Mark,
The car had been sitting for three days. I had no prior symptoms. I got in and she started right up. No lights on dash. I noticed a very slight miss in the engine, which was unusual becasue this car ran smoothly, but it was about 30 degrees outside and I thought it was nothing. Maybe a sticky baffle.
I drove about 200 feet, the car continued to miss slightly then with only the slightest sound of engine valve clatter, the car shut off while I was moving. I didn't hear anything that sounded bad, and quite frankly I expected it to be electrical. When it happened, of course, I looked down and the oil light was on. But by then, the engine was not running. There was no CEL, and I hadn't had a CEL since I'd had the feul system cleaned a few months ago.
When I stopped the car and tried to start it again, the starter would click once, but not turn. I had my wife try to start the car, and I could tell power was getting to the starter because the starter power cable (a braided wire) was getting hot! I had the car towed.
That's it! I've since pulled the starter and it works fine.
Peter (Now looking for a wrecked Contour with a good V6)
