Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting I'm baaack! [What to do]

The story goes that after many months of waiting and such, we finally got a new primary car -- nifty Chrysler 300C, she's a pretty car, but we still have our 95 Mystique and this is where my return is

I don't really want to get rid of it. Sure, it's 11 years old, overheats, I know it misfires, and after an hour or so of running it's a [censored] to get it to start again when you turn it off (at least until it cools down), but it was my dad's last car (bless his soul!), and my first..

They say sentimental attachment to a vehicle is the worst thing in the universe. I agree

-- but it really doesn't hurt me any.

So yeah, the car's been sitting in the driveway again and hasn't really moved much since I brought it home via tow truck the night it refused to start. I would have done something, but at that time 1. We had to do EVERYTHING either via taxi or bus or both, 2. Any mechanic I asked was too lazy or too dumb to do the work, and 3. Getting parts for a car when you don't have a way to get them isn't exactly easy.

So finally we can do that! And things on my list are to change the ECT sensor (if it's not that it's the water pump), and to clean up the IAC valve (someone once suggested it might be why it doesn't start because when you start the car -- after a minute or so the revs climb to 2-3krpm).

That, or replace the dang IAC valve. This is a good ole' zetec btw, yeah it isn't powerful but hey at least no water pump/oiling issues - 136k on the clock if I recall correctly, so if you have any other good suggestions, they're certainly welcome.

Thankfully the only errors I've counted pointed at the EGR (IAC problem you uys said) and the ECT.. Uh, the car does drive nicely, but it could definitely use new spark plugs.

I know a lot of people here suggest cleaning up the whole throttle body area but that's definitely not an easy task, first off I'm not much of a mechanic (in the house sure, under the hood? Well I have a good idea what I'm talking about but I've never taken a car apart). Got the hayne's manual sitting here on my table which I had in a box (and that actually nudged me to post this question here and such).. and so, well shoot, I can't pull the engine apart or anything crazy like that. I don't have mechanics tools, just a good socket wrench, some various other wrenches, and my arsenal of screw drivers and hammers.

Any suggestions for tools or ideas? Oh yeah and since the car will need to be lifted for the IAC and maybe even the ECT work, any recommendation on a good set of ramps? (I suppose I could head to the parts store and get some but hey)...

Above all though, I heard doing anything related to the throttle body is nothing short of a pain in the ass on the zetec, so any pointers are.. extremely welcome.

Oh yeah, required pic heheh..

http://www.talesmud.com/2634.jpg

It's ironic how 2 very different cars can be similar in a simple way (european roots in their implementation) isn't it?

http://www.talesmud.com/2422.jpg

^ As you can see the bay needs a REALLY GOOD cleaning. I know it's not trouble shooting but as a quick derail, any suggestions for cleaning it up?

You can get the IAC valve off without lifting the car. In fact, I did this yesterday. I went and jacked up the car and went under, located the IAC valve and tried to unbold it. There was NO ROOM for my socket wrench to click... there was also no room for a regular wrench to turn! I HAD to get it from the top. Removed the intake crap and ended up getting the bolts off with a 3/8 8mm socket wrench w/ long extention. It is a [censored] but you can get it. BTW my car looks exactly like yours.


This car sure is a pain in the ass to work on compared to my caprice!

Cool! I'll try that one out There is a ton of intake crap! I don't get that >_> Why so many air cleaners?� I think ford did it to fill in the empty space not taken by the mighty zetec.

Followup: Now I'm 100% positive ++ that the IAC needs cleaning (or replaced), I fired the car up, let it sit for a bit, and well before I get to why I say that, here's something else I noticed:

Startup procedure..
Turn ignition, car fires up..
Starts as normal, fan comes on and stays on for a few moments
Engine hovers around 900-1000RPM as it should..
fan shuts off..
Engine revs up to 2000RPM-2500RPM and hangs there for a few minutes and slowly drops down to normal..

Where it bobs slightly. You can see it go from about 800-1000 or so it's kinda slight but if you watch closely, you can tell the revs aren't staying even (both in sound and on the tach)..

So yeah the IAC needs a cleaning, and thankfully I'm quite sure I have the proper socket wrench and such (extensions too!) to get that sucker out. Thing is, any recommendations for cleaner?

You will need a 8mm socket 1/4 drive and some long extensions. I used liquid wrench to clean it out-worked well. Just fill up the 2 bores of the valve with cleaner and let sit. Don't get the electrics wet and I used light compressed air to dry it out a little.

HEMI, that fixes everything Your Mystique looks to be in nice shape though, good luck with your repairs