Do the valves clear pistons if timing belt breaks on 1998 ford contour 4 cylinder?

No, a 1998 Ford Contour 4-cylinder engine does not have interference-type engine. This means that if the timing belt breaks, the valves will *not* hit the pistons. However, while a catastrophic engine failure is avoided, a broken timing belt will still leave the engine unable to run and will likely require significant repairs.