Okay - here's where we're at: Got this basket case '95 2.5L Contour in and f-i-n-a-l-l-y got it to where it will at least start! (It's been to a number of dealerships and independant shops and they all gave up on it.)
It won't rev up over about 12-1500 rpm (tach not working). Seems to be a lot of 'noise' coming from the intake manifold area - like its trying to suck in a lot of air. And it sounds like its kinda poping back into the intake manifold. If I put my hand near the tailpipe I can feel it sorta puff out the tailpipe when ever it 'pops' back into the intake, but I can't feel anything when I place my hand on the UIM or the accordian between the MAF and the TB. At the same time it seems like maybe its only running on one bank. Or like the plug wires are connected to some of the wrong sparkplugs.)
I don't know how long this vehicle has been sitting, but I'm thinking it may have some stuck valves, or broken valve springs. I'd like to know if this 2.5L is considered an 'interference' engine. In other words, if the timing chain were to break, would the piston smack the valves? (Maybe the 'poping' noise is really a piston kissing a valve which is either stuck open, or left open because of a brken valve spring. Maybe one of the timing chains jumped a tooth or two.)
Thanks in advance for any thought/comments before we start tearing the top of the engine down. And does anyone know if the 2.5L is an 'interference' engine?
