1999 Ford Contour engine hesitates when cold

1999 FORD CONTOUR
195,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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ANDY DANIEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
from cold startup, engine will idle. Acts starved for gas when accellerator is pressed. After idleing for a minute or two, the problem disappears. Have replaced the inline fuel filter (it was pretty dirty, hard to blow through) Wondering if it might be a sensor...
May 31, 2008 at 2:10 PM
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MERLIN2021
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 17,250 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Check the ECT(engine coolant temp sensor)
May 31, 2008 at 3:08 PM
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BLACKOP555
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 10,386 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
have a fuel system pressure leak down test to see if it has low fuel pressure at start up or is possibly filling up the cylinders with gas causing rough running, also have you noticed excessive white exhaust on startup.

the white exhaust could be a bad intake manifold gasket causing coolant to leak into the cylinders.
May 31, 2008 at 3:09 PM
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