Account Activation

[joel_blanchette]

Perhaps a dumb question, but how long does it normally take for an admin to activate a new account? I registered last week, but it's still not fully activated.

Thank you for your time.
Joel

[LUCA]

Welcome!
Hang in there a bit longer Joel. Our Admins have been busy lately, they will complete the activation soon.

Give us some details on your 'tour.

[joel_blanchette]

I don't currently have a Contour. I used to have a white 97 Contour GL Zetec ATX (aka White Lightning, due less to its speed than to it having been hit by lighting at least twice while on the road). The transaxle decided to go out in a blaze of glory, or at least with a bang. A really loud bang. After that, it made horrible grinding and scraping noises. My local Ford dealership, with whom I had no previous issues, made an obvious misdiagnosis of a blown differential, which was odd, since they arrived at this gem by driving the car around their lot. It was probably the torque converter. It ended up being sold to a salvage yard for a decent price.

My mother-in-law had a harvest gold 98 Mystique GS Zetec ATX with which I was also intimately familiar. I did most of the service on this car that didn't require special tools. In its last year of use, I worked on it plenty. Nothing was ever easy on this car. Oil changes were a nightmare. There is exactly one way to remove the oil filter from the car, and it almost always results in a hot oil facial treatment. In the end, it also suffered a sudden transaxle failure. I had to good fortune to be driving it at the time. It made a loud bang as well, but I know what happened to this one. One of the band broke. I got to see the inside of a CD4E ATX. Some of the gears are made of white plastic, which I didn't find comforting. I noticed that all of the bands had severe metal fatigue (cracks, deformed metal, discoloration) around the holes used to bolt them to the transaxle. Considering this car had less than 170,000kms (~100,000 miles) this level of wear was somewhat surprising.

I've driven several other Contours briefly, but I haven't managed to kill them. :laugh:

Joel

[loggerbomb]

Welcome to the club! Sounds like you have had quite the experience with the cars. I take it your planning on getting another one? Must really like them if two bad experiences have not scared you off!

Where you from?

[joel_blanchette]

The Contour was a great car. I admit that I wasn't too keen on it at first, especially with everybody calling it the Vanilla Jellybean, but it grew on me. I suppose it was fairly well-equipped for a GL model (15" alloy wheels, A/C, power windows and doors, 60/40 folding rear seat) and the white with Midnight Blue was a good look. I even liked the black plastic side mirrors. Sure, they were just an example of Ford getting all cheap, but they were unique to the 97 GL model. I used to be able to identify the year and trim level of almost every Contour I saw.

Much as I was disappointed with the catastrophic failure of my ATX, I realize that plenty of spirited driving likely contributed to it. Also, the car had few other issues. A water pump, some recalls, tires, brakes, and other regular maintenance. I don't think I'll be getting another one, though. They're past their prime and I have other priorities. I just always found CEGers to be a cool bunch, and I still like Contours, so I thought I'd return to the fold, so to speak. Just don't tell my wife, she'll think I'm obsessed or something. She's probably right. :crazy:

Joel

[LUCA]

Your descriptions of those two Contours had me LMAO!

Struck by lightning twice? Damn! :crazy: No injuries, I hope!?

No, it's not always the easiest car to work on.

So, are you planning on going for a third Contour? Third times the charm ya know. :laugh:

We won't tell your wife. ;)

[ryanblacksvt]

I suppose it was fairly well-equipped for a GL model (15" alloy wheels, A/C, power windows and doors, 60/40 folding rear seat) and the white with Midnight Blue was a good look. I even liked the black plastic side mirrors. Sure, they were just an example of Ford getting all cheap, but they were unique to the 97 GL model. I used to be able to identify the year and trim level of almost every Contour I saw.



Joel

Hey that was my first brand new car, but mine was black with dark grey interior.

[joel_blanchette]

Your descriptions of those two Contours had me LMAO!

Struck by lightning twice? Damn! :crazy: No injuries, I hope!?

No, it's not always the easiest car to work on.

So, are you planning on going for a third Contour? Third times the charm ya know. :laugh:

We won't tell your wife. ;)

The trials and tribulations of those two cars are always good for a laugh. In restrospect, anyway. Replacing the starter motor didn't seem very amusing when it got stuck in the subframe. Dumping hot oil in my face also didn't rate high on my list of things to do again, though of course I did do it again (damned near impossible to avoid). Grabbing a brake rotor that I had just removed with the judicious use of a propane torch and a sledge hammer was certainly memorable. Dropping a replacement super-sensitive MAF assembly and making a wild dive onto a concrete floor to save it (successfully) must have been a veritable riot to any onlookers. I didn't do any of the suspension work on the car. I looked into what was involved and there were visions of paramedics dancing in my mind. :laugh: For the record, I suffered no major injuries working on either of these two cars. That required a 97 Eagle Talon. Rusted brake shield + slipping wrench + right index finger = profuse bleeding, an X-ray, 4 stitches, a tetanus booster, and a good laugh at my expense at the local ER. I was laughing right along with them. :crazy:

Yes, ol' White Lightning was struck by lightning twice while I was driving it. There were no injuries, and no damage. Both times there was a bright flash, a very loud boom, and the radio shut off. It wasn't damaged, it just shut off. I managed to keep control of the car both times, and I was fine once the adrenaline rush wore off. It's hard to describe the experience, but I suppose it's like being near a bomb when it explodes, only without the "being torn to pieces" bit.

