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Contour

The jerking is more likely to be engine related. The fact that the check engine light is on means that trouble codes, likely related to the issue, have been stored and are available for downloading. Those codes will provide important...

Codes do not conclusively identify faulty parts. Any part referred to in a code that is suspected of being faulty must be separately tested, that is diagnosed, in order to determine if in fact there is anything wrong with the...

Hi there - while a cracked exhaust tube of any sort is a problem that needs to be addressed, I don't think it's related to your P0402 code. P0402 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/how-to-fix-or-figure-out-exhaust-system-leak-code-p0402-by-mushtaq-m) indicates excess exhaust flow into the intake - probably caused...

Hi there. When the oxygen sensors have a reading that is similar to each other, it is an indication that the catalytic converter is not working as efficiently as it is intended. If the voltage of the downstream oxygen sensor...

Hello. When the vehicle has been in an accident, there can always be a lot more damage than what appears on the surface. The amount of force the vehicle took when it hit the light most likely started the issues...

Hi there. From the description you have provided, it leads me to believe there is a charging system problem. Apparently, the battery is being run down while driving (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-is-dead-inspection). A good battery will recover on its own when it sits...

The catalytic converter has very very little to do with the transmission. The catalytic converter will keep the engine from being able to "exhale" and can cause engine problems and damage if faulty, but it wont cause direct transmission issues....

The vehicle may have more than one problem and would need to be thoroughly checked in order to properly diagnose the problem. I would recommend having a certified mechanic test the system's computer and perform a road test to see...

Since you are only getting a misfire on cylinder number 3 specifically, this informs me that the cylinder ignition is not the problem. Since the engine has a coil pack that powers two cylinders at the same time and if...

Check to see if you are getting power when you test the green with orange stripe wire going to the fuel pump module. If you have no power then check the the fuel inertia switch, in the left kick panel,...

If the check engine light is not flashing it is OK to drive the car with the particular code you have noted during the limited interval you are describing. A flashing check engine light would signify constant misfiring and you...

Hello, thank you for writing in. While the head gasket is a common place for older vehicles to leak coolant, there are some places you will want to check first. For example, the water pump which is the heart of...

You can use an infrared thermometer to measure rotor temperature from side to side and that might give an indication that a caliper is perhaps not retracting. Calipers should be discarded based on mileage and/or years in service. A prudent...

having low compression in one or more cylinders with oil fouling of plugs will indicate a bad piston or piston rings. If the engine is more expensive to replace then the prive to repair and is over the value of...

Hello there, many faults will cause your 1988 Ford Contour to have a misfire even after the spark plugs were replaced. When oil is seen on the spark plug this indicates that the valve cover is leaking onto the plugs....

Hey there. This may be due to a few different things such as a transmission speed sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-speed-sensor-replacement), a failing transmission control module, or potentially low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service). As you may know, the transmission uses hydraulic pressure created by...

Hey there, thank you for asking about your 1996 Ford Contour. If your wheel bearings are noisy then you should have them checked to see which one is bad and replace the bearings. The front axle bearings are part of...

If your oil pan is covered in oil, that means you have an active oil leak that may be coming from higher up on the engine. The valve cover gaskets (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-valve-cover-gasket) may be leaking and running down to the oil...

The fuel sending unit is not accurate and is empty at 1/4 of a tank, or you have a fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-pump) that has a faulty bottom screen which has come off and sucks air below a 1/4 tank. A...

This is caused by the timing chain tensioners (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/drive-belt-tensioner-replacement) in the engine are bad and they would need to be replaced with new chains and tensioners. On some of these vehicle the camshafts (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/camshaft-seal-replacement) may need to also need to...