1996 Ford Contour Possible Short????

Check the wire insulation for coming apart going to the fuse box underhood The symptoms you are describing are classic symptoms that these cars had when it would start with the wires flaking like this.

Hello,

That was actually the first thing I did. The 4 wires from battery post to fuse box were shedding insulation. I removed and replaced with 10 GA multi-strand automotive wire. Did not help. Next I went for the grounds and traced, cleaned / replaced as needed. Pulled dash panels, opened under-hood harness' etc..etc.. looking for a bad ground or short in a hot circut.
This morning I was taking it to the shop to let them have at it and it shut down again & would not re-start. I became annoyed and started pulling on the main battery cables. The darn wipers cycled twice and went off. (they were not turned on). My daughter got in and as long as I held tension on the leads to the auxillary fuse box the car would start & run. When I released tension it would shut off & not re-start. We gat it home where I pulled the auxillary (under hood) fuse box and took it apart. There I found that the 2 leads going to the black 80 amp fuse, which supplys power to the under-dash box were not bolted down & were arcing. The insulation at the connectors for these leads was melted & the was much corrosion on the contacts. I replaced the connectors, cleaned the contacts & bolted the leads down tight. PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!
I build Cabin Crusiers for a living & am very knowledgeable when it comes to 12 volt wiring. I have never seen a set up like this either in a boat or a car. The use of the power window switch apparently created a connection and allowed the car to start until the next time the wires shifted. Also, apparently, re-engerizing the circut would cause the wipers to cycle.
I appreciate your help and would like to point out that you were correct in your assesment of the problem. If I had taken the time to follow the leads I replaced that were shedding insulation to thier terminus, I would have discovered the problem a week ago.
This is one wacky car but my daughter loves it. The look on her face when it started & actually kept running was worth the weel of irritation I put up with.
Again, Thank you for the in-put & I hope this helps some other poor schmoo figure out his phantom problem.
Dennis.

Glad that is all what it is. These vehicles are known for the flaking issue actually condemning a lot of these cars to the scrap heap because of it. From what I can figure, the car was designed by European engineers who underestimated the thickness in gauge of wire and the insulations properties.

Usually I see engine performance issues due to the flaking to the point the car will not run because of it