Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting INTERMITTANT DYING PROBLEM

I have a 98' contour GL that has a dying problem. It is a 2.0L, auto trans. I have taken it to different ford dealers under warranty at least 7 times for this problem and the most it has ever done is go away for a couple of days. I have never really had a problem with it starting up again, just dying. HERE GOES: I can start it up, put it into reverse, back out of the driveway, stop, pull it down into drive, and it will stagger and/or completely die on me. If I slow down or stop to turn a corner it may die on me. My wife says she has been driving down the interstate before and probably just let off of the gas and it would die. I can't remember all of the parts that have been replaced by the dealers(alot). Does anyone have any insight into my problem? It will not do it all of the time though. I have probably had this problem in one form or another since the car was new.

I have the same problem with mine. It is a 98 GL with the Zetec and auto trans. My wife says it is dying on her when she stops at stop signs now. We had the Ford dealer replace the crankshaft postition sensor, which made a difference for a week or so, and took it back again. When they could find no codes, even though it died, I told them not to waste any more money. I have taken it to a independent shop and the owner is trying to fix it. So far they have cleaned the MAF sensor and put new plugs and plug wires on it. Still doing it. He thinks it is something in the electrical system and is tracing that down. Anyone else have any ideas or suggestions?

I posted the same problem last month and no one replied. A year ago I had this problem and replaced the fuel filter. I had no further trouble for a whole year, then mysteriously last month it's back again. Replacing the fuel filter didn't help this time. I have since run a tank of gas with STP fuel system cleaner, run a tank of premium gas, replaced the air filter, run a tank of gas with Gumout fuel injector cleaner, reset my cel light three times by disconnecting the negative battery post. My latest find was a sensor plugged into the engine block in front of the engine with two wires coming out of it. There was a woven sock covering the wires. The sock was pulled back, exposing electrical tape around the individual wires, I pulled the sock up over the apparent splice, reset my cel and have been waiting the last several days {with a fresh tank of gas after getting about 175 miles on a full tank of gas with the fuel injector cleaner in the tank)for more trouble.

I am so glad I am not the only one with this problem. Maybe someone will be able to find a solution. It has begun to be a safety concern and we got my wife an explorer and now I am the only one that drives it (and that's only when the weather is too bad to ride my motorcycle). I just dicovered this site and it has already helped my diagnose my clock spring problem. I hope we can find something-I'll keep trying.

Ours is going back to the shop tomorrow. I have been driving it this weekend with the A/C off just to see if that made a difference. It only dies,sometimes, when I shift from drive to park this way. Wish I had an easy answer. I will let you all know if they come up with something.

Has anyone entertained the idea of the ECM being faulty? They are supposed to be pretty reliable and the last resort when it comes to a fault, but I know I have had many parts thrown at mine by the dealer with no luck. I even had my dealer replace my whole transaxle before!

My 96 SE with auto did the exact same thing. After a year of this nonsense a friend said replace the fuel filter....I doubted very much that was it but it was. I replaced the filter and it has gone away.

I am going to suggest they try that. We replaced it about a year and a half ago so I would hate to think it is plugged up in that short of time. The guy that is working on ours thinks it is electrical and is tracing down the electrical system. Only problem is he can not get it to duplicate the problem when he has it. Sound familiar to any one?

MJVAUGHNS what all has been replaced on yours so far? Sounds like you have had the most parts thrown at yours.

I will have to get back to you on that. It will take a little research.