# 1998 Ford Contour

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** batteries, alternators\
**Created:** [February 16, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741 "2008-02-16T21:01:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![plcorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a3d4f5/32.png) [@plcorne](https://community.cartalk.com/u/plcorne)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/1 "2008-02-16T21:01:36Z")

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The charging system light intermittantly comes on. Battery is good, alternator is good, any ideas?

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/2 "2008-02-17T03:15:56Z")

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How good is good? A few simple tests at a shop could find some cheap parts malfunctioning, or even some expensive ones. Then you will have a new or working old alternator.

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**Author:** ![Coffee\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Coffee\_Man](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Coffee_Man)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/3 "2008-02-17T03:30:28Z")

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lose belt?

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/4 "2008-02-17T18:30:13Z")

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HOw about a bad connection? It is most likely something between the voltage sensor and the battery.

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**Author:** ![winarth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@winarth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/winarth)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/5 "2008-02-17T21:45:29Z")

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Alternator brushes may be worn. Take a look at the alternator when the car is running and it is dark. If you see any sparks it may be at the end of its life. Most likely this is not the problem, but easy to check.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-contour/10741/6 "2008-02-17T21:51:02Z")

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How do you know they are good?? I would suggest you should start by checking BOTH ends of all battery cables.