Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Contour/Car Newbie Needs Some Help!

Hi, I just recently got my first car, a '99 Contour SE. It's a four cylinder, but I don't know anything about the engine past that. Is it the Zetec or the Duratec?

When I accelerate heavily with my windows down, I head this SHWEEEEEEEEE and then when the car upshifts the noise goes away. Is this normal or is it something I should get looked at?

Also--my windshield pumps are RATHER anemic. They put this feeble spray of water onto the windshield. Is my water pump dying?

Anything simple I can put on my car to make it go faster?

Zetec
Not sure bout the sound
Clean the sprayers with something
Yes but it's never gonna be really fast unless you drop over $5k into it.
But look at the modification page on the main part of this site and look at the sticky posts in the zetec forum. Intake,exhaust, cam gears, UDP, optimized TB, and chip do help out a lot. And a header if you have the money to make it fit.

Some advice I wish somebody would have given me: Don't drop more than a couple hundred into the contour. Unless you have lots of money to spend on it, you'll never really be happy.

Welcome to the club!

If you tell me it's red, I'll beat you!

It's a Zetec. A pretty nice engine..as far as 4 bangers go.
The sound you are speaking of is normal. You are hearing one of two things; air being sucked in, or it is sort of like a strange droaning sound, that is actually you exhaust system. You may or may not have a resonator. I have heard the sound with both situations.

And yes, you Winsheild washer pump is dying. May it rest in peices. (Mine did.)

And faster? The normal...intake, exhaust, and chip.

You will enjoy your car very much. Good luck with it.

THIS IS THE BEST SITE FOR FORD CONTOURS!!!! And a few other cars also.

In that order:

Zetec 2.0... Look in the Zetec Forum. The Duratec is the 2.5L 6-cylinder.

Check the Transmission Forum (I know nothing about slushboxes, having never owned one )

I've noticed that the amount of spray on the windshield depends greatly on vehicle speed. If you're sitting still at a light or something, then most of the spray ends up on the top of the car. If you're doing 90 (my speed of choice) then most of the spray just hits where the wipers are at rest. It's calibrated to hit the middle of the windshield when you're doing about 60 or so. I assume you've checked the level of washer fluid? Or you could have a shot washer pump .

Intakes, exhaust, chips, racing stickers, big a** wings and grotesque body kits, some 22's with 30 series rubber... the usual

Use the search function... it requires you to do more work than most, but you can find stuff. The FAQ on the main page works wonders as well.

Also, include more info if you can about the car, like mileage.

Welcome to the club. Glad to have you.

Peace

Jed

My windshield washer spray hits the windshield (in about the same spot) no matter what speed I'm going, granted I've never tried it going over ~80.

When doing a search, make sure you also search the archives, there's lots there.

In our old Escort, the windshield washer jets was like a ball and socket, you could stick the end of a paper clip in the nozzle, move it, and direct the flow of fluid. Can't do in the Contour or Tuarus.

I can! But I also those Cobra Eyes.