New to the world of Contour

[RangerRuss]

Hi: By luck we ended up with a 1998 Contour Sport over this last weekend. This is a result of my sons Saturn confrontation with black ice a ditch and a tree.
We are happy with the Contour. It has the Zetec 2.0 4-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and 100,700 original miles from one previous owner.

What am I in for with regard to maintaining and keeping this car on the road and as trouble free as possible? I have maintained a fleet of 4-cylinder Ranger trucks for several years and understand them just fine. This is a different beast.

Any insight and tips will be greatly appreciated.

Russ

[Kremithefrog]

For the zetec, it's just your usual stuff for the most part. Of course check the timing belt and replace it if it's the original. Spark plugs, fuel filter, etc.

[Tony2005]

Welcome . Regular oil/filter changes (3 to 5K miles). ATFluid change every 20k miles or so. Coolant every 30k miles or so. Make sure the heat shield (on top, next to the oil dipstick, the one with the hand and X is not missing, the Haynes Manual has a good picture). Some have posted that a missing one can melt the plastic oil dipstick for the Zetec.

You probably have a parts source but here is one.
www.teamfordparts.com.
Bill Jenkins is the contact.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/member.php?u=39930

In addition, our classifieds usually have a good number of parts for sale too.

or get from 69Boss302.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=422

[LUCA]

Welcome Russ!

I'm sorry to hear about your son's accident. Hope he wasn't injured!

As Kremi and Tony said, change the fluids, plugs (Autolite double plats), wires, and fuel filter. Keep up on the preventive maintenance.

I would also check the timing belt. If it hasn't been changes already, it's due.

Here is another link to some info and how-to's (Common problems and complaints):
http://www.contour.org/FAQ/

[Deweydw]

Also check the wiring harnesses for cracked insulation. Check here 99m03 recall sheet for instructions and parts #. If they need replacing check with the links listed above. Mine were $220. Other's CEGer's got theirs cheaper.

[IRingTwyce]

His is a '98. Unless it was an early early early 98 (meaning built very early in 97) then there should be no wiring issues at all. I have heard it claimed that some very early 98s were affected as the supply was being changed over from the old supplier to the new one, but odds are it isn't something he'll need to worry about.

[RangerRuss]

Thanks in advance for all of your insight. I figured the car would be straight forward but never hurts to "ask the man who owns one".

I received no maintenance records with the car so plan to methodically check/test/replace. Ran a scan for codes and came up 111 - all clear.

Car was manufactured 11/97 and went on the road 01/98 so not sure if the wiring issues mentioned are an issue with this car or not. All appears to be in good shape.

Again, thanks for the insight. The 'how to" threads are informative. I'll be sure to ask if anything seems out of the ordinary.

Russ