4.0

definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
147,000 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
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problem #3

Aug 052008

Contour 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

We bought a 1998 Ford Contour with a 2.0 Liter engine, also has the option to run it on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The charging system light(looks like a battery w/+ & - light on dash ) stays on for about 4 to 5 min after starting car, and will come on intermittently during different trips. As posted by another, no other real problems that are typical of battery or alternator issues, just really an annoyance. The car runs fine otherwise. Any thoughts anyone wants to share is appreciated. Also noted that my brother has worked on Ford's for 25+ years and we are just beginning to diagnose, but some of the Contour's do have a bad record of wiring harness problems that I think was handled in a recall, but still checking that out as well.

- jbinshawnee, Shawnee, KS, US

problem #2

Sep 282007

(reported on)

Contour LX 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 180,000 miles

Battery (alternator) light will come on for about one or two seconds, then go off. This may occur once or twice in the course of a fifty mile trip. Then, it may not happen again for two weeks or more, and then, it might do it daily for a while. Any solutions out there? This has been going on for almost a year now. Car runs fine otherwise.

- bobks, Hoyt, KS, Afghanistan

problem #1

Mar 302007

(reported on)

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

The Charge system idiot light goes on and off in no pattern. It may not come on for several days, it may flicker a few times or it may come on and stay on for the entire drive (30 minutes. sometimes it will blink on for about a minute or 2 then go off and then blink on again several times duringthe course of driving. I've had the car to the mechanics twice and they could not find a problem with the charging system. They thought it could be a sensor going bad. The car runs and starts fine. It doesn't show any of the typical problems a bad charging system would have; hard starting, rough idle, diming lights, stalling, etc. the light is more of annoyance right now and a real problem.

- mrs. professor, San Fernando, CA, US