Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Give it gas watch it die..............

My bad. I am the one who read it in the shop manual and gave him that info. The manual I use is the big Blue 1996 Ford Contour Mystique Fix it right the First time Shop manual.
It shows 35-45 PSI for running and key on engine off. But you are right, that diagnosis and repair did nothing for the repair. Ford called me on Saturday with the diagnosis of what else..... FUEL PUMP!
Do you believe that! I explained the new Ford piece was installed 2 days prior and that they should try another guess. Ford called me today and said they ran the car with the catalytic converter off and it ran fine.
He also referred me to Midas Muffler because Ford sells that repair for $1200.00. Called Midas, they will do it for 329.00 installed.

Thanks for everyone's help.
Hope this does the trick.

I THINK my catalytic convertor could be causing some of my slowness. Hopefully I'll have it removed soon enough. Not sure if I feel like spending the money. I also hope to do more maintenance work, clean and replace a few more things to hopefully obtain a good idle and less engine noise.

I had that EXACT same problem in my Probe GT. After the Ford "techs" telling me it was the MAF (wasn't; replaced that at the junkyard), and another trusted mechanic not being able to find the problem (but noted that fuel was flooding the engine), we took it to a third mechanic who diagnosed as being a hole in the distributor. I'm not mechanically inclined so I can't give many more details, but hope this helps a bit.

The "putting on the brakes" feeling is due to your transmission being locked with the engine. Since the engine is trying to die, it's bringing the transmission gear with it causing your car to slow down drastically.

Are you talking to me or 96detour? Contours don't have distributors, we have coils, and my coil is a new MSD coil.

HOLY COW! Catalytic converter was the culprit. Very little exhaust was able to get through. It was like trying to run a marathon and you are forced to breathe through your nose that was stuffed up. It even started to whislte like a flaky booger. Anyway, my contour is running better then when I bought it new in '96. I can't believe how fast it is or was. Lot's of fun. Had it replaced by a reputible mechanic for 399.00+ tax. He said mine was toast. Yahooooooooo!

Did you have it replaced with an OE style replacement (I.E. there is still a cat. in front of the engine)?

Yes, I had to replace it with a "Dirrect-Fit". Due to the location and shape of the converter. Midas "thought" they replaced them in the past with universal but when he looked at it, he said sorry. Not 329.00 it's 629.00, I said see ya. Found a guy who foud and installed a dirrect fit one. The receipt shows 287.00 for the new verter, 4.31 fr gasket and 9.31 for other gasket. WoW!

Wowzer, go back to that guy and get the manufacturer and part#, any of us that might need to replace our cats in the future could use the info.