Yikes! My '98 Contour (4-cyl) left me stranded today. It's had some stumbling when I first start out in it, but today it seemed to be stumbling or hesitating when it was warmed up and driving down the highway or on a city street. The car will crank but not start, ample fuel is delivered and the plugs are getting spark. I don't have a code reader and it doesn't have display like my GM cars to tell me what's wrong. When it lost power it just sort of sagged/stumbled when I was going along at about 35 MPH, then shut down. The temperature gauge was in the normal range too. A buddy told me to get new plugs (this is a good idea in any case - the engine seems to be missing at times and the plugs are quite old and worn out), and maybe replace the camshaft and crankshaft sensors because these are often usual suspects. Are we on the right track?

 

Well it turned out the timing belt had broken. It's been replaced along with the water pump. Major annoyance.