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DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSFORD1997CONTOUR LX, 2.5 L, STANDARDREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISEXTERNAL PAGESDIFFERENT CARSECTION 5 (MODULE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK)COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICSDIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE SEQUENCE
1997 Ford Contour LX, 2.5 L, Standard
Diagnostic Procedure Sequence
1997 Ford Contour LX, 2.5 L, StandardSECTION Diagnostic Procedure Sequence
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1997 Lincoln Continental. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE:
Following diagnostic procedure sequence should be followed for diagnosing module communications network.
- Verify customer's original problem. Inspect vehicle for any obvious electrical component wiring or connector damage.
- Inspect pins in Data Link Connector (DLC) for damage. See Figure . The DLC is a 16-pin Gray connector located below driver's side of instrument panel, near steering column. If pins are okay, go to next step. If pins are damaged, repair as necessary and proceed to next step.
- Ensure transmission is in Park. Apply parking brake. Ensure all controls and switches are in the OFF position. Connect New Generation Star (NGS) scan tester on DLC.
- Check that all doors, hood and trunk are fully closed. Perform proper hook-up procedure and vehicle selection for scan tester. See EQUIPMENT HOOK-UP
under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS.NOTE: DO NOT sit in driver's seat. DO NOT touch any handle or switch that may produce a module input unless instructed to do so by the scan tester.
- Perform data link diagnostics. See DATA LINK DIAGNOSTICS under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS.
- Retrieve continuous Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) from selected module. See RETRIEVING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS. Record all continuous DTCs.
- Clear continuous DTCs from selected module. See CLEARING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS .
- Perform On-Demand Self-Test on selected module. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS . Record all DTCs obtained when performing On-Demand Self-Test.
- If no DTCs were obtained when retrieving continuous DTCs or performing On-Demand Self-Test, continue diagnosis by symptom, as the problem is not related to module communications network.
- If DTCs were obtained when retrieving continuous DTCs or performing On-Demand Self-Test, proceed to DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) DEFINITIONS for DTC identification and reference for proper DTC testing procedure. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) DEFINITIONS are listed after TESTING in this article.
NOTE:
When performing specified test procedures, technician may be instructed to retrieve Parameter Identification (PID) information on a specified component. For information on retrieving PID, see RETRIEVING PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION (PID) INFORMATION under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS
. Technician may also be instructed to perform an ACTIVE COMMAND on a specified component to verify operation of systems controlled by the module being tested. For ACTIVE COMMAND operation, see DIAGNOSTIC COMMAND
under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS. It may also be necessary to verify correct version of module being tested. For module version identification procedure, see MODULE VERSION IDENTIFICATION under COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.