Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting severe hesitation

Hi,
My daughters car has a severe hesitation when taking off from a full stop. It also surges when idling in park and when in gear. I am trying to figure it out but do not know where to start. Seems to run out alright until the car warms up a bit and then the transmission drops out of gear almost as if I had shifted it into nuetral and the drops back into drive. It does it this on and off and then can't get over 40 MPH. I am wondering if there is a way to diagnose this problem and is there a possibility that they are related? I hate to give it to a mechanic to find a bad sensor causing the problem and getting charged enough to replace the car twice over.

Oh yeah, The car has the 2.0 Inline 4 with an automatic transmission.

Thanks
Greg

First, check codes , or get them read (free at most Autozones outside CA.).
If you have not had the check engine light on, make sure it works at key on.

A problem with old Zetec's is that the rubber tubing around the PCV valve gets soft from heat and age and causes a vacuum leak. This will cause a severe lean condition. This might also cause erratic shifting.

Might also have fuel pressure or TPS problem.

Rogerm60,
Thanks for the speedy reply. just looked through the codes and I will be going to autozone tomorrow. I will let you know what I found out.

A friend told me to check out the TSS on the end of the transmission, saying that it could cause the erratic shifting. Had to armwrestle with the dealer to get one but they managed to get one and it seemed to work for about 15 or miles. didn't have any affect on the surging idle at all. Well like I said I will check tomorrow and see what the codes say.

Thanks Again
Greg

The shifting problems seem mostly transmission related. TSS and/or fluid level and condition would be good things to confirm on the car. The surging idle may be IAC or intake leak related. To make sure the AC/defrost system load isn't complicating things, make sure it is off when troubleshooting the idle problem.

Well, I went to Autozone and they will not read the codes unless the Check Engine light is on. Oh Well. Anyway I think I have fixed it. Turns out I had a couple of problems. First, for the hesitation problem... I pulled the MAF loose and shot some Carb Cleaner into the sensor to clean it up. That has cleared up the Idle surge and hesitation. Second, for the shifting problem... I replaced the Transmission Range Sensor (I call it the Nutral Safety Switch) Now the car shifts like a dream. Seems I am now able to relax a little bit when I see my daughter drive up the drive way. Thanks to all that helped out with advice. This is a great Site.

Greg

Well, I went to Autozone and they will not read the codes unless the Check Engine light is on. Well, I went to Autozone and they will not read the codes unless the Check Engine light is on. Oh Well. Anyway I think I have fixed it. Turns out I had a couple of problems.
goes to show you the quality of the test involved... i had a guy who did mine at the auto zone and asked me how to attach the code reader.. next time i went there i talked to a younger guy who told me that the older guy did not go to the class to learn how to use the machine.....well why on earth would they let him do Check engine light testing???
i guess they would never had caught my vehicle speed sensor was bad even though the computer had its code as it is not emissions related so there is no "Check Engine Light."