Contour Rugth Idle and hesitate P0174. low compresion.

Dear forum members and techs first let me congratulate you for this web.

My car is a Ford Contour 2000, v-6 2.5 engine with 98,xxx miles that I just buy. When I turn it on it run OK at Idle in Parking or Neutral but hesitate and have some missfires or detonation from Idle to 1500 rpm over 2000 rpm runs ok, I can't think on turning on the AC couse the engine louse power and dies (I live in the Arizona desert).

Checkers tell me that is the P0174 code, I find that the previous owner try to fix and improvise some fix on the gas pump, (I put a use one) change al the gas in the tank.
I find one tinny green plastic tube that was leaking air connected to an elbow, for testing I covered all around with black tape, (there is another green tinny plastic tube that go to no where on the same location) the black tape do help a little.

I take it to a mecanic he test the old gas pum and get 70psi and test the instaled one under the MAF on a valve and get 40 psi. Then he take the 3 front sparkplugs and test for compression, the two left ones have 180 psi but the one on the right have only 90 psi, and that sparkplug was wet with oil, then he put the two good sparkplug back and put a rubber house on the bad cylinder, turn the engine on and when he cover the other end of the house with a finger the engine stops.

He say's that is the gasked or a valve and may need a rectification $$$$$

After intense reading I see that it may be something else. Previous owner had the car sit for almost a year.

I'm a exchange student and can't aford to pay a engine rebild,please point me on some direction to fix this.

Thanks in advance.

Compression tests can be inconclusive.

Perform a cylinder leak-down test and go with the results.

It appears fuel pressure is within specs. but check for any vacuum leaks.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Sounds like you bought a pile! I'd cancel payment on it and get your money back, it likley sat for a year because it needs an engine!