1996 Ford Contour car surging

DOTIDOITYUMA

MEMBER
1996 FORD CONTOUR
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
92,000 MILES

I had a new timming belt put on about 1 mo ago. Three of the stablizers were broken all reapired, car still is not working properly put new plugs and wires on still not working, when I put foot on gas out on the road it surges forward like it gets gas then it doesn't. If I am going 30 in 3rd gear and take foot of gas is starts jerking like it isn't getting gas or like it is in the wrong gear, same happens at at 40 mile in 4th gear and 50 mi in 5th gear. If the engine is cold like maybe 45 degree outside and don't warm the engine get to stop sign put on brake and clutch it chugs like it is going to die. The mechanic looked at the gas filter said it looked good. I am taking it back tomorrow and asking for a new gas filter, I have also put in HEET to see if there was water in the tank [car sit in the summer in Yuma az under a screened carport.}
I also have since put in a bottle of injector cleaner fluid. Today I bought some carb and injector cleaner fluid STP haven't put it in yet. Will wait for a answer from you. Thank you so much, if you can give advice and my car gets fixed I shall donate to your cause. Thanks so much again. I am the only owner of this car. Doti a 65 year old senior just trying to get by.

1 Reply

FLEXY5

MECHANIC
512 POSTS

The contours had two types of engines in it. Both were 4 cylinders, but they were thwo completely different engines. One engine was rather simple to time. The other is what is known as a VCT (Variable Cam Timing) engine--it can be identified by an electrical connector on top of the valve cover on the belt side of the engine. Often the variable cam does not get properly aligned during timing belt replacement. It requires several specialty tools to perform the task. Even with these special tools, I have had to re-adjust the timing 2 or 3 times. When they are out of time, they perform exactly as you have described. I am quite confident that the fuel filter will not solve your problem.