98 Contour 2.5L engine stumbling and stall

[ericsContour]

Hi Im new to the forum and hope someone can help. Lately, after I've been driving for about 10 min or so and my Contour's RPM start to drop hard then catches and return to normal; this has started to happen even when idling at a stop lights. At first it was just a studder so I took a look at the spark plugs and replaced the fuel filter in hopes that it would fix the problem, no luck though. Actually the RPM drops have become worse and stalling is starting to happen. I can keep it alive if I keep the RPMs up but the studding is still there. Any ideas?? Thanks

[fitzy67]

Do you have the AC or defrost on when this happens? or is anything else on that could cause a load on the engine? fitzy67

[robertp7198v16]

did you find out what can cause this failure I have the same thing on my contour 98 V6

[robertp7198v16]

do you know what cause it?

[jniceroad]

contour 99 makes loud rattling noise on passenger side. Accessories belt, tensor, and alternator changed last week. Today, noise got worse and car would die or would not speed pass 30 mph. Big clouds of burning oil coming out of exhaust. Suggestions? Help

[Fishin76]

jniceroad, I think you have a blown head gasket. Check to see if the smoke coming out of the exhaust is white like steam, or bluish. If Bluish, it is oil, if white ( like steam ), it is coolant. Also, check your coolant level inside the coolant recovery tank located on the passenger side of the engine compartment. if it is empty or almost empty, you most certainly blown a head gasket. A blown head gasket will cause the symtoms you have described.

Becareful, if you see the white smoke, then it disappears, you'd better watch your engine temperature. Overheating, on top of a blown head gasket, will result in the car needing a whole new engine, not just a new head gasket.

If it is bluish ( Oil burning), your catalytic converter under the car may be toast. This will plug the converter, not allowing the car to expell exhaust gasses rapidly enough to support engine speeds needed to dive above 30 MPH you stated. Had a car do this. couldn't get the car over 45 mph and getting worse as i drove further with my foot to the floor boards. At this point, getting another converter would be like putting a bandaid on bullet wound. You'd have to figure out why it is burning the oil and fix that too.

Good luck!