thank you for your help. last night i got into the car and checked everything that i had messed with while installing the new MAF and all the connections appear to be secure from one end of the accordian hose to the other. i assumed since the stalling problem began after i disconnected the air filter and cleaned the MAF, perhaps i didn't put everything back together just so. so if it is an issue of a vaccuum leak, i'll have to bite the bullet and have the garage fix it. at any rate, i brought my old MAF sensor core down to Advance for my $50 back, and while i was there i had them hook up the old "gameboy"
. it read off code 171, as usual, but this time it was accompanied by code 133, which relates to an o2 sensor. i was told where the MAF sensor was and that's how i came to mess with it, but i have virtually no under-hood experience and i don't know where either of the o2 sensors are located. is it possible i could have damaged one while working with the air hose?
once again, thank you for your help. i love my contour, even if she'll never love me back.
