Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Idling for 2 hours

I started my car to warm it up before leaving to work. I never pushed the lock button after I exited the car, but somehow the door locked. The towing company/locksmith took two hours getting to my house. My car was sitting idling for two hours. I've heard mixed opinions, this can damage/hurt the engine, others have said you can idle all day without worry. What do you guys say?

BURN2U:

wether excessive idleing can harm an engine depends on a couple factors:

Engine coolant system configuration- can it efficiently cool without having air forced through radiator without vehicle moving? WEll, (opinion) my 76 blazer, though crude and cumbersome, cooled fine after acquizition of an electric cooling fan, wich the contour has! So if your vehicle senses heat accumulation, the fan kicks on and cools fluid. Also make sure the coolant is good level and condition of course!

Lubrication system- can the oil pump efficiently/adequately operate to properly lubricate internal engine components at slow RPM's? Umm, im a new contour owner myself, and do not know much about the oil pump. Also might be an engine (model)specific issue. Does anyone else know the oil pump efficiency at low rpm's??? Id like to know as to applied to the stock Zetec I4 16v.

last, some may consider this an opinion, is that an accumulation of impurities in fuel delivery and exhaust system can more redially accumulate at low rpm. I am talking about carbon buildup, unburned fuel(in exhaust), and gasoline impurities (fuel injectors). Thus, your solution to this issue is to take er out on da interstate for a few minutes !

So...Long story short, depends on vehicle wether excessive idleing will cause problems.

I guess i wouldnt give myself an ulcer worrying about your situation, as contours are da shiznatch.

This information is derived from personal experience, formal education, and common sense. Use at own risk. [Sarcasm?]

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Hope it helps,
Pat

The same thing happened to me but it took AAA about 3 hours, and they told me I was a priority, because my car was running.

Thats why, you dont leave your key in the ignition or leave your window down if your key is on. That or get yourself a spare key!!!

I now carry a spare key after junior go locked into the car while it was running when moving from the back seat to the front sear switching drivers with his mother, she pressed the locks after getting out and locking the door. I had to take a taxi home to get a spear key to open up the door. Junior was asleep and just awoke and was crying the result of picking up on the worried look in mother's eyes.

Now I carry a spare set of keys (one key) in my pocket always.

Even though this is way off topic, best solution-get a magnetic key holder thing, put copy of key in it and stick it to bottom of car somewhere it is hidden. I have it on top of the hitch where it is really hard to get to and impossible to see so no one will steal the car. but most people (except us rednecks) don't have a hitch, there is tons of places to put it.

So was the car warm once you got into it to go to work? Geez no one asks the important questions. You weren't going to lock the car, you we're going for a warm car to travel in! hehe

Yeah go to walmart spend the damn $1.04 on the spare key and leave it in your wallet. Even if your wallet gets stollen, they can't get the car. Hurd Pats, whoever that jerk was decided you're car can't start without an abnormal key! So the worse they can do is steal everything out of it! haha. oh no! they stole my burned cds! haha If someone is that must of a piss poor crook, i would just give my cds to them! But if they would take my 30 dollar walmart plush floor mats! that would do it, I would have to kill them all! lol