1997 Ford Contour Car runs a second or two and stops

TALBOTBUGMAN

MEMBER
1997 FORD CONTOUR
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
125,500 MILES

My 97 Contour has now on 2 occasions, 3 weeks apart, refused to run more than a second or two before stopping. I tried to start it several times but irt refused to run. Both times were after several short trips while shopping for a particular item in various stores.
The car does not get used much as I am in walking distance to work. The first time it did this, I called for a tow to take it to a garage, when the tow truck got there I decided to try again to start it and it started. I took it to a garage where they were unable to find anything wrong. The second time I waited several minutes and it started

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Next time it refuses to start do below and see what happens then comeback with the missing one Fuel or Spark?

Get a carb cleaner and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors- Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it