I replaced my plugs and wires thinking that might be the problem but it didn't help.
My car will randomly like jerk around when i step on my accelerator, it does it a lot worse when I slowly go on it. My dad tried and he accelerates faster then me and it does it but doesn't last as long (like a brief second) but when i accelerate it's like a few seconds (2-7).
It seems to stop once i let off the pedel and then go right back on it which is what I usually do.
Took it to a shop about 2 months ago and they couldn't detect anythign wrong with it.
Car is a 99 contour 4 cyl with auto trans.
Welcome
. Auto or manual transmission? How many miles on the car? Is the Check Engine Light on? Get it scanned (free service) at Autozone or Advance and post the codes.
Auto transmission, 75k miles, no check engine light
Start the car. 1) Put it in Park. What happens? Is it smooth or is it idling rough?
2) Put it in Drive, step on the brake. Does it vibrate alot? or is it smooth?
3) When driving and the gear changes, is it a big jerk and bang before going from 1st to 2nd? or 2nd to 3rd?
1) in park and neutral it idles good
2) when in drive and stopped at a light it vibrates some, when i took the car in it was also because they changed the timing belt and some pullies cause it died on me, it was idling a lot worse but still seems like it should be smoother now.
3) it is a jerk, seems to be around the gear shifting but my dad and the mechanic said it wasn't a transmission problem.
also I guess the engine light did come on, my dad didn't get the numbers from autozone but they said to try to change the plug wires and the (forget the name) where the plugs plug into, small square thing, which I havn't done because i don't think it's goign to help.
"... in park and neutral it idles good...when in drive and stopped at a light it vibrates some"
This could be engine/tranny mount issue.
"it is a jerk, seems to be around the gear shifting but my dad and the mechanic said it wasn't a transmission problem."
This could be Turbine Shaft Speed or Manual Lever Position sensor issue
"also I guess the engine light did come on, my dad didn't get the numbers from autozone"
Need to get it scanned again and post the codes to be sure.
is it possible to scan it without a check engine light on?
Are you still having trouble with your car? If so check the link below for the MLPS sensor change, includes pictures. I had the exact same symptoms on a 96 Mercury Mystique that I bought for my daughter. I had the computer scanned and it set the code for the Transmission sensor. Sorry, don't have the exact code on me. I bought the MLPS sensor at Ford for $80 CAD. Took me about 30 minutes to install it and it's like driving a new car again. I feel for the people that have spend Hundreds of $$, or have replaced the tranny. Maybe the Ford Techs should start using Auto forums like this. I was so happy that I went and bought an OBD2 scanner while on vacation in Las Vegas last week. Picked up an Innova 3100C (supports the CAN protocol), at Checker Auto for $100 US. Great tool to own. Have 4 cars at home (teenagers), so it will come in handy.
I hope this post helps someone else. The Contours-Mystiques are great cars when they running properly.
MLPS change.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1040336&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
Sounds like it COULD be an air/vacuum leak. At least that's how mine went.
Only thing is it's nor usually a "random" problem. Intermittent problems are usually caused by a sensor with a "wiper" function like the TPS.
Welcome dgalleng
. Thanks for posting your experience.
I had a very similar problem with my contour way back when. Whenever you would gun the gas pedal, the car would take right off, but once you hit higher revs it would hesitate a little bit, made me think I had a weak fuel pump. Days went on, and I never fixed it because it never really was a problem as I rarely ever beat on my cars, Then came the summer... The true test for any car, 90 degrees and 70% humidity, I then figured out really what was happening, because the problem got way worse when it was hot and humid out. It was definately a misfire. I ended up having to replace my coil pack because it was defective (I had just replaced it less then 6 months before these problems). Also, my plugs werent helping the problem, you are only supposed to use Motorcraft/autolite plugs in pratically any ford engine, I used champions in my tour, BIG mistake, cracked the porcelin on one of the plugs, WOOO that was a fun experience.
Hi Tony,
And thanks for the Welcome. This is a great forum! I went back and checked this thread again and see that it was your post for the MLPS sensor (complete with pictures), that I used to correct the tranny jerking problem I had with my daughters 96 Mystique. Thank you very much and the pictures were a great help, especially in locating the sensor. After replacing the MLPS (about a month ago), her car drive and feels like a new car. It only has 96,000 kms on it. I've save money a few times now by going online before taking a chance on a mechanic. The forums can save the DIY'ers a lot of dinero.
My 98 Ford Taurus broke on the way to the airport last month. Crankshaft snapped with only 144,000 kms on the 3.0L Duratec Engine. I couldn't believe it. The mechanic told me he's seen a few of those now; must be a design flaw. Anyway, went out a bought myself a 96 Mystique Spree with the 2.5L Duratec engine and love the car so far. Hope is lasts longer than the Ford.
Thanks again, and I will try to help out others when possible.
Regards,
Doug