I don't think there are any more Contours in my future. I would only get one for a project car, which is something I have neither the time nor the funds for. If I did, I'd be looking for a Zetec MTX car (I've already toasted my share of CD4E ATX units, thank you very much). I've driven an SVT, and it was definitely a sweet ride, but there's more aftermarket support for the Zetec 2.0L (which is even available as a racing engine) than the Duratec 2.5L or 3.0L.

Joel

[LUCA]

I'm sorry that you've had such a bad time of it. At least you can look back with some humor and write about it. ;)
Just imaging all that has happened to you involving those three vehicles is :crazy:.

[joel_blanchette]

Well, I figure if I have to face life's trials and tribulations, I might as well make fun of them. I can even laugh about the time I drove a large rental truck into the canopy of a gas station (some of the old-timers on the CEG mailing list might remember this tale). It was quite embarassing at the time (the firetruck racing to the scene with lights and sirens didn't help), and involved a lot of language of the :censored: variety, but it's hilarious in retrospect. The result was more than $12,000 damage to the gas station and absolutely no damage to the truck. Fortunately, it was covered by insurance. Even better, it wasn't MY insurance policy, so it doesn't count as my having made an insurance claim. :laugh: It was nice to finally get home and have a nice cold beer... or 7. :o

[Kremithefrog]

It was nice to finally get home and have a nice cold beer... or 7. :o
How many did you have before you got home?



J/k Welcome

[loggerbomb]

How many did you have before you got home?


Should be like, how many did you have before you got in the truck! :crazy:

[bilyo]

Luca,
I read your reply to Joel regarding "hainging in there". I have a similar question. I received an email saying my account is activated. However, I can't start a new thread in the Zetec section. Message says I either don't have permissions or my account is not activated.
Would appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Bill

[Ray]

I believe for the first little while you are not allowed to start threads in other sections. it is in this time that new members are encouraged to READ the other sections, and as a way to get answers to their own problems, SEARCH our forums for past instances like theirs.

We have a "search" feature, and it will prove quite useful.

also, other than THIS forum, you can search the "old" forums, located at "www.contour.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php" Click "search and make sure to set your "date range" to "all", then select your appropriate forum to look in.

You can get the answer to 99.9999999999999% of all problems by reading our "FAQ" threads, stickies, how-tos and then searching (both this forum and the old forums) afterwards.


AFTER your short stay in this forum, you will be allowed to post in other forums, but it limits the amount of typical "new member" questions (normally about popular failure items, or repair questions already documented in the FAQs, etc)

[steeno321]

Hey guys,

I own a 2000 CSVT Silver Frost flavor. I absolutely love my car beautiful look and the power is :shocked: Recently(as in just yesterday) I blew the motor. What I have accumulated from perusing the forums is to go with a 3.0L motor. Few questions I have: Is it better to just go straight 3.0L without swapping to the 2.5L heads?(keep in mind I want the acceleration more than the top end power) I am fairly weak when it comes to this type of car and motor work so what I am looking for is a prebuilt longblock motor that I can just swap externals onto(ie. Alternator, starter) Can anyone direct me towards who sells prebuilt longblocks? I am in touch with Buckshot Motorsports at the moment..Anyone use his services before? I also spotted www.3Lduratec.com (http://www.3Lduratec.com) just want to expel every option and get some opinions on this matter :shrug: Please give me some input.

PS Activate my account! please?:o

[LUCA]

Welcome Steeno321!

Sorry to hear about your motor. :(

Read this:
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=3L
Tons of info there that will help you.

Buckshot is a CEG member and has done work for many of the members here. Never heard a complaint. :)

Also, check out www.LKQ.com. Buckshot should also be able to give you some info too.

Your account will be activated soon. Accounts are not activated right away to give you time to peruse the site, as you are already doing. This gives you time to get familiar with the search feature, etc. If it has to do with a Continque (Our term for Contour/Mystiques) it probably has been discussed many times. Most times you can find the answer to your question with a simple search. ;)

Keep us posted on your car and the progress. Good luck!

[joel_blanchette]

Should be like, how many did you have before you got in the truck! :crazy:

Gah! I really should have seen that coming. :rolleyes: I know, I know, it was all meant in good humor, and I honestly don't take offense, but I want to make it clear that I don't drink and drive. Ever. I had spent that day helping a friend move (hence the truck), and I admit that fatigue may have played a role, but there was no beer involved until I was safely at home.

Joel