Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting o2 sensors and other idiot lights...

'95 SE, 2.5, ATX, 100k miles. New plugs, waterpump, oil change, airfilter, etc.

Started getting real bad gas mileage and then started running rough at idle and tossing CEL lights. Had it checked out, traced problem to a loose ground junction which was effecting the ECU operation. Ran good for couple days, then started with the CEL light and a computer readout is showing bad O2 bank 2 code plus some other traction control code. Now it's back to running rough at idle speeds [surging badly].

This morning in addition to the CEL coming on once warmed up, the ABS light and Traction Control light stuck on as well. Seems like the entire electrical system has decided to take a dump at the same time. Anyone else seen this combination before? Place that worked on it the first time is out of town until next week and I've been forced to limp this thing along and hoping it doesn't die all together. Don't really want to keep stuffing money into the car, I don't like it that much. Thoughts?

Have you disconnected the battery for about 30 minutes to clear any stored codes? That's a toughie.... I wonder if earlier problem fried some stuff.......
Good luck!

yeah, ecu has been cleared. Hoping it isn't the ECU fried, but kinda thinking it is with so many issues popping up now. Likely just drop it off tomorrow at the shop.

Any ideas what a clean '95 is worth? Only problem, aside from the current running issues, is a slightly pushed in rear bumper from the previous owner.

Hi LSC86,
We seem to be in the same boat together. I too own a 95SE with similar symtoms and warning lights in the cluster gauge. ABS and Traction Control lights are on even thought the ABS still works (TC does not) I had been planning to replace the o2 sensors today to correct the problem of poor mileage but had the unfurtunate incident of a cottage burning down. Priorities... anyways I would like to hear from you if you do go ahead with the repairs formentioned.

Chris

Maybe the wiring harness is cracking apart?

Recall 99M03

Unfortunately, you are just outside the coverage -- 100K miles.

-Lance

That about sums up this past month with the 'tour. After every sensor and wire had been checked, then rechecked, and rechecked again and again, injectors checked, plugs replaced twice, spark plug wires replaced, ECU tested and retested and everything else under the sun twice, the old blue pos still wasn't fixed.

I was about to torch it and call the insurance guy. But I actually lucked out for once and ran into a friend that had a similar situation occur with a Windstar last summer and it took him about 2 months to track it down.

What he found on the Windstar [and what also prove true on my 'tour] was a severely blocked EGR passage. Not even visible unless you took the intake off and were looking for it too. Plugged solid, causing major idle issues and runablility, combined with very poor fuel mileage too. Acting like a vacuum problem, but all the normal vacuum lines were a-ok.

Long story short, my EGR passage was 100% blocked after the EGR valve [which was in good working order]. What's weird is that no EGR code came back to the computer, but the thing sure didn't run. So after 4 HOURS of working the passage free with a coat hanger, carb cleaner, and 150PSI of air pressure, the old 'tour seems to be back up and running stronger than ever. Been 48 hours and all is good to go.

Still get a bad o2 code on occassion, but I'll live with that for now, at least I can drive the car!