Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting 4 cylinder temperature sending unit plug broken

Does anyone know if Ford has a part and part number to replace this connector plug?
I need a new plug connector to splice into the wiring harness. After I rejected the $900 wiring harness sugestion from the Ford parts man, he suggested a visit to a junk yard. But the yards have nothing for me.

Visit pep boys or equivalent type auto parts stores. They have wiring connectors to repair ends. The "help" rack or other areas in the electrical aisle. Seems the dealer could provide that connector...Hopefully you will find what you need. I read your other post, you will be visiting many parts sources. Have fun resurrecting your Contour.

Thanks,
I have totally cleaned the seats and carpeting came out decent except for the cigarette burns on the seats, they look great. There is some extra material I could harvest from the rear seat and perhaps with some fabric glue repair the holes.
I will check out the Pep boys idea. And I may just crimp together some connectors and using some silicone sealant attach them into the sending unit.

I bought this car on Ebay, drove to Newburgh, New York from Norfolk, VA to pick it up. I dont think I would have bought this car If I had seen it in person. But I have been plesantly surprised, the engine is in perfect mechanical shape, the transmission was replaced and the entire rear axle assembly was also replaced with salvaged used parts.
So far I have spent $250 in parts for a car I bought for $850. The latest disaster is the forward exhaust pipe has cracked the weld open where the Catalytic converter joins a cast iron ring. This of course happened because the anti rotator mounts are too weak and flexed the pipe. I plan on simply welding or brazing this back together. I had to drive it back with the trans bumping the frame. And the wheel bearing roaring. Should take another 1 to 2 weeks to get this car back in good shape for the road. I really like the 4 cylinder zetec, 33 MPG and decent power. I easily accelerated upto 80 plus mph.
I wont even consider a V6, too tight to work on and I bought this car for the economy, not because I want to zoom around.

So you bought your '98 Zetec for $850 on eBay? How many miles was on it when you got it?

149000 miles
Also the entire rear assembly axle was replaced and the entire transaxle was replaced with used parts. I found the yellow paint the yards write numbers on parts on these items.
The car also had 4 new tires. And it looks like axle shafts are new. All these positive items were not mentioned in the add. The guy runs a Nissan dealership up in Newburgh New York.

But he also did not mention the worn out wheel bearings, defective power steering pump, broken tail light, cracked converter, torn flex exhaust pipe, worn out transmission motor mounts, rusted out oil pan, missing timing belt cover, burn marks on seats and front brakes really shook. Also, get this, the day I pick up the car, he claims the engine hood release cable broke, so they use a screw driver to pop the hood open and slightly marred the grill top. And he says he will send me a new cable but Its been a week and still dont have it yet.

One thing I am very very pleased with is the condition of the engine. Internally super clean (I had to remove the oil pan to fix the holes), and it runs like a new motor. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power to get on the interstate and will accelerate and keep up with traffic on hills. Something people told me it would not do well at being a 4 cylinder. It is the DOHC zetec with VTC. And I got around 33 mpg.
It is posible the motor has also been replaced but I have no evidence of this on the block.

I have fixed most everything and am down to the front exhaust pipe. The engine mounts allowed the engine too much twist and the converter has cracked free at the top along on edge where it meets the cast iron ring. I am thinking of brazing this back together and I think the converter shell is a low grade of stainless so I think a nickel brazing rod will work here.

The car does have power locks power windows cruise control, but does not have remote keyless entry and no ABS which I would have liked. Is it possible to add ABS to your car using junk yard parts?