Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting "Check Engine"

Hi,

'cause this is my first post I'll introduce myself. My name is Murat and I'm from Germany. I'm just over a month here in Columbus, OH at the Ohio State and I'm gonna stay for a year. Because without a car I'm stucked I bought a 96 Contour 'as it is' two weeks ago. I know it, 'cause we have the Contour as the Mondeo in Germany too.
I drove since then 500 Miles, but today on the Highway suddenly the "Check Engine" light get on, and I fall into panic , my loved 'new' Contour has a problem. I mean this "Check Engine" light is making me , I always look on it and pray please don't let the engine explode.
I checked on this webpage the FAQ, and it says that I should take to a FORD mechanic and he can tell "at a charge of 1 hour labor" (how much does this normally in the States cost??) what problem he has.
Are there other ways to check out this?

If you take your car to any Autozone, they'll scan the code and tell you what it is. Post the code here and we'll be able to help you.

do what mike said. by the way, welcome to CEG. all the guys around here know their cars inside and out, and maybe even a little more. for some reason, they always seem to have something wrong, or maybe its just mine. what kinda car do you drive back home in Germany?

I wish I still lived in Columbus, I was born there and there's actually a small group of CEGers up there. You're check engine light shouldn't make you drool, that's sorta weird that it invokes that in you. Like they said go to autozone get the code and we can go from there. Or go ahead and get a scanner such as the one on this site: http://www.obd-2.com/ It works off a laptop and does more than just tell you the codes. You might as well cuz you're bound to get more CELs.

...except on the Highways, 65 max. is to slow.;)

Thank's for so fast and much help, you Americans are really helpful and cordial people!!!

So I'll go tomorow to Autozone and check out what's goin on with my Contour.
With 'charging system' do you mean the Battery? I've got a little problem with tecnical terms in English, who learns them in school? so I've often don't what you're meaning. (At first I thought the "Trunk Monkey" from the TV spot was a "Drunk Monkey" 'cause I didn't knew what trunk is )

Back in Germany I've got a Opel. If this doesn't say anythink to you, it belows to GM, and if I open the hood it says everywhere GM, so I'm used to American cars a little bit. Ford and Opel(GM) are building different cars in Europe, only Chrysler sells original Americans in Germany.
And the Contour is still build in Germany in the 3rd generation, but looks totally different now. If you go to http://www.ford.de/ie/mondeo/-/- you can see him.

My Contour now has Automatic, cruise control, Air condition, power windows and other stuff, which are absolutely a matter of course for you, but in Germany cars have really few extras and are much more expensive. A good example is the Focus. I can get for 13000-14000$ a fully loaded new FOCUS in the States. For the same engine (2.0L SPI I4 Engine) and equally equipped I would pay 24000EURO, that is nearly 26000$ in Germany. A gallon (nearly 4 litres)costs here 1.50$, a litre gas costs 1.20EURO in Germany, so a gallon would cost 6EURO, about 6.50$, you're really lucky here (and for a year I too )
So I really lov my FORD

And maybe I can find the 'small group of CEGers up there' in Columbus.

heh..welcome man, always wondered what it was like over there..stinks that they don't make the contour over here anymore, wish they did, it really was a nice car

I was at Autozone today, and the Code is PO133, 'Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit Slow Response - Bank No. 1.'
For this even my Dictionary is overemployed

Welcome to CEG!

Which engine do you have? How many miles?

The "upstream" sensor is the one on the exhaust manifold. This sensor measures oxygen in the exhaust gas for the purpose of adjusting the air/fuel ratio.

If the sensor is getting old (over 70,000 miles) you may just want to replace it. There are other things that may trigger this code, but they will be difficult to track down.

This sensor is slightly larger than a spark plug, and has wires and an electrical connector on it. It screws/threads directly into the manifold. Autozone can supply the part and the tool/socket for replacement. You will need to have or borrow a 3/8 inch wratchet to use the tool.

If your engine is the I4, you will find it between the engine and radiator. If it's a V6, the sensor will be between the engine and firewall. The V6 will be much more difficult to do. Search these forums for tips.