# Ford Contour 1998

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-contour-1998/14662>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 31, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-contour-1998/14662 "2008-05-31T04:11:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-contour-1998/14662/1 "2008-05-31T04:11:07Z")

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The car sometimes stalls while driving, and other times it seems like all poweris drained from battery. then if there is enough power i wiggle the shifter and it will start. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

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**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-contour-1998/14662/2 "2008-05-31T04:48:27Z")

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You mean like the lights, gauges, all that stuff fades away? That sounds like a weak alternator to me.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-contour-1998/14662/3 "2008-05-31T05:40:41Z")

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The gear shifter moves the neutral safety switch (aka: gear selector position switch). The shifter and/or switch need adjustment, or replacement. Use the repair manual for the adjusting or replacing instructions. The repair manual is the best tool you can have in your tool box.