Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Alernator, Mega fuse, bad idle...........

New to the forum Great info!

Friday while driving to work, I noticed the Charge +/- light illuminated! Rats! About 10 minutes from work the radio went out then the a/c then I felt loss of power. No problem, I figured alternator. As I limped into the parking garage I backed into a spot and the car died.
For a few hrs of company time, I searched this forum. Great stuff! I found the tip on the mega fuse failure. I took the battery home for a charge figuring it was toast. Today went back with tools and replaced the mega fuse. When I started the car it had rough idle all of a sudden. Then when I give it gas, it really stutters and shakes like it's starving for fuel, Or bad air mix
I checked to make sure I didn't knock off any sensors, while removing the air filter parts, but nothing too obvious. The connectors on the MAF are all intact.
Drove the car home highway 23 miles and cruises ok but when I apply gas and go through the 5 gears (manual Trans) it's real harsh.

Got home and decided to change plugs.
Topped all fluids took it for a ride but no difference!

Is there a chance the PCV, 02 IAC or any other sensor might have blown also????
If I push the clutch in and rev the motor is seems like no problems but while letting the clutch out and juicing it is when it stutters and shakes
Thanks for any tips

1996 Detour Ztec
4Cyl 2.0
108,000 miles

Well, I found a thread that stated sparkplug wires could cause a bad idle. I contacted my local for dealer who gave me a price of 60.00/set for stock. Wholesale knocked it down to 47.00. Then i found the Ford Racing racing wires for 37.50 at BAT Inc. (941 355-0005) for 37.50/set for 2.0L. 2-Day priority cost 12 bucks so that was a pretty good deal.
Unfortunately those did not solve the bad idle. I replace the fuel filter and that did not seem to do much either. Finally I bit the bullet and dropped the car at the dealer for a diagnostic at 89.95. That came back with a bad Ignition coil. I propmtly looked in the forum and found positive results from the ACCEL coil from summit. 54.00 instead of the dealer price for a stock coil of 117.00. Replace the coil and she purrs like a kitten.
This forum saved me 175.00!!!!
Thanks

A belated welcome !

Glad you found some answers, in lieu of getting answered.

Would the Accel coil have anythign to do with a rough or bad idle when the car is in drive and the brake pressed?

Good to hear you got yoru car fixed. Im fixign little things on my car right now.

Thinking about changing my coil pack too. Thanks for telling us about the accel coilpack.

Welcome!