1996 Ford Contour battery wont stay charged

Start by taking to most autoparts stores and have charging system tested. They will test battery, Alt, and any drains on battery.

This is the reason I bought my Contour. The original owner had brought his car to a Ford dealer who, after testing the electrical system, told him his battery was legally dead. At triple the price of a Walmart battery Ford replaced the old battery and sent the gentleman on his way. However, they did not tighten the negative cable completely down on the new battery. Going to a Ford dealership was the guys first mistake. Trusting them was his second. For the first day or so the car started every time, but on the third day the battery went dead. After charging the battery the owner brought it back to the Ford dealer who tested it and saw that it was good. The owner told Ford the cars battery kept going dead and Ford said to bring the car back in. Obviously the owner didn't realize what thieves and morons Ford actually has working for them. He brought the car back to the Ford garage who, after a two-hundred service charge, decided they were stumped. They told him it would cost at least a grand to have it repaired...new alternator, new starter, new wiring harness...and that's where I came in and bought the car for junk price. Hope it works for you.