What's wrong with my '98 Ford Contour?

Question

I bought the car used a few months ago. I drive 20 miles to and from work each day, and overall it's been a great car. It had been running fine, but now there are some slight problems.

1) When I turn on the air in any way shape or form, a strange odor comes from the vents.

2) The thermostat keeps on indicating that my car is overheating, so when I turn on the heat full blast (and bear with the smell) to take some of the heat off the engine, it says it lowers the temp, but it then fluxs. It's never constant. The thermostat had been constant low until last week.

3) Sometimes when I apply the brakes, I hear a small squeal - this does not happen all the time.

I have a small budget at the moment, and don't have the money to buy a brand new car, nor to buy all new parts to repair whatever may be wrong with my car.

If you know what could possibly be wrong with my car and how I can get it fixed, your help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Strange odor could be leaky Heater core, which would also cause the overheating,
The squeal is the mouse that made the odor.....No not really. It sounds like Pads and rotor time, Parts run about 35 per rotor and 15-20 for a set of pads. It is pretty easy to do if you have the tools. If not it needs to be done save your pennies.

Regardless I would cure the Oheating problem thus. Go have the system pressure tested. this will show if you do have a leak. The heater core is costly to replace. But then the smell will be gone..
Get the thermostat replace while your at it. and check the water pump. See ther now you have something to do this weekend....

The squeal are tabs on the pads telling you it is CLOSE to being time to replace. Since I always suggest replacing the rotors, this can wait. Get the smell overheating issue fixed first. if the heater core opns up you have a mess on your hands and from what you're saying this sounds to be the culprit.

Answer 2

The smell from the vents might be mildew that has made a home in the a/C system. But it could be any smell. #2) Overheating, is either 2 cases, no coolant in the radiator, or the thermostat isn't working properly anymore. Get that repalced ASAP, if that is the case. The light squeal noise is your brake pads. They have a device on the pads called a squeal tab, and basically lets you know Hey, your brakes need attention.

If you plan on doing these things yourself, it'll be cheaper that way. But if you have to rely on a mechanic, then I'd shop around to get a decent quote. Hope these were a little helpful for you.

Answer 3

as others stated, you've something shorting out on that circuit and should be repaired to revive the blow. once you've a aftermarket (non Ford) radio, i stumble on oftentimes undesirable connection to the motorized vehicle connection to be the case.. do not recognize what number radios are abode put in which at the prompt are not good secured with butt connectors or warmth shrink..the first element..tape strikes and poof goea a fuse or poof is going a radio enable me guess, fuse 34 it truly is a 7.5 amp fuse (I cheated and appeared at a vendors guide on-line) .... interior lamps became between the failings shown and a number of those did have topics with such issues because the interior lights... oftentimes from a defective door user-friendly overhead close to the rearview reflect..yet shorts might want to be anywheres so if the radio trick did not artwork, attempt a shop (ideally a broking service as many independants received't artwork on a contour for some reason)

Answer 4

As far as the smell is concerned, it sounds like you may have a leak in your cooling system that is coming from the heater coil.

This could also explain the thermostat problem.

Have your cooling system pressure tested.

Answer 5

besides it being a Ford

Found
On
Road
Dead