Ford ContourFord Contour combines sporty driving dynamics with the comfort and practicality of a four-door sedan. It doesn't have the rear-seat space of a Taurus, but Ford improved rear legroom and revised the styling. Contour SVT pours on the coal with a higher output version of the Duratec V6, a sports suspension and bigger brakes.
I just finished replacing the timing belt on my 98 contour GL. While doing it I had to romove the starter motor to immobilize the fly wheel. I was not able to disconnect the electrical connector to the starter and I am now wondering if I streched the cable too much and if this could cause the alternator to not charge the battery. The engine runs great with the new belt but I cannot drive without lights. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. thanks fitzy67
Stretched the battery cable? No way! Unless Kryptonite makes you uncomfortable.
The connectors on the end (depending upon how they are made) may be loose, or crappy.
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BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
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fitzy67,
I'll say no.
The heavy cable from the battery would support Oh.. I'd guess 600 lbs. the starter will weigh.. again a guess.. 25 lbs.
The battery cable may go to a starter relay on the fender first, but then the cable comeing form it would be the same guage, and just as strong.
Do any wires come from the alternator to the starter. I doubt it very much. I don't have a Contour, so I'll have to rely on you to take a look and tell me.
So please discribe in detail, what your problem is. How you know that you have that problem, and anything you know about how old your battery is, and any related repairs.
__________________
BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
At the bottom of each post there is a little icon
Clicking it gives feedback to the moderators, and poster regarding which posts are most helpful.
To begin with, I was removing the starter as part of the process for replacing the timing belt. I was not able to remove the electrical connection from the starter though (unable to see specifically how it is removed) so after removing the bolts holding the starter in place I pried the starter out enough to get a screwdriver into the flywheel. This distance and pressure put a fare amount of torque on the electrical connections going to what the smaller, round solenoid directly above the starter.
The reason I think something was wrong is that while taking the test drive last night the headlights kept getting dimmer and dimmer and the battery light was on on the dash.
I checked my Haynes and it said to disconnect the neg cable from the battery and put a test light between the cable and the terminal. If it lights there is a drain on the system. It lit. It then said to disconnect the alternator cable and if the light went out the alternator to blame. The light stayed lit.
I then disconnected all the fuses under the hood and none of them caused the light to go out.
I started to disconnect the nuts going to the smaller round object directly above the starter and as I was doing the top nut and the wrench would make contact with a solid piece of the engine the light would get real bright. Now I think that the issue is in this specific connection. The problem is that I can't get the connection loose and I'm not even sure if its to come loose.
There are two terminals directly next to each other. The lower one has a washer with a cable connected to it that goes into the actual housing of the starter. The other has a black plastic piece that has a rigde that surrounds another nut and a big black cable that runs along side of the starter toward the drivers side of the engine.
I hope this clarifies things. Please let me know if I need to explain anything else. thanks fitzy67.
I started to disconnect the nuts going to the smaller round object directly above the starter and as I was doing the top nut and the wrench would make contact with a solid piece of the engine the light would get real bright.
QUOTE]
What light would get real bright??
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97 F150 4x4
98 Windstar
01 Taurus SE
fitzy,
I am sorry, but I am not going to be any more help to you than your Haynes manual. I don't have even that for a reference.
Your follow up post was much better than the first.
Maybe someone else will be able to help.
__________________
BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
At the bottom of each post there is a little icon
Clicking it gives feedback to the moderators, and poster regarding which posts are most helpful.
First thing I'd do is go to Advance auto. They have a machine that will test both your battery and your charging system. Free of charge. If the alternator is bad, the test will tell you.
An even better test would be for you to remove the alternator and take it in for a bench test. It's even more accurate than the in-the-car test.
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2005 Excursion XLT 4x4 with 5.4 3V & 4R100
1989 F250 XLT Lariat SuperCab 4x2 with 460 & C6
1987 Crown Vic Two Door with 5.0 & AOD
1986 Yamaha V-Twin Virago 1100
For my sanity, please try to use punctuation and capitalization. I try to help the people who post, but it's impossible to do when the post is indecipherable.
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