Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Contour stalls, won't restart!

I've got a little problem with my 96 Contour SE V6 5 spd. I went to go start it this morning and it started, run rough for about 5 seconds then stalled. I tried to restart but it just kept cranking. I left it alone for about 10 hours but it still wouldn't start.

I thought it was either fuel or ignition so I changed the sparkplugs, that didn't work. When I pulled the plugs, they were covered in fuel. I eventually tried cranking it with the pedal to the floor and after cranking for 15 seconds it started.

I reved it a bit for a couple minutes and then it almost stalled again. (Gave it some more gas.) After a few more minutes and a test drive, everything seems to be fine. It starts normally now, i don't have to touch the pedal. I guess i'll find out tomorrow.

Wierdest thing is, the CEL did not light up. Very strange since Contours light up for everything. Oh, it was about 60 degress outside.

Any ideas what the problem could be? I'm kinda lost. I'm thinking injectors or IAC. What would cause it to start by depessing the throttle?

Mine will do this if I step on the gas when first starting up, especially if the engines already warm. The engine floods or vapor-locks i think. If you hold the pedal on the floor and then crank it, you open up the throttle body butterfly valve which lets fresh air in to help clear the intake. I just try to make sure I never touch the gas when starting.

Nate,

Sounds like the Idle Air Control Valve is stuck.
This is the IAC valve.

Try removing it and clean it with Throtte Body cleaner, and then lube it with WD-40.
Make sure you clean the IAC Bore also.

You may want to pick up a replacement, just in case it happens again.

I figured it might be the IAC valve. But if it was, wouldn't it usually loop during idle? It doesn't, it stays at about 700rpm and doesn't move.

And, wouldn't the CEL go off if it was the IAC?

Anyone had episodes of stalling at highway speeds?
My ?96 Mystique has done this five times in rush our traffic. The car will not start until it has set for about 15 minutes. Then it will run for a little while then stall again. The dealership is baffled... The car is equipped with the 170 hp Duratec 2.5L V-6, 4 speed auto trans. It has been a fantastic car up until it turned over 53,000 miles this year. I just paid the damn thing off and received the title in the mail a week before the car decided to stop running.

Dealership has replaced something to do with the timing, the Crank Shaft Sensor (twice), Wiring Harness, Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, DPSE Fuel Sensor and the Max Air Flow Sensor. I drove it to work and back home on a Friday and put 168 miles on it over the weekend. The car was running great! Monday I did my normal routine and drove to Dallas when water pump had gone out. Replaced the water pump, the seal, thermostat and gasket.

Now I am paranoid to drive it ? in fear something else is about to go. Should I stop the worrying? I really like the car... I would hate to have to go get into a new payment at this time...

A friend with a 95 GL just had the exact problem -- ended up being a bad MAF. It was putting out voltages for 6000ft elevation ;-)

-Lance