Yes I searched. 96 2.5 turns over, idles fine, but randomly stalls out. If it is put in gear, idles really rough, wont rev over 1100 RPM, even at full throttle. Check engine light is on, but my car is stuck at work. Also the OD light is flashing. I took the battery out, and put it on the charger. The voltage started jumping around, and it steadied out. I am prone to believe it is a shorted battery, but it is only 8 months old. I have replaced the alt, the fuel pump, the coil pack, and the MAF in the last 3 months. Any help?
--Craig
edit: also, the speedo will go from 0 to 130 while in park, and all the lights dim unless I floor it while in idle
Replace the intake gaskets and have the battery tested. If the battery is good check for voltage drops on the battery cables, ground connections, and power distribution box.
The gage problems are just due to low voltage.
Battery check is good. Would a low voltage also give me the tranny light? Now the car starts good the first time, stalls out after a minute, and starts again, but only for a second. When it started good the first time, it ran until I put it in drive. I am worried this might be a tranny issue. Any one in NE OH free tomorrow...haha..
--Craig
"Would a low voltage also give me the tranny light?"
Yes.
"When it started good the first time, it ran until I put it in drive."
Is it a ATX? If it is then, it could be a bad VSS.
Scan for CEL codes and post.
Yeah, its the ATX. I have to get the car moving before I can get some codes read...haha. Going to replace the ground cable tonight.
--Craig
Ok, sounds good, but its going to have to wait until payday, and I have a trip from NE Ohio to Colombus on monday....
--Craig
If you have problems with the car while it is in Park with the engine idling, etc. I'd address that first. With engine running in park, spray some wd 40 aroudn intake ports. Does the engine speed change? If so, I would then do a upper/lower inktake manifold cleaning with gasket replacement as listed in howto's.
If engine still won't run properly in park, I'd chek your plug wires. When did you last change the plugs? Also, check cam and crank sensor. Check throttle speed sensor. Check the ECT sensor - not the one for the temp gauge. The ECT temp is used by atx, computer, etc. Also check TSS.
Lots of sensors to check for sure......
Bob
Runs fine in park, had a bad ground. Still getting the tranny light, and idles rough except in neutral or park. Replaced the VSS.....I dont know where to go from here....
--Craig
Got the following codes:
743
750
755
1747
--Craig
Got the car moving. Runs fine, but every now and then the speedo dies, and the car bogs down. This is really getting annoying, considering selling. Help please, this is my only car and work is less than 24 hours away...
--Craig
I looked up your 1996 Contour OBDII codes at
www.actron.comI assumed it's P in front of the numbers
P743 TCC Elect
P750 Shift A malfunction
P755 Shift B malfunction
P1747 Pres Cntrl SolA Ckt Shorted
Transmission troubles
, maybe some wiring harness troubles? Take a look at wiring, battery. Maybe you will be lucky and find something dumb (I had found cut wires on my Dodge's fuel pump once, a small furry creature must have been hungry).
Nothing obvious. The speedo still jumps around now and then. When it is reading, the car runs great, when it doesnt, same stuff as before. Any clue as to what I am getting myself into? Is this something I can fix? I am about 2 seconds from selling this POS. What are some probable faults?
--Craig
Originally posted by Tony2005:
If you haven't changed the ATF in 30K miles, now is a good time to do it.
Duratec Maintenance FAQ
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=v6maint&Number=958650&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1
When you changed VSS, did you reset the PCM by unhooking the battery a while? Has the trans been serviced, or swapped out? I just remembered reading that a solenoid can be the wrong part, causing low resistance (short). If it's the trans it's had all along, you probably need to look carefully at the wiring going to the trans, first. You might need some solenoid replaced in the trans.
The engine was swapped out before I got the car, I dont know if the tranny was too. I would imagine not. I put new fluid in when I did the altenator...
--Craig
Originally posted by Deus003:
.. I put new fluid in when I did the altenator...
--Craig
3xDrain and Refill?
As a few last ditch (grasping straws) effort, before the tranny rebuild, if it were my car, I would change the MLPS and TSS and hope for the best.
Not a 3X flush, realy dont have the money for that. My battery light came on, and I checked and got 12.35 VDC while the car is running, alt is coming out now....
--Craig
Originally posted by Deus003:
Not a 3X flush, realy dont have the money for that. My battery light came on, and I checked and got 12.35 VDC while the car is running, alt is coming out now....
--Craig
You have done one drain and refill, do two more at $10 each for the ATF. As for the battery/charge light, sometimes a bad battery or bad alternator does weird things to the car. That may well be your problem there. Good luck.
If you solve the voltage problem (alternator, wiring or battery) maybe your car will be OK!
With speedo jumping around, this is also an potential indication of battery problem. I would have your battery checked and clean the terminals.
Bob
Due to difficulty of getting the alt out again, and the fixing of other things that need it, the contour is up for sale. It's a best offer situation, and is going in the eastern great lakes forum.
--Craig
OK, no luck on any one taking the car as it is, and I need cash asap. Would the TSS be causing this kind of problem?? Could it be the EEC??
--Craig
You said your voltage was only 12.35 volts car running in an earlier post, if it still is, bum alternator OR just bum wiring (loose bolts, corroded clamps, megafuse.) Try advertising in your local paper if you still need to sell.
Mega fuse??? Do tell. All this happened after sitting in the parking lot for 8 hours.
--Craig
The megafuse is a high amperage fuse in the wiring from the battery+, starter, alternator. I tried to find a picture, did not succeed. You could check the wiring with an ohm meter, essentially no resistance. The battery light on the dash will come on if the fuse is blown.
Megafuse location picture by GoldenTour.
Originally posted by GoldenTour:
you see the red lead? heres your sign.
from this thread
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1095791&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=2&vc=1
Under the coil pack, typical Ford
That picture is a good find!
OK, broke the fusible link. I was getting 12 volts on the non batery side, and when I was pushing around to check the other side, I snapped it, yay me. Gonna hard wire it for a test, prolly tomorrow morning. This car is seriously getting on my last nerve. Based on the reading on the non battery side, looks like I will be pulling the alt.
--Craig
Update. Found the voltage reference wiring mod on my alt had been cut. Still having the tranny issues. I have the driveshaft out, and the alt in. I did the fill and drain, new battery terminals, new VSS, I am wondering what else there is to get into. The TSS, is this difficult or expensive? I dont want to get into sinking massive amounts of money into a car that I am going to sell, but I woud like to have it running before I sell it. Any other ideas?
--Craig
One more thing, the Speedo jumps around alot, telling me that it is a VSS issue, I wonder if I should get it replaced?
--Craig
Maybe, but try it out after you get your voltages back up
The alt was taken out, the wiring had been cut. Voltage is back up to 14.4V. Replacing the new VSS tuesday, when it comes it.
--Craig
Glad to hear you found your electrical problem
, hope the VSS solves the other problem.
Is it possible the first one I got from the parts store is defective?
--Craig