How to Install a Ford Contour Starter

The starter in a Ford Contour needs the battery to send it enough electrical amps to start the engine. Oftentimes, when a Contour does not start, the battery is suspect. When the starter begins to fail, it may start intermittently or not at all, rendering the car compromised or useless until it is replaced. You can save some money on labor charges by installing the starter in your Ford Contour yourself.

Things You'll Need

  • Wheel chock
  • Hand wrench
  • Metric flex-head ratcheting wrench
  • Floor jack
  • 2 jack stands
  • Safety glasses
  • Starter replacement
  • 3/8-inch drive ratchet
  • 3/8-inch drive socket set
  • Creeper (optional)

How to Install a Ford Contour Starter

  • Park the Ford Contour on a paved, level surface. Apply the parking brake and release the hood latch.

  • Place a wheel chock behind one of the rear tires, then open the hood.

  • Remove the negative battery terminal from the battery post using a hand wrench. Isolate the terminal end so it cannot come back into contact with the battery post during the procedure.

  • Remove the air intake resonators and the air box assembly to access the upper starter mounting bolts.

  • Remove the three upper starter mounting bolts using a metric flex-head ratcheting wrench.

  • Lift the left front quarter of the Contour with the floor jack, and place a jack stand under the left front frame rail. Repeat this for the right side to elevate the front axle.

  • Put on the safety glasses, grab the new starter and the ratchet and socket set and crawl under the Contour (on a creeper if you have one and there's enough room).

  • Remove the nuts from the starter terminals, and then remove the cables from the starter terminals.

  • Remove the two lower starter mounting bolts using the ratchet and socket set. Remove the starter.

  • Install the new starter, and replace the two lower mounting bolts and tighten them. Replace the cables onto the terminals of the new starter, replace the nuts and tighten them.

  • Remove the tools and old starter, and crawl out from under the Contour. Lower the Contour to the ground.

  • Install the upper starter mounting nuts and tighten them.

  • Replace the air box assembly and air intake resonators.

  • Reconnect the negative battery terminal to the negative battery post and tighten.

  • Remove the wheel chock and test start the Ford Contour.