Ford Contour

I just replaced my trunk struts on my 97 contour. It looked like an impossible job until I saw in my tool box two tools I had bought at a flea market.

Each one had a 5 inch long hex handle and one had a straight end like a skinny ice pick.

The second tool was like the first except the point was like the beginning of a corkscrew.

The corkscrew tool works by inserting the point in under the spring clip and twisting, I had to add my skinny vice grips to get enough twist but it makes it easy to snap the strut out of the ball.

The straight tool works perfect to hold the spring clip up thereby unblocking the socket so it can be snapped on the ball. Pull the tool out and with your finger make sure the spring snapped back in place to hold the unit to the car.

PS

When I snapped off one end of the first strut, the trunk snapped closed and it was dark and cramped but I thought I was the Houdini but after 10 minutes of battle I decided to just relax and wait. In one hour and 20 minutes my wife rescued me. Sometimes all you can do is to remain calm.

The 2.5 litre V6 engine in a 1995 Ford Contour doesn't have a timing belt ,

it uses ( 2 ) timing CHAINS

No A Good Brand 10w30 Motor Oil Will Be Just Fine. Sounds As If You May Have Worn Or Broken Oil Rings. These Are On The Engine Pistons, Also When You Start The Car You May Have More Oil Smoke. If This Is What That Is Happening, Best Way Is Have A Compression Test Ran On The Engine. Take It To A Very Good Shop, Someone That Can Be Trusted To Have A Mechanic Check It Out. God Bless

The front bumper has an 'air seal' piece that spans the width of the car under the bumper. On each side there is a square access hole just behind the fog light locations. Through this access hole & adjacent the inside of the fender you will find the horn on the driver side. Ford eliminated the passenger side horn after the 1995 model year, but many people re-content it by running an extra wire from the existing horn and installing aftermarket horns.

According to the 2000 Ford Contour Owner Guide ( 5W-30 )

With engine oil filter change :

The 2.0 litre four cylinder engine takes ( 4.5 U.S. quarts of 5W-30 )

The 2.5 V6 ( 5.8 quarts )

Fuel gauges are approximate at best, but there is probably a gallon or two. This is a 15-year-old car, so it would be best to add fuel when you first notice the light activated. Everything wears out, including fuel level sensors.

The 1999 Ford Contour OBD 2 port is under driver side dash next to kick panel

You have to take the timing belt off it is located behind it

Get a manual on your car from DISCOUNTAUTOREPAIRMANUALS.COM and it will help on the next repair.

Where can you find a diagram for wiring a stereo in a 2004 GMC Sierra online?Where can you find a diagram for wiring a stereo in a 2004 GMC Sierra online?

The fuel pump module for a 2000 Ford Contour is located inside the fuel tank. To access it, you typically need to remove the rear seat cushion and the access panel, or alternatively, you may need to drop the fuel tank. It's essential to relieve the fuel system pressure before beginning the replacement process to ensure safety.

Your 2000 Ford Contour cannot reverse because of a transmission failure problem.

A 2000 Ford Contour ( in North America )

Has either a 2.0 litre four cylinder or a 2.5 litre V6 engine

According to the 2000 Ford Contour Owner Guide :

For the manual transaxle ( transmission )

( 2.0 U.S. quarts of Motorcraft MERCON automatic transmission fluid )

It depends on which engine you have. For the 2.5 V6, the low side port that is used for charging with refrigerant and oil is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment, next to the battery. If you have the 2.0 four-cylinder, it'll be on the passenger's side. It should have a blue plastic cap on it.

Why are you wanting to charge the system? If you have a leak, it should be fixed. The proper way to recharge the system is with gauges to read both the high and low sides, so you can see what the system is doing as you add refrigerant. If you're not completely familiar with the process, take the car to a good shop for a proper checkout and service.

The '95 Contour has OBD1. You would need a reader for that older system to read the codes properly, and readers for OBD1 tend to be somewhat expensive. The best thing to do is take it to a shop that has the equipment.

The 2.5L Duratec V6 in the 1995 to 1997 Ford Contour was known to have a water pump that typically failed at approximately 60,000 miles. The plastic impeller would fail after time under the normal engine temperatures and pressures. Fortunately, though, the engine designers put the water pump at the front of the engine bay, making it easy to replace.

If you are having overheating problems, it's a pretty good chance the pump impeller has failed to some degree.

The fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank. You can get to it from inside the car. You will need a 3/8" socket set (to remove the rear seat cushion), a brass drift punch, a hammer, and miscellaneous other common hand tools. Also, you might want to buy a special Fuel Pressure Test Gauge that will have a built-in pressure relief button.

1. Look in the seam between the seat cushions to find the bolts holding the seat to the car. Unbolt the bottom seat cushion , then pull the cushion out of the way to reveal the fuel pump.

2. Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery terminal. NOTE: THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO PREVENT SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

3. Locate the fuel injection rail on the top of the engine. Remove the cap from the Schrader valve on the injection rail, wrap a rag or paper towels around the valve, and use a small screwdriver (or similar) to push the center pin to release pressure in the system. Reinstall the cap on the Schrader valve. Dispose of the fuel-wet rag or towels outside and allow them to dry in an open area. (NOTE: A better way to do this is to use the Fuel Pressure Gauge tool mentioned above.)

4. Back inside the car, take off the plastic cap around the fuel pump using your hands. Unplug the electrical connections to the fuel pump. Push in the tabs on the fuel lines and pull them off of the fuel pump.

5. Using a BRASS drift (NOT a steel drift or punch - no sparks!) on the ring that locks the fuel pump to the gas tank, tap the end of the drift with a hammer until the ring pops off of the fuel pump. Lift the fuel pump up and out of the gas tank and allow it to drip dry before you pull it out of the car.

6. I strongly recommend you replace the fuel pump strainer screen at the same time you replace the pump. Also, check the inside of the fuel tank for accumulated debris that you might want to clean out before you put your new pump in place. Put the new pump back into the tank the same way the old one came out. Make sure the fuel level float moves freely. Using the brass drift again, put the lock ring back in place making sure it is fully locked. Use a new gasket on the lock ring if necessary (I recommend it.)

7. Reconnect the fuel lines and electrical connections to the pump, and COMPLETELY wipe up any spilled fuel.

8. Reconnect the negative terminal of the battery.

9. WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, turn the ignition key on for 10 seconds, then turn it off. Check the pump connections for any leaks. Repeat this procedure one more time.

10. If no leaks are found, the engine should now start and run. If it does, reinstall the rear seat cushion, and you're done!

It should go without saying that you should not smoke or use any sort of open flame near the car while doing this job. Do it in a well-ventilated area. If you're in a garage, keep the door open. I recommend you have a fan blowing so you'll have air movement clearing gasoline vapors away. Also, it would be a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy, and a buddy standing by - just in case!

You should be able to get at it with one of the special tools available at most auto parts stores - they are inexpensive, and look like a long, flat piece of metal with a 1/2" square drive on one end to engage the idler arm.

The 4 cly is on the bottom of the transmission .

it is too old and or it is damaged and the plastic "reverse" lock is broken and jammed best bet just take it off, it only takes 5 mins and it wont affect the shifting at all especially with experienced drivers.. or you can get a B&M short throw shifter they work great and also take very little time at all to install..

fuse box under hood, #R8

On the side, about half way up. I believe a 3/8 rachet fits in it to unscrew.