Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Newbie question and IMRC

I've just got a Contour Se 98, V6, 5sp with 55k on it. CEL came on shortly after buying the car with apparently 2 codes; one for the O2 sensors which was just changed (at $153 Cdn a piece, they're not cheap!) as well as an IMRC failure code (not sure which mode?).

My question is: How long can i wait before servicing this IMR? Would that cause the car to be just more sluggish at or above 4000rpm? Would this affect more gas or oil being burned? Does it really help if one removes that Duratec plastic cover?

Honestly, I haven't had a chance to rev it up that high yet, but the car feels it's got plenty of power for me now... can't imagine what it's gonna be like once that IMR is fully restored

failing to open:

will provide no change below 3800 (3200 at WOT) but no power gains above that as well, so sluggish above that point, but
failing in the open position would cause it to be SLUGGISH below those RPMS and normal (almost normal) above those RPMS.

YES.. removing the plastic cover helps reduce heat-soak, or just drill some holes in the cover...

Check the obvious things with an IMRC code:

start the car, and open the hood... .look under the throttle body for a linkage cable that leads from the lower part of the engine, up to the IMRC box (silver box under that cover)...

rev the car above 3800 for a few seconds and see if that linkage moves, at all... Open the silver IMRC box and check to make sure that the black plastic clips that hold the linkage cable to the actuator aren't broken or missing. this would cause the cable not to be able to move, as well.

Also, providing the code (correct one) would help.. Autozone here in the US scans for free.. I don't know about CAN (ask in the local forum for your area!!!)


Ray