There is a very strong posibility that the only problem is the plugged filter screen disc. It is worth trying to remove it before doing anything else. You will probably need the fuel pump "o" ring gasket so you should have one when you tear into it.

No matter what else you do, change the external fuel filter.

That is amazing fuel economy for that engine.

Thanks folks, I'll see if can locate an o-ring today.

Gas mileage is something I like especially lately

I'm thinking from the mileage I got for awhile I should be pulling 29mpg constantly back and forth to work which is mostly four lane but a little hilly.

I figure my mileage probably went south for some other reason but not sure what yet as I just put new APP764's and Autolite professional wires on. I was getting the 0420 code...or was it 0410.... anyway...misfire on bank two. No more CEL's in the last 4000k miles.

Thanks again for the ops.

SixxGunn,

A few months ago I started having problems with my '00 4-cylinder Contour (105k miles). It would be hard to start and sometimes when I was tarvelling along, it would run rough for a minute, then cut out. Most of the time I could get it to the side of the road, then start it once or twice and it would strat and be fine....for awhile. I tried plugs, wires, fuel filter and gas booster type products. I was torn between fuel pump and/or fuel regulator and I wanted to be sure because they're both pretty expensive. In these forums and elsewhere on the web, and part store sites, it seems that there is much conflicting information on what fuel pump is available.

To make a long story short, not knowing what what the problem was and what to do about fixing it when I found out, I decided to remove the fuel pump and at least take a look at it. Afterall, th car was running like crap anyway.

I'll say that I don't consider myself a mechanic but in my younger years, I didn't have any problems doing intermediate repairs. This time, the propect of spending about $600 forced my actions.

I took the backseat out and promptly was met with a hole that was too small to anything meaningful through. I used some boltcutters and modified the size of the hole.

Once that was done, the rest really wasn't too much of a problem. Call it dumb luck or my newfound mechanic ability but I took out the fuelpump unit, diassembled it, cleaned the screen, and put it all back together (with the old gasket). That was about 1,200 miles ago and I haven't had any problems since.

That's not saying that it won't start acting up again tomorrow but I must say that something good came out of it. The only problem I have now is that the arm that controls the fuel guage must've gotten stuck because I'm perpetually showing a full gas tank.

There is a section in these forums under "Mods" that show some excellent pictures of the fuel pump removal and installation. I found them to be very helpful and I thank whoever published them.

Good luck with your endeavor,

Rod

Thanks Shakey

I have to find me a good fuel line disconnect tool from the looks of things. I had time to go to Advance but the one I got from there didn't seem to fit too well (could be my own stupidity tho...)

I'm thinking the fuel pump screen is for sure the problem from everything I've read.

I replaced the tires with a set of Wal Mart special BFGoodrich Excentia's. Quieter rider than the Firestone's that came off. They were worn out and worn bad thanks in part to my lack of rotating them. Gas mileage has climbed back up to 29 on my work commute and and managed 31.5 on a road trip this past weekend.

I have a noise in the left front (as best as I can tell) when turning left at 60+mph though. Pretty loud romping/groaning sound. I've read it should be the right front bearing bad when turning left but I'm suspicious of it.

Does anyone know if the wheel gets hot with a worn bearing ? I know a couple of the vehicles that I've owned got pretty warm but not sure if that would be the case with these cars.

Thanks all of ya.

Originally posted by HITMANinMI:

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Originally posted by SixxGunn:

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I put one on it at about 70k miles but another may not hurt aye.

Thanks

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Should be changed every 30k, not 70k

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Nobody said he/or the prior owner didn't change it at 40k. Why head the head shaking?