Did you leave connections in the engine bay for jump starting?
Did you vent the battery out of the passenger compartment?
My friend at work and I had this conversation last week (after he told me the old Audi 100 put the battery under the rear seat) and we decided that the pro/con to battery reloc on the Contour is a tough cookie.
For those who are asking ...
The Contour is 63/37 F/R weight distribution. Getting any of that weight out of the front will decrease the tendancy to understeer. Also, is frees up area in front of an open filter for better, cooler breathing.
