# 98 contour bought in desperation **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** contour, ford\ **Created:** [October 17, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023 "2012-10-17T06:41:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayholm82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@kayholm82](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kayholm82)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023/1 "2012-10-17T06:41:45Z")
I bought a 98 contour off of a friend for 200 dollars. It ran okay for a few months then started idling rough. I replaced a vacuum line with a hole in it, and the idle is fine, but it stalls at stop lights and STILL reads out as “system too lean” on the computer. I am lost. For the record I have also replaced the Fuel Pressure regulator. It also has a nasty habit of pulling to the right when I stop, and a mild wobble in the front end…I have had the ball joints, rotors, brakes, tie rod ends, and control arm bushings replaced. I am so lost on this car, but must keep it running. Oh, also it is the cheapest E series, with a 2.0 engine. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023/2 "2012-10-17T06:59:50Z")
I’d go through all the vacuum lines and fittings, and try to get a diagram to see if they’re all hooked up correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023/3 "2012-10-17T07:02:06Z")
You have a couple of different problems. I think a ford dealer would be the best bet, had the same code and it ended up being plenum o rings, different model ford, but after fruitless attempts at diagnosis the dealer figured out the problem and fixed it, $599 or so. You need to find an alignment specialist for problem 2 ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 8:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023/4 "2012-10-17T08:00:58Z")
A vacuum leak can exist almost anywhere. The best way of knowing for sure is to connect a vacuum gauge to an intake manifold nipple and see what the gauge says. If there’s a leak then start pinching off hoses one at a time until the leak disappears. That will at least point you in the right direction if there is a leak. Agreed that the car needs an alignment check when substantial front end repairs are done. The pulling could also be caused by a grabbing brake. ---
**Author:** ![eraser1998](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@eraser1998](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eraser1998)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-contour-bought-in-desperation/75023/5 "2012-10-17T17:19:50Z")
In addition to @ok4450’s comments on the front end issues, I’d also at least have the struts inspected. If worn, you may be getting vibrations from there. You could also have a strut mount that is worn and binding, leading to memory steer issues, which I’ve seen come back as a “pulling” sensation. Not necessarily a severe pull, or even one I noticed driving along the heavily crowned roads, but one I noticed more during braking.