1997 Ford Contour Owner's Manual - Page 119

Starting s At temperatures between -10˚F (-23˚C) and 10˚F (-12˚C): Turn the key to ON, and crank the engine for five (5) seconds. If the engine fails to start, continue to crank and depress the accelerator about 1/4 of the way down and hold that position until the engine starts. DO NOT crank for more than 30 seconds, or you could damage the starter. If the engine fails to start on the first try, turn the key to OFF and wait two (2) minutes before trying again. s At temperatures between 10˚F (-12˚C) and 32˚F (0˚C): If the engine does not start in fifteen (15) seconds on first try, turn the key to OFF, then try again. s At temperatures above 32˚F (0˚C): If the engine does not start in five (5) seconds on the first try, turn the key to OFF, then try again. If you have the 4-cylinder 2.0L engine and are not using an engine block heater, warm up the engine for a minute or two before putting the transaxle in gear. Depressing the accelerator slightly will also help with cold starts. 2.5L engine: s At temperatures 10˚F (-12˚C) and below: If the engine does not start in fifteen (15) seconds on the first try, turn the key to OFF, wait approximately ten (10) seconds so you do not flood the engine, then try again. s At temperatures above 10˚F (-12˚C): If the engine does not start in five (5) seconds on the first try, wait approximately ten (10) seconds so you do not flood the engine, then try again. 119