Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting 95 Contour Not Starting I need your help!

I have a 95 Ford Contour 2.5L V6. A couple of weeks ago my porr Contour died as I was backing out of my driveway. I went to start it and it cranked but no turn over. I had it towed to a service station. They replaced the fuel pump and the crank shaft but it still wouldn't start. So then I had it towed to a Ford place. (I thought that it might have been the wire-harness issue and I expressed this to them*also note i am passed the warrenty) So sure enough, they told me the wire harnesses needed to be replaced quoting $3,200. I thought this was outrageous. But I also think that this is NOT causing my car not to start. Two things that I found significant, but can't figure out are the following:
1. The Ford guys said they got the car running by replacing the starter fuse, but it immediately blew again. (don't know if this is actually true)
2. I jumped my car today to get the power windows up bc the battery had just about died. When I tried to start, just to see what would happen, there was NO smell of gas. Even after it was pumped. I found this strange.

ANY SUGGESTIONS? I really don't want to junk the car. I really like it, but it doesn't drive! Please advise me. I need your help.

You should press more for a free wiring harness replacement. Ford should have recalled all 95's for the harness but they f_cked up and got cheap.

A bad wiring harness can cause a ton of problems, including starting. There's a lot of wiring you don't see, and if the plastic coating on those wires has eroded, or cracked off then you can get contact between two (or more) wires that shouldn't contact and you will have a hard time. When they replaced mine, they had to replace the computer too, since during the installation two wires touched.

What is your mileage? Speak to the shop manager or even higher about getting the harness replaced FREE. Don't pay a dime to have it done. Ford used crappy parts and they should be the ones to cover their mistakes. I'd have laughed my ass off at the price they quoted you...right in the guys face.

If that fails then you have to ask yourself is the car worth it. I'll tell you right now, no 95 is worth $3200.

Now whether or not that is the exact cause of your car not starting.... That's impossible for anyone to answer. But if it has a bad harness then you'll be sinking $$ into a problem that may not be able to be fixed without a harness.


Anyone else?

Did your garage replace your crankshaft sensor or the actual crank itself? The car won't start if your crank position sensor is bad, or if the toothed wheel the sensor monitors gets messed up. That would be the only reason to replace the whole crank.

That aside, a bad harness (and the '95s were bad) could very easily cause a short. If your battery is dead with the car just sitting, that also suggests a short circuit that is draining your battery.

Did your shop pull any codes? That may help. Unless they've disconnected the battery and lost them all.

Is this the same car that had all the alternator trouble last week? You will need to verify spark and fuel and scan for codes to fix a no start. If a sensor is bad it will set a code.

jeff

[I had it towed to a service station. They replaced the fuel pump and the crank shaft but it still wouldn't start]

How much did they charge you?look like not the fuel pump issue.

like the problem I had couple week ago,backing out drive way,car died....found igition fuse keep blewing,still blewing the second day towed to dealer, luckyly car started in the third day. took it home (but not before left my one arm,$170 for that Ford jack axx tec took a LOOK at it)so far so good.In my case I supect my igiton lock was shot(key sometime hard to get in and out.)

Here are what I'd do
1 check all the fuses and igition lock(you said tried to start it,was starter fuse not blewing?)if one of the use keep blewing trie a biger one or circut breaker fuse.
2 any sparks?
3 fuel pressure(should be ok, you have a new pump)

4 check computer.
5 shack all the wires ,hopefuly to get the bad one untouch.

I went back and forth with Ford Customer Claims dept for a week. Spoke to a supervior after repeated refusal to fix the wire harness problem. They said it was an "extended warrenty" which would only cover up to 100,000 miles or 10 yrs (whichever came first). So they basically told me "oh well, so sad too bad" jerks.

Ok. I think those jerks at the Ford place quoted me on replacing all of the wiring harnesses now that I think about it.

Could it be possible that the problem is either the fuel injector, or the fuel injector wiring harness? I really think that it is significant that when I try and start the car (pumping the gas while doing so) there is absolutely NO smell of gas.

Any more input?

Sounds like the CKS crank position sensor. I had this similar problem recently and replacing the sensor has seemed to work.

hmmmm - wire harness' are crazy - good luck