Scorpion68
Be Gentle I'm New Here
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2008
- Messages
- 3
I have a '95 Contour GL, 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder automatic. I just bought it less than a couple weeks ago, and when I got it, had no problems starting it. Turn the key, car starts, simple. However, last Friday, after work, turned the key, nothing. No sounds, no cranking, but all the lights on the dash worked, as well as the radio, headlights, and power locks (no power windows). My husband came out, tried to jumpstart it, still nothing. Rooting around under the driver's console, he found a couple of wires stuck together in some kind of connector with a little black button on the end. He held the button down, turned the key, and presto, I have ignition. Now, I have looked through the owner's manual, and it references a fuel pump shutoff switch that can be used after a collision, but that spot where it says it should be is empty. And when my husband tried to fix the "kill switch" (his term) by taping the button down so I wouldn't have to push it every time I want to start the car, it caused the power locks to go crazy on my car while it is on. I don't want to risk frying the electrical or brain in the car, so for now he has it untaped and sticking out of a small crack in dashboard of the car. I have to press it and hold it in until the car is started.
My step-father, who is a mechanic, without looking at the car, after hearing my description, says it sounds like the previous owner removed the alarm system and jury-rigged the starter wires. I do have stickers on the windows that mention a "Ford Anti-Theft System", but see no evidence that there was ever an actual alarm system. My key does not have a chip, no remote start, no dash light showing alarm activation, and no light on the instrument cluster that lights up showing any kids of PATS. I am at a loss. I don't want to have to keep pushing a plunger to start my car (though my hubby insists that would be a great anti-theft device since they can't start it without doing this), and worry about what long-term damage this can do. I can't afford the hundreds of dollars my step-dad says it would cost to completely rewire the car.
Hubby, though only a backyard mechanic, says it can't be the wiring harness, it can't be the grounding wire, gives me a list of all the things it CAN'T be, or else it wouldn't start with the button, but has no clue what it CAN be. Are there any other options that you can think of? I know it's only a '95 and has had a couple of problems, but I fell in love with the car the moment I first drove it, and want to keep it. Any advice posted is very much appreciated.
Thanks, Shannon
My step-father, who is a mechanic, without looking at the car, after hearing my description, says it sounds like the previous owner removed the alarm system and jury-rigged the starter wires. I do have stickers on the windows that mention a "Ford Anti-Theft System", but see no evidence that there was ever an actual alarm system. My key does not have a chip, no remote start, no dash light showing alarm activation, and no light on the instrument cluster that lights up showing any kids of PATS. I am at a loss. I don't want to have to keep pushing a plunger to start my car (though my hubby insists that would be a great anti-theft device since they can't start it without doing this), and worry about what long-term damage this can do. I can't afford the hundreds of dollars my step-dad says it would cost to completely rewire the car.
Hubby, though only a backyard mechanic, says it can't be the wiring harness, it can't be the grounding wire, gives me a list of all the things it CAN'T be, or else it wouldn't start with the button, but has no clue what it CAN be. Are there any other options that you can think of? I know it's only a '95 and has had a couple of problems, but I fell in love with the car the moment I first drove it, and want to keep it. Any advice posted is very much appreciated.
Thanks, Shannon
