Lots of good stuff on this thread. I recently had the same problem and it was the rubber hose split coming off the pcv valve. Here was my post. Car still running great 2 weeks in... Good luck!
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1153756&page=5&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1- Contour_97
Ex Ford Motor Dearborn Design Engineer/Analyst - 7 years
Now Caterpillar Valvetrain Design Engineer - 6 years
97 Contour GL Sport/Auto/2.5L V6/80,500 miles
Love my Contour when it works!
