Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting iIdels rough in drive

I have a 96 Contour VIN# 3FALP6537TM115491, 4 cyl., automatic trans. It idels very rough in drive at a stop sign. You can feel the shaking through the steering wheel and dash. If you put it in park or accelerate it goes away hglick@txk.net . It does this with or without the A/C running. Car has done it since new and now has 63k miles on it. Car is under extended warranty for 6 more months anyone have any ideas??

I have a 96' with the same problem. It idles real hard and then when I go to excellerate from a stop the car tends to 'surge'. My car only has 15,000 orig. miles though. I'd like to know what thats about too. :rolleyes:

I have a 96 contour with the same problem and same engine But mine gets worse when I turn the A/C on which is because the engine has more of a load. I think my problem is the Motor mounts.My buick did the exact same thing which turned out to be a motor mount the rear to be exact.If you still have it under warranty take down and have them fix it and tell us what was wrong so we will know to.Dont let them give some story about thats just the these cars are cause not all of them do that.

Yes, I believe that is a known problem covered by a Technical Service Bulletin. When I bought my '95 Zetec I took it back for warranty repair of that exact symptom. It was in '97 so I don't remember exactly what they told me but here is the record of the work from my receipt:

"Concern 52: Install SOP for steering wheel vibration -#75
Cause: Perform TSB
Correction: Repl. outlined components

• Wheel ASY - Steering (Part # FMC F7RZ 3600 CC)
  
• *Module ASY - Elect (Pt # FMC F7RZ 54043B13 ABB)
  
• Damper ASY (Pt # FMC F7RZ 3F690 AA)
  
• Support - Radiator (Qty. 2) (Pt # FMC F7RZ 16138 AA)
  

"
They listed 1.5 hours labor.
Not sure if this is enough info to do it yourself, also sounds like the parts would be expensive so I would definitely get it done under warranty if possible.
Actually procedures covered under TSB are supposed to be done for free if the customer brings in the complaint, but I'm not sure if there is a time limit.
You can get information on TSB's and search for specific ones at the:
NHTSA website

In fact I just did a search and here is the TSB# BC105689705: VIBRATION AT IDLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE IN GEAR. *TW

There are a few similar listings with different numbers but you may be able to ask your dealer about that particular TSB and see if they will still put it right for you. Good luck.

i have same problem. can someone gets prices on parts? i'll probably fix it myself or with a little help if parts don't cost tooo much.

The real problem with the rough IDLE is that the idle speed is set too low on the 2.0 zetec . While you are at a stop & in gear press the gas pedel a little and raise the RPM's . The shaking will go away . The rpm's are set about 200 rpm's lower than they should be.

Can the idle be raised on these cars ??? I never have looked into it ( yet ) *** New motor mounts will help BUT not cure the shaking completely .

Toyota uses liquid filled motor mounts on their cars and that is why they are so smooth at idle .

Might want to look into some GOOD motor mounts if you are going to replace them ........

p.s. i have the same problem in my 96 zetec automatic

I hve a 1995 contour gl which did the same thing I switched out the motor mounts wich 3 were bad as in the rubber mounting came apart.... after I replaced the motor mounts it still vibrated but not as much...

Yep! I had that problem, and it turned out that three motor mounts were bad (but I had all four replaced). Very rough when the car idled.

of course idle speed can be changed, if u have bout $300. U have to buy a chip like Diablo and have it programmed to idle higher.