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#1422795 10/28/05 05:03 AM
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Tella Offline OP
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Hi! I just bought myself a 1986 Contour GT(?) last night. Its 4 cylinder, 2.5 litre I think is what the garage told me today. Anyway, I had the gas door not opening thing, but between using the backup tab in the trunk to open it, and finding a kind service mechanic who fixed it for free for me, it's working beautifully now.

My problem is I have a CD player which I plug in using an cigarette lighter adapter. Except, my ciggie plugis too small for the adapters. I tried two of themand can't seem to ram it in there. Has nayone else had this problem?Is my car just weird, or is there a fix or smaller adapter that can be used?

I love the rado and tape deck, but I want my CDs!!

Aside from that I'm hoping I have none of the problems I have seen mentioned regarding trouble in wet and cold, it seems that goes more for the V6 engines, as I'm in Canada and it gets bloody cold here in the winter. We can get up to -30 at times which brings me to my other question. Has anyone had experience with the block heaters in these models and how do they work? I notice the coolant fluid seems to be to the left in a clear white container as opposed to in the Rad like I'm used to (I just came from a 1983 fairmont, so understand my confusion).

Another thing, I was told it came with tilt steering, but I'll be darned if I can find this anywhere. Am I just blind and can't seee the button for it,or was I simply just told wrong?

It doesn't have power windows, or power locks but it does have power mirrors. I found the hazard light button on the top of the steering wheel shaft, the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, and I think I have figured out the air condidtiong and the heat. I'm not quite sure which button is for the rear window defrost though I thinkit may be one with an amber light to the right of the steering wheel.

Sorry for all the questions,I'm very new at this modern car thing.
If it rattles and shakes I can generally figure it out, if it runs smoothly I get confused.


#1422796 10/28/05 05:15 AM
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The engine is either a 2.0L I4 or a 2.5L V6. If the trim is GL (there is no GT) then most likely you have the 2.0L.

Not sure on the plug, the stuff I've used fight tightly, but didn't require much effort.

I have an engine block heater in the SVT, but since I don't drive the car in the winter it never gets used.

The lever for the tilt steering is on the left side of the column, near the base.

The rear window defrost is the button to the left of the wheel, but otherwise you're spot on.


Beer is my Gatorade. Hooray Beer. '98 "Sport" Pacific Green '98 E0 SVT Silver Frost Pictures
#1422797 10/28/05 11:03 AM
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Welcome aboard.
Do yourself a favour and download the owners manual here....
Owners manual download
Many questions can be answered from this.

I have a block heater and have never had to use it. Car always starts fine the first crank in winter.
I doubt you bought an 1986 Contour GT, but a 1996 Contour GL.


1996 2.5LT V6 Contour ATX My Tour+help/info pics E0 rims, Gutted Pre-Cats,CTA Custom Exhaust & Intake, Diablo Chip.
#1422798 10/28/05 01:13 PM
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LOL,oops, Force of habit with 1980 era I guess.Thanks so much for the link to the manual. that's exactly what I need.

#1422799 10/28/05 01:15 PM
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Thanks very much for the answers. 2.0 Litre and V4 sounds pretty good to me. I feel so sporty.

You know what is so sad. a modern v4 goes waaaaaay faster then the older v8's. I feel so disillusioned. I guess size doesn't matter anymore.LOL

#1422800 10/28/05 01:49 PM
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Originally posted by Tella:
Thanks very much for the answers. 2.0 Litre and V4 sounds pretty good to me. I feel so sporty.

You know what is so sad. a modern v4 goes waaaaaay faster then the older v8's. ..




Welcome Tella! Zetec I4 engine. I have a 1996 and it did not come with tilt steering. I think it became an option in 1997 (or maybe it was just an option for Canada in 1996). If you have a problem with the gas cover again, we have a simple fix in the how-tos. In addition, as mentioned earlier the cigarette lighter socket is very tight. You may want to see if you can get an aftermarket adapter which fits into the car socket and the CD plug.

Edit. Gas cover how to

http://www.contour.org/FAQ/FAQ.php?s=probs&displayid=19

Last edited by Tony2005; 10/28/05 01:50 PM.

"Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
#1422801 10/28/05 01:51 PM
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Originally posted by Tella:
Thanks very much for the answers. 2.0 Litre and V4 sounds pretty good to me. I feel so sporty.

You know what is so sad. a modern v4 goes waaaaaay faster then the older v8's. I feel so disillusioned. I guess size doesn't matter anymore.LOL





Is this guy for real??


'98 SVT Red/midnight blue - a few mods E0 wheels for sale - PM me
#1422802 10/28/05 02:03 PM
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Originally posted by Hdbngr8:
Originally posted by Tella:
Thanks very much for the answers. 2.0 Litre and V4 sounds pretty good to me. I feel so sporty.

You know what is so sad. a modern v4 goes waaaaaay faster then the older v8's. I feel so disillusioned. I guess size doesn't matter anymore.LOL





Is this guy for real??



He probably means acceleration is much better. I used to drive an old Oldsmobile Delta 98 (I think it was a 454 engine V8). Acceleration was poor and when I got a Civic 1500 DX after that, it showed.


"Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
#1422803 10/28/05 02:26 PM
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No I mean the part about a V4 in a Contour


'98 SVT Red/midnight blue - a few mods E0 wheels for sale - PM me
#1422804 10/29/05 04:00 AM
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Why, when someone talks about cars is it automatically assumed the person is male? I'm not sure what is wrong with saying V4, I'm assuming then that is the wrong term? So sue me. I'm no greasemonkey, and I have never driven a car newer then 20 years old. To me this is a pretty big thing. I'll go off and stop bothering the "pros" now. I guess someone who doesn't know everything about cars isn't very welcome here, and just has to tolerate ridicule form those who can't seem to understand that some people are actually here to get help because they actually need it.

I'll slink off to somewhere else where others are just as stupid and uneduacated as me.



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