Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Two Problems and a Whole Lot of Confusion...

2000 Contour SE
Automatic V6
No performance modifications

I've been having two problems on and off for the past few weeks, and I'm getting a little worried about my car. I've checked through the forums and I can't find anything that helps me, but I apologize in advance if these questions have been answered already.

First problem: I tend to have a heavy foot when I accelerate, especially on highways, and it's not uncommon for me to rev to anywhere from 3500 - 5500 RPM for short periods to get up to speed quickly. The problem is that, at what seems to be VERY random times, my car seems almost to choke and stall. What I mean is that at high RPM, the engine almost seems to be gasping for air and engine speed drops to near idle, or it jumps up and down through a range of several thousand RPM. I assumed the engine wasn't getting enough O2 and I learned to control my acceleration (until I can afford a decent intake), and the problem seemed to abate.
It got worse last week when my car stalled on a highway. I got up to about 4500 RPM and the same problem happened. But after letting off the gas, my car refused to rev above 2000, and I was cruising at a leisurely 25MPH in a 65 (thankfully it was at 1 in the morning). I pulled over and turned off the car, waited a moment to start it again, and I had to try a few times before it started. Everything has been fine since, but I'm still worried. Any ideas?

Second problem: About three weeks ago, I was taking a really short drive down the street from my house when I heard a really strange noise coming from under the car. It sounds like a metallic brushing, almost the same as a wire brush scraping a piece of rough steel. I stopped and looked under the car and checked the axles, but I couldn't see anything caught in them. The sound itself actually changes depending on whether I'm making a turn or driving straight, because in a turn it almost sounds as if I'm driving with a flat, but that's not the case. I only heard this noise a few times over the last few weeks, and it would normally stop a mile or so after it started, but now I hear it more often and longer. Has anyone ever encountered this? Or does this sound serious enough that it necessitates a dealership visit (something I'd rather avoid)?

And, although I doubt it, could these problems be related?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

TTT...any ideas? I've been noticing that it lasts only for the first five minutes or so when I go out for a drive; not sure if that helps.

Hi

I think for the first problem it has something to do with the idle speed sensor. Sounds like it just doesnt want to fall back to idle when you let off the gas at high rpms. Dont know for sure if thats it but thats my guess, could be just goin bad.

For your second question im not sure. Does it make that sound even when your not braking? I would guess something would be rubbing near the brakes. I had to have my rotors resurfaced when i bought my car used because even without using the brakes i could hear something rubbing. Thats just a guess though, not sure. Some other people will chime in im sure. But good luck.

You might be right about the sensor, considering that it happens at random intervals...maybe it's just going bad. But the second thing...I never hear the sound when I'm braking.

I've actually ruled out any problems with the engine itself, because I only hear it when the car is actually moving. I've tried revving in park and neutral, but I don't hear anything unusual. Therefore I'm assuming it's either a problem with the axles or something else moving under the car. And I still can't make sense of why the problem seems to stop after driving a few miles. I might end up taking it to a stealership soon.

Wheel bearing going bad. sitting overnight allows it to bind, then you hear it drag/grind/growl for the first few moments more so than any other. (it actually will be clicking, etc at all times, when you are driving, just too faint to hear through the road noise.

Turning increases the noise.. usually one way makes it worse, the other: better. IF you turn LEFT and the noise gets WORSE.. look at the right wheel bearing.. (load of the car shifted to the right one..)

Check for bad bearings by:
lifting troublesome side off ground (tire intact is fine)
try to wobble the tire back and forth and up/down. anything more than .02" of movement (basically, if you can feel it move) is bad. Follow how-to for wheelbearing/hub removal under duratec maintenance(Ray's how-to post)


Ray

Ah...alright, I'll check that out. I actually was suspecting loose lugs on the wheels, and I was actually able to tighten three of them on the front left wheel by a whole half turn. I'll check out that post you mentioned and hopefully I can get to it by today. Thanks guys.

Have you ever noticed the gas level in the tank when this occurs? If It's usually at half tank or lower, it could possibly be either a bad fuel pump or a clogged fuel pump filter screen.

It happens even on a full tank, and I've started using midgrade fuel instead of regular. I'm gonna check the bearings when I get home Friday, although disassembling the hub and everything seems a little daunting to me. Maybe I'll get some time this weekend to do it. I did suspect that there might be crap in the tank, but it even happens when I'm full.