95 Contour SE Engine Light

[chancereid]

I have been driving this Contour for about 3 years now, and have always dealt with the _Engine Light_ coming on from time to time. Most generally I haven't payed much mind to it since it had only came on when ascending or descending (up or down hills). I had rencently given the car it's winter spark plugs and air/fuel filters, and now the light comes on more often.
I checked the codes today, and they are these:
117 - Engine Coolant Temp sensor circuit below minimum voltage / 254deg indicated
217 - PCM detected coil 3 primary circuit failure (EI)
617 - 1 - 2 Shift error

I know the definitions for the codes from my Chilton Manual, but I am unsure of what the cause would be. The engine runs great; Transmission was replaced at 70,000 miles (has 112,000 now); everything else is completely stock on the car.

If anyone has any advice, I can fix almost anything that is necessary, finances allowing anyway.

Thank You

[Slade901]

Probably crud has build up on the Coolant temperature sensor. When was the last time you have a coolant flush? The coolant temperature sensor might just need to be cleaned and see what happens.

[chancereid]

Originally Posted by Slade901

Probably crud has build up on the Coolant temperature sensor. When was the last time you have a coolant flush? The coolant temperature sensor might just need to be cleaned and see what happens.

I should mention also that the Coil Pack is less than a year old. I was reading the same codes with the stock original coil pack and thought that replacing it would solve that problem.

As far as I can tell by looking at the coolant reservoir, it's the most perfect shade of green. No rust or oily look or texture. I let the car warm up to normal operating temparature before reading the trouble codes. I am thinking that the sensor will just have to be replaced.

[ggcatt]

My '95 has had the same problem for a year, sometimes the low coolant level light comes on as well. Engine runs great, and coolant is clean and green in the tank. I'm not planning on changing the sensor.

[jspence35]

this year contour had a recall for the entie underhood wiring harness-mutiple wiring problems;think the recall was 10 year/100,000 mile coverage

[chancereid]

Originally Posted by jspence35

this year contour had a recall for the entie underhood wiring harness-mutiple wiring problems;think the recall was 10 year/100,000 mile coverage

Is that the '95 model year that you are talking about??? I have to say though that I am over 112000 miles on this thing. It's gonna become a soon-to-be trade-in. Unless I can find someone to buy it from me when it's time to get a new car.

I was also wondering if anyone knew where I could get plugs for the wiring harness??? I would like to replace several sensor plugs and the coil pack plug. I guess I mean, pig tails that I can cut and splice onto the original wiring, I think that there may be a broken wire on a few of the sensors, as with most Ford's, the wire coverings are dry and brittle and bare wire showing.