Expert: Skip Bollinger - 9/20/2007

Question
My 99 Ford Contour is extremely sluggish in the lower gears - particularly when the air conditioner is running - and it sounds like the engine is working really hard just to get it to 35mph. It also drops about 15mph trying to go uphill. Its got a new fuel filter on it and we tried replacing the catalytic converter, and that's not the problem. Any suggestions?

Answer
Elizabeth,
  May I preface this with two statements. I'm sorry to have taken so long to respond but my kids have been in town the last 2 weeks. I only get to see them 2-3 times a year. Family time, you know...
  Secondly, I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a tech so my answer is pure speculation. Here are my thoughts for you to ponder.
  Take a piece of scratch paper about 3" x 5". Have someone start the car and rev the engine to about 2,500 rpm. Hold the paper close to the exhaust tailpipe so the exhaust "blows" the paper like a sail on a sailboat. Note how much the paper deflects. NOW, go to another car and do the same test on a good running car. See if the paper moves a lot further. My thought is the exhaust is plugged but it is caught in the muffler.
  The only other I can think of is the timing belt has possibly jumped one tooth. You don't say what size engine you have so this is just pure speculation. With this type of problem, the car would have run great one day and have the problem the next.
  Another thought is the "sock" in the gas tank may be plugged. Normally, however, with this problem, the car will start and run great for about the first 10-15 minutes and then the problem will begin to creep back.
   I hope this helps and thank you for the question..
Skip