until it died again. The 4th time it died it would not start.

It cranked and cranked but wouldn't start. Then it started doing this weird thing where it made a clicking noise (maybe starter solenoid but not sure, sounded more electric). Also, when I am turning the key the speedometer jumps all over the place and the windshield washers look like they try to move.

I did suspect a low battery but I hooked a jumper box to it and it made no difference. Also, battery was reading 12 volts. I guess it could be a bad battery but I doubt that explains the up and dying driving down the road at 70 mph.

I left it at a garage and they had no luck, just said it wasn't getting spark. When I went to pick it up it turned over and cranked but no start. Now that I have it home it is doing the weird clicking noise and crazy speedometer thing.

Like I said, at first I thought it was the crankshaft position sensor or ignition coil. However, would they be preventing the starter from turning over and cause the spedometer issue? I did disconnect the coil and it had no effect.

I pulled codes and got the following:
226 Hard Fault (Ignition Diagnostic Monitor signal fault
Memory Faults:
177 Oxygen sensor (maybe from when it died, did run poorly after start)
212 TACH signal erratic/SPOUT circuit failure
215 Primary circuit failure (ignition coil 1)
217 Primary circuit failure (ignition coil 3)

From this I suspected the crankshaft position sensor but not sure why won't just continue to crank over.

Anyways, I am working my way through the obvious (ground cables, battery testing, starter testing, crankshaft position sensor, etc). However, any help would be appreciated. I would at least like to get it to turn over again so I can go about diagnosing why it won't start rather than why it won't crank.

Thanks,

Kyle

 

[SicSE]

asdfasdf

 

[mankyle]

OK, I saw in one of the forums here that low battery/bad ground can cause the speedo and wipers to jump. I hooked my battery to an actual charger and the speedo jumped and wipers started up on their own when I turned the key.

So, I let it charge for a while and was able to get it to turn over again (crank) but no start. I changed out the crankshaft position sensor with an old one I had (replaced only about 3 months ago after it wouldn't start once) that was intermittently failing but worked 95% of the time.

I am leaving the battery on charge for a while longer and see if I can get it to go.

How is it that I've owned this car for 8 years and never before have seen the weird speedo jump/wipers turn on thing? Is it indicitive of something else (harness) or is it a real diagnostic indicator? Right now I want the car to start so I can drive it to a dealer and trade it in on something else. I love my Contour but I am afraid it is time for her to go to the big junkyard in the sky.

If anyone else has experienced the speedo/wiper thing please comment. Otherwise once I test the crankshaft position sensor and ignition coil I'll let you know what I find. I have a feeling I have a short somewhere that is likely killing the crankshaft sensor since I just replaced it.
Kyle

 

[SicSE]

asdfasdf

 

[Tony2005]

...It is a 1995 SE (V6) and has the falling apart wiring harness.

.....I did suspect a low battery but I hooked a jumper box to it and it made no difference. .............I pulled codes and got the following:
226 Hard Fault (Ignition Diagnostic Monitor signal fault
Memory Faults:
177 Oxygen sensor (maybe from when it died, did run poorly after start)
212 TACH signal erratic/SPOUT circuit failure
215 Primary circuit failure (ignition coil 1)
217 Primary circuit failure (ignition coil 3)

From this I suspected the crankshaft position sensor but not sure why won't just continue to crank over.

...

1) Make sure battery is good.
2) Check wiring, may need to use Liquid Electrical Tape ($8 from Home Depot) if the insulation had flaked off. Pay particular attention to the connector and wiring for the Crankshaft Position Sensor.
3) Change Crankshaft Position Sensor.

 

[Aussie Ford]

Since you have a 95 only the 95 has an ignition module on the fire wall you may be having issues with that, it goes bad occasionally from what I hear. Check my post about my CEL for a pic of it.

AF

 

[Phil Rohtla]

OK, I saw in one of the forums here that low battery/bad ground can cause the speedo and wipers to jump. I hooked my battery to an actual charger and the speedo jumped and wipers started up on their own when I turned the key.

So, I let it charge for a while and was able to get it to turn over again (crank) but no start. I changed out the crankshaft position sensor with an old one I had (replaced only about 3 months ago after it wouldn't start once) that was intermittently failing but worked 95% of the time.

I am leaving the battery on charge for a while longer and see if I can get it to go.

How is it that I've owned this car for 8 years and never before have seen the weird speedo jump/wipers turn on thing? Is it indicitive of something else (harness) or is it a real diagnostic indicator? Right now I want the car to start so I can drive it to a dealer and trade it in on something else. I love my Contour but I am afraid it is time for her to go to the big junkyard in the sky.

If anyone else has experienced the speedo/wiper thing please comment. Otherwise once I test the crankshaft position sensor and ignition coil I'll let you know what I find. I have a feeling I have a short somewhere that is likely killing the crankshaft sensor since I just replaced it.
Kyle

I am getting this as well -- the battery is dying on me if I let the car sit. I had it on to charge for several hours yesterday, and got nothing except the loud clicking, the lights, and the wipers sweeping. Keep us posted as to how this goes for you.

 

[gorman]

something similar happened to me when i changed my plug wires. I got the coil codes you have..turned out to be the coil lead popped off (phew) thought i blown the engine...hope it works for you too...G.