1996 2 liter 4cyl contour running hot

hello all, I bought a 1996 ford contur 2. liter 4cyl a month ago. it has over 100k miles on it but it runns like Rocky up the art museum steps. the problem I have is that the temp gauge goes all the way up after only 20 min of driving. I had the thermostat /water pump/tempature sensor/fan fuse and other heating and cooling work done. the temp guiage still goes all the way up.. is there another hidden problem even though the car passed inspection for emmissions ?TIA

i knwo i sounds tupid, but it does how collant in in right? (ive seen it happen b4 thats why i ask)

I know this may sound funny but ignore it. I had the same problem with my contour. I changed sensors, thermostat, spent hours looking up wiring diagrams and it still seemed to run hot. After all the fuss, I found out that there was a ford bulletin out about this, and it turns out that it is normal. The temp gauges on the 96 contours are all off. The normal running temp was somewhere around 210 F. The gauges were rated lower or something and they just look like they run hot.
Also just to be sure that you don't have any other problems with your cooling, run your engine temp up to about the middle of the "M" and the "L" and your fan should kick in about then. hope that helps.

thanks for the reply, yes there is coolant in the resivoir. the temperature guage goes beyond the l in normal. it sometimes reaches the red.
it's back at the shop that changed the sensors and did the cooling work. I wouldn't be concerned if the guage just went half way, but it goes all the way up after about 25 min of driving.

My "96 does the same thing, and like Nas Choka, I ignore it. It's not really overheating. :screwy:

flush the radiator 3 or 4 times. i had the same problem with my 2000 running hot. done everything i could then my uncle told me to flush it.now it runs fine

My fan came on when I turned the A/C on. But with the A/C off the temp went between the a and l and further without the fan kicking on. HELP

The cooling fan doesn't kick on until the engine is too hot. I think it would be better for the engine if it came on at a lower temp, but that's how it's programmed. It won't come on until the coolant temp. is between 210-230 degrees F, unless the A/C is running, in which case the fan stays on.

I too, am the frequently unfortunate owner of a 96 Contour.

I have replaced the Radiator fan twice in this car. Currently the check radiator fan (or whatever that light is called) has been on for a couple of years. The fan runs but makes a fairly loud whining noise when it's hot outside. I do watch the guage and sometimes it does get up to the a or the l in "normal" but hasn't gone beyond that for a while.

I do know there have been SEVERAL recalls on 96 Contours, mostly electrical. One of which was on a switch or a fuse relating to the engine coolant fan. I have yet to have the time to go to the dealer to get the recall done. (one car family - single mom issue!)

Anyway - I would check there.

There are several other electrical problems and recalls on this car. Another of the recalls was on the Pigtails to the Head Lamp switch. Unfortunately, my shade tree mechanic replaced only the switch the first time it went out (the switch alone was like $60) 2 years later the switch went out again. When I went to pick up the second switch and was handed both the switch and the pig tails - I saw a recall notice folded up in the bag with the pigtails. After having both replaced the 2nd time it seems to be fine . . . so far.

2 years ago I also had a problem with the car dying when I would stop and/or idle in it. That problem cost me a new "brain box" whatever that is.

I have replaced the Heater Blower switch 2 times, as well.

My daughter accidentally left the center "dome" light on (between the map lights) one night and it burnt the wiring. Now, if we accidentally turn that switch on - it blows the fuse to the radio!

Mine is a V6 2.5 litre engine. I reached 100K miles recently. Planning on trading it next spring and never looking at another Ford again. Unfortunately the Engine itself seems to be great - no major problems there - it is only the peripherals that seem to have all of the problems!

Anyway - my advise to anyone with the time is to go to a Ford Dealership (or call the service department with your VIN number) and see what recalls have not been repaired.

Good luck to you all!

Well, guys, my contour has been sitting all this time, it's not safe to drive because when it gets hot it shuts off. the car makes a surging sound when stopped in drive, as if it's still trying to move and shuts off whenever I need to drive in reverse. I have replaced everything I could think of, even the mass airflow sensor (peice of cake btw) the shop can't fully determine what's wrong because the onboard computer is shot ( I think that they damaged it, because this is the first time they mentioned not being able to get a reading from it ). I've read a post concerning the IAC valve... could this little peice be the baine of my existence? how much is it to replace the computer, could I do it myself?
Could the computer not funtioning cause all of these problems to continue even with all of the normal replacements that I made (water pump, timing belt, coolant flush, thermostat replaced, etc..) ???
:banghead:

Sorry you are having so many problems! I think the onboard computer is probably the "Brain Box" that was replaced on my car a couple of years ago. Seems to me that repair bill was somewhere around $250-$350 having a garage do the work but I really cant remember for sure.

It almost sounds like your transmission is slipping in the forward motion thing - I have a little of that going on now, myself. I am not sure what to think about the car shutting down in reverse!

I am up to 106,000 miles now. Had one of the Oxygen sensors replaced last summer - made a huge difference in power. Unfortunately, again the power seems to be dwindling.

Best bet for both of us - Trade for a Honda!

Good luck to you - hope you figure it out (at least good enough to get it traded!)