Problem with Ford Contour

[livelyjay]

Just wanted to post up some interesting findings with my wife's POS Ford Contour. 2000 Ford Contour, close to 99000 miles, 4-cylinder engine. Hesitation and bucking problem started over a year ago, and only seemed to happen when it was low on fuel. So my wife just kept the fuel tank over 1/4 all the time. It started getting really bad recently and the car threw an engine code: P1383, which has to do with the cam shafts and timing. I checked the Contour forum (yes, there is a Ford Contour forum, much to my surprise) and got the logical culprits. So I replaced the cam position sensor, cleared the code, it came back with "Exhaust cam timing retard". So I figure it's the variable cam timing module. Car needs a timing belt, water pump, accessory belt job any ways, so I take it into the shop (I don't have time to do this myself). Come to find out the timing belt was missing 6-8 inches worth of teeth, which the shop had never seen before: "Usually when one tooth goes, the entire belt goes". Luckily the belt did not fail and we got away lucky with no head damage.

Also found out that the initial hesitation problem is likely a fuel pump issue. I'll be replacing that in the coming weeks.

 

[moxnix]

(yes, there is a Ford Contour forum, much to my surprise)

You never know where a ford contour owner might pop up.(eekfu)(poke)

moxnix - has 2000+ posts on the contour forum.

 

[livelyjay]

Well I was just surprised, I mean how many performance minded Contour drivers are out there that aren't driving the SVT models? I'm actually really glad that site exists, because our Contour is entering the stage in it's life where repairs and troubleshooting are a continuous process.

 

[BlackCherry06]

"Come to find out the timing belt was missing 6-8 inches worth of teeth"

Damn....you got really lucky that it didn't get out of time enough for the pistons to say hello to the valves.

 

[livelyjay]

2099 posts, you're an old guy on the forum. While I have your attention, since replies aren't very prompt over there, what's the deal with the fuel pump? From what I am gathering, is Ford designed the fuel pump assembly poorly and they are susceptible to problems when fuel is low. They then redesigned the entire fuel pump assembly and sell that as Motorcraft part number PFS289?

 

[moxnix]

Actually that 2000+ posts does not count the 2 times the board was upgraded and posts were not carried over. See Old Forums and Forum Archives for even more posts.

moxnix - drove 200k+ in contiques.

 

[livelyjay]

"Come to find out the timing belt was missing 6-8 inches worth of teeth"

Damn....you got really lucky that it didn't get out of time enough for the pistons to say hello to the valves.

Yeah, no crap. Would have turned a $400-$500 into a $1400-$1500 job. I did find some used cylinder heads at local salvage yards for $100-$250, which would have saved some money, but my wife's car would still be down for the count until I could install it. Plus there could have been piston damage as well. We got lucky. Lesson learned: Follow the god damn maintenance schedule for the timing belt.

 

[fourthmeal]

I dug this up on our program, I hope it helps:

Customer Concern:
Check Engine Light (CEL) is on. Trouble code P1383 is stored in memory.

1. Check the timing belt alignment, or missing teeth, that indicate the need for replacement and service as necessary.

2. If the timing is OK, check the alignment of the missing rib on the flex plate for indication of a cracked/shifted flex plate.
With the balancer at Top Dead Center (TDC), the missing rib on the flex plate/flywheel should be at the 6:00 position, which can be viewed by removal of the inspection cover.

3. Check the function of the exhaust camshaft gear with the timing belt removed. When holding the camshaft with an open end wrench, turn the exhaust camshaft gear toward the radiator in a clockwise rotational movement and verify that it rotates back toward the firewall in a rotational motion when released without assistance. Replace the exhaust camshaft gear if it will not rotate on its own.


A common problem! Especially if the engine has overheated before.

 

[livelyjay]

Actually that 2000+ posts does not count the 2 times the board was upgraded and posts were not carried over. See Old Forums and Forum Archives for even more posts.

moxnix - drove 200k+ in contiques.

I edited my post above, can you hit me up with a response about the fuel pump? I want my wife's Contour to hit 200k.

 

[moxnix]

I edited my post above, can you hit me up with a response about the fuel pump? I want my wife's Contour to hit 200k.

I am not well versed in the I4 problems both my contours and my parents Mystique were the V6 models. I know for the V6 returnless fuel system (Mid model year 1999 change) models they had a problem with the pump and it was redesigned (the same pump on the cougar was recalled) and I have not heard of real problems with the newer pumps. I was going to replace mine with the FSVT pump but the car got totaled before I got around to it.

Replacement instructions for the V6 model are here. http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.php?s=howto&displayid=39

I do not know if the I4 is different or not.

 

[livelyjay]

I am not well versed in the I4 problems both my contours and my parents Mystique were the V6 models. I know for the V6 returnless fuel system (Mid model year 1999 change) models they had a problem with the pump and it was redesigned (the same pump on the cougar was recalled) and I have not heard of real problems with the newer pumps. I was going to replace mine with the FSVT pump but the car got totaled before I got around to it.

Replacement instructions for the V6 model are here. http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.php?s=howto&displayid=39

I do not know if the I4 is different or not.

That explanation is good enough for me. People in the Zetec section have been saying the same things. The installation may be slightly different, but most fuel pump installs are similar overall. It's kind of funny how Ford didn't give enough room to pull the fuel pump assembly into the car. Did they expect everyone to drop the tank to do this job?

 

[moxnix]

That explanation is good enough for me. People in the Zetec section have been saying the same things. The installation may be slightly different, but most fuel pump installs are similar overall. It's kind of funny how Ford didn't give enough room to pull the fuel pump assembly into the car. Did they expect everyone to drop the tank to do this job?

From what I remember reading the fuel pump access area was designed around the return style fuel system in place from 1995-mid 1999 and AFAIK was large enough for access to those. When they changed to the returnless system in mid 1999 the hole stayed the same size but was not large enough for the new fuel pump.

 

[livelyjay]

Good thing I just bought some nice new sharp tin snips to make the hole bigger. Now I just have to fork out $230 for the fuel pump shipped. Maybe I'll make the wife suffer with keeping the tank over 1/4 for a bit longer.

 

[ALIEN3T]

are u sure its the pump thats bad.
in the escort world, on the 91-96 escorts (mazda BG chassis and mazda motor.)
if we were low on gas we woudl get the cut on hard turns at 1/4 or less. some came to realize it as the hose, it was old and craking and let the pump fly around, The y woudl add a new hose over the hold hose. and it helped.

dont be surpised there is a Ford Tarus forums also, and ford escort. (but that a protege cousins so same boat. lol)

 

[livelyjay]

are u sure its the pump thats bad.
in the escort world, on the 91-96 escorts (mazda BG chassis and mazda motor.)
if we were low on gas we woudl get the cut on hard turns at 1/4 or less. some came to realize it as the hose, it was old and craking and let the pump fly around, The y woudl add a new hose over the hold hose. and it helped.

dont be surpised there is a Ford Tarus forums also, and ford escort. (but that a protege cousins so same boat. lol)

Well, pump bad or not, the new pump is a redesign. The old pump sat horizontal, which make it screw up as it gets older when the tank is low or during left hand turns. The new pump is vertical, so it will work normally all the time.