RIWWP
08-23-2009, 03:54 PM
So I know this isn't an 8, but trying to help a friend I just had to rescue.
She has a 2000 Ford Contour, and she lost power brakes, power steering, and the ability to maintain idle. She pulled it over, called me (my wife was with her), and I limped it back to my house. I have diagnosed as much as I can, and am at a loss for what the issue is. Here is what I have found:
- Engine starts perfectly fine
- Engine idle is initially impossible to maintain without additional throttle. It dies within 1 second of starting, as if the idle control was gone. (There isn't a tach so I can't give RPM detail)
- Brake and ABS lights are lit up, every other light is normal (no cell, have blinkers, etc...)
- Does have power steering
- Does not have any power brakes
- Full stop braking was possible by standing on the pedal, although lock-up was certainly out of reach
- Brake fluid is the correct level
- The belt is intact and seated on all pulleys
- All pulleys are spinning as expected
- After parking at my house, the engine kept running, although the idle was insanely rough
- Once, after a test start->die, there was an audible 'bang' from the vicinity of the exhaust manifold. IT WAS NOT A BACKFIRE. It was very metallic sounding. Has not repeated, might not be related, except the owner said that she heard that when everything first started acting up.
- Engine is firing normally and sounds/reacts as expected. No apparent power loss.
- Transmission (automatic) reacted as expected, shifting normally
- No fluid is leaking from any point
So at the moment, I am thinking it is whatever drives the hydraulics for the brakes, but I don't see how that would affect the idle, unless the belt was seized or something, but it isn't.
There are 3 recalls listed for year/make/model relating to brake booster/brake hydraulics, although plugging in the VIN number into Ford's website notes no outstanding recalls.
Any ideas?
She has a 2000 Ford Contour, and she lost power brakes, power steering, and the ability to maintain idle. She pulled it over, called me (my wife was with her), and I limped it back to my house. I have diagnosed as much as I can, and am at a loss for what the issue is. Here is what I have found:
- Engine starts perfectly fine
- Engine idle is initially impossible to maintain without additional throttle. It dies within 1 second of starting, as if the idle control was gone. (There isn't a tach so I can't give RPM detail)
- Brake and ABS lights are lit up, every other light is normal (no cell, have blinkers, etc...)
- Does have power steering
- Does not have any power brakes
- Full stop braking was possible by standing on the pedal, although lock-up was certainly out of reach
- Brake fluid is the correct level
- The belt is intact and seated on all pulleys
- All pulleys are spinning as expected
- After parking at my house, the engine kept running, although the idle was insanely rough
- Once, after a test start->die, there was an audible 'bang' from the vicinity of the exhaust manifold. IT WAS NOT A BACKFIRE. It was very metallic sounding. Has not repeated, might not be related, except the owner said that she heard that when everything first started acting up.
- Engine is firing normally and sounds/reacts as expected. No apparent power loss.
- Transmission (automatic) reacted as expected, shifting normally
- No fluid is leaking from any point
So at the moment, I am thinking it is whatever drives the hydraulics for the brakes, but I don't see how that would affect the idle, unless the belt was seized or something, but it isn't.
There are 3 recalls listed for year/make/model relating to brake booster/brake hydraulics, although plugging in the VIN number into Ford's website notes no outstanding recalls.
Any ideas?