I have a 1997 Ford Contour. I had turned off my engine to get gas, started it back up and I had no heat and no fan. I don't smell anti-freeze in the car, so I don't think it's the heater core. I replace the thermostat and at least started getting heat from the engine. What would be your first thought? Heater fan motor? Thanks for your help.

Check your electrical connections especially the throttle position sensor, and the cam position sensor. One other thing to look at is the two coolant temp sensors. One on the front is for the dash gauge, the other on top is for the PCM reference. Ie cold engine, full choke. Warm engine, lean open choke. if not connected it's like trying to start a cold engine without a choke closed, and you end up flooding the cylinders with gas washing them out and killing compression. also ensure you connected the idle air control valve electrical connection. It's located under the throttle body at the back of the engine towards the top. hard to get to but it won't allow the engine to start or idle.

Check the thermostat and the fan too. Overheating nothing to do with the heater core, even if you shut the heat off, the car should not overheat

you need anti freeze not just water. water will cause it to over heat. there is a over flow tank on the passeger side front fender check the level

Hi this sounds weird does the smoke come out from the front engine covers? the squealing could be the cambelt trying to turn a semi or completly ceased waterpump which would cause the smoke after a while, also without the waterpump working properly the engine will leak water and anti freeze out the overflow and overheat really quickly

smell or even taste a bit maybe gas if flooded...sweet taste is anti freeze

U have low anti freeze wich is causing the engine temp to run higher than normal and the fans blowing help bring it back down u can take wash off the motor let it run for a while when the anti freeze is full and watch to see if u can see green fluid coming out fix the leak if there is no leak found u need thermostat

heater core is probably what was changed,..a little radiator under the dash that the hot water runs through and a fan behind it to blow at it thus giving you heat,...pretty much thats it in a nutshell,...sounds like something still leaking under there, (anti-freeze smell),... fill it back up with anti-freeze (non-toxic type so you don't polute) and drive to where you gotta go,....go to your mechanic to find that leak,.good luck, and do a hole shot for me! thanks, cracklin joe

thermostat may be in upside down or head gasket hopefully not cracked head

is the temp gauge going to hot? if so, it may be going into failsafe mode where it shuts off half the cylinders to protect the engine.

check your engine coolant temp sensor. It sends a signal to tunrn the cooling fan on.
Does the cooling fan come under the hood?
Does the cooling fan come on when you turn the a/c on?

report back.

Thermostat will jam shut! then you get what happened to you replace it flush and bleed should be good also beware the cooling fan relays are well known to quit this happened to me once before when i tried to order 1 dealer said sorry i have 100 on back order no joke!!!! so after you get it going be sure the fans kick on and off!! no check eng light will appear when these relays quit!!!!!