Hello, I purchased a '99 SE Contour 2.0 4cyl. DOHC about 2 months ago. It has 95,000 miles and has just started to idle roughly in neutral and loping or surging when in gear stopped. It runs fine when accelerating and at speed. It is also making a hissing noise, like a vacuum hose is bad, but I haven't been able to locate a bad one. It seems like it's coming fom the intake manifold. This is what I have done to try and correct the problem(s): replaced spark plugs replaced plug wires replace air filter cleaned pcv filter oil change checked for vacuum leaks I have ordered an exhaust mainfold gasket so I can replace the pcv valve. They said that would be in tommorrow. Any help would be appreciated! Greg

I, too have a 1999 SE Contour and experienced the hissing problem...along with it came the check engine light....I took it to Auto Zone and they (free of charge) checked my computer for error codes and discovered a vacuum leak (duh?) It wasn't until one day that I was under the car and discovered above the oil filter there is a rubber hose (dealer only part) that goes from the rear of the engine to a connection on the driver's side of the engine...I took it off and replaced it with an OEM hose for only $20. Now my check engine light is still on, I guess it's the O2 sensor....I'll check it out later.....Karl