• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

Calling all Zetec guys

2000 Mercury Mystique GS
Purchased in aug. 2005 w/53000

Cruise Control Module- Replaced Sept. 2005
Routine Maintence- 60000 mi

At 64000 mi
Front Wheel Bearings- Replaced Dec. 2006
Passenger Side Drive Axle- Replaced Dec. 2006
Front Rotors- Replaced Dec. 2006

Mods-
Removed Resonator, High Flow Muffler
CTA Intake
 
2000 Mystique GS
Purchased March 04 with 40k miles, now has 75k.

Fuel pump died on me last summer. I picked an FSVT pump up from Bill J. and it's been fine ever since. No other problems or repairs, just routine maintenance.
 
AliasJerk said:
3rd Clutch? Dayum!!

my old 96 had 137K miles on it when I got rid of her, and it was on its first still. My dad said he sees it every once in a while still going, it has closer to 150K on the stock clutch still.
Click to expand...

Ya, I bought the car from a Chevy Dealership in Texas (Herb Easley Motors) When I was going home on leave for the second time (to Ohio) within 30 days of buying the car the clutch blew (Plain City, OH) I had to drive it without the clutch up US42 all the way to US30 into Wooster, I was po'd to say the least and they couldn't get a new stock clutch for my car in the time I needed to get out to Utah to report for duty on time so they go me some expensive after market clutch that took a crap in 2 years, messing up the first gear syncro's and now if I am moving at all and I try to put it into first it grinds. I have to be at a dead stop and it won't give me problems. So, clutch #3 is a oem and has been working fine since late '02. The first clutch was in when I got it, the Second one I had somebody do because I didn't know anything about the car then and the 3rd I did and has been going good since (besides the sync problem) which I want to get fixed soon I just have to somehow convince the war department (aka the wife) to let me spend more money on the car.
 
98 Tour, zetec
bought it at the begining of this month......80k miles...has 85K now

changed rear struts and springs after I bought it. $ 800 (happened to break on my way home)
new fuel filter....$ 12
rear brake shoes...$120
 
Last edited:
98 zetec ATX
currentyl 245000 miles on the clock
bought in 2002 former fleet vehicle
Prior to ownership the tranny was rebuilt
i have put at least 75k on the car (comuting 500 miles per week)

my work
timing belt
3 water pumps (this one is the last one because the threads on the block are stripped on at least one of the bolts)
Rack and pinion replaced
typical plugs and wires
IAC

Mods
underdrive crank pulley
E0 svt wheels
subframe connectors
SVT springs

Still needs new LCAs
short in the airbag system somewhere (getting a 5-1 flash)
oil leak somewhere around the pan

gets Mobile 1 about every 6k
Tranny was flushed used B&M trick shift
Redline water wetter and a 70-30 water to coolant mix
Don't really want to invest more into the car. At this age it would need a rebuild on the engine next but it currently runs strong.
 
98 Contour GL purchased in late 99 with about 15,000 miles. It now has 274,000 miles. Other than routine maintenance, the camshaft position sensor was replaced at ~50,000, timing belt at ~155,000, and transmission rebuilt at about 210,000 miles. (The tranny still gives trouble but that's the mechanic's fault and not related to reliability). The front brakes have been relined twice and rear once.

This does not include the various things like plugs (twice replaced) and other normal maintenance items with the exception of the brakes.
 
Last edited:
95 GL ATX 2.0
133k Miles

Purchases in August of 2006 with a Blown Head Gasket.

Replaced head Gasket, Drove for 2 weeks, and the HEAD warped and Cracked.

Still have the car, working on getting $$ to put a new head and Gasket kit on it.
 
Maint. 95 GL

Maint. 95 GL

Rear struts and springs - Koni. 100k
Timing belt and water pump - 115k
Plugs,wires and coil - 120k
MAF - 105k IAC valve - 140k
Valve cover gasket - 155k
Ball joints,sway bar bushings - 160k
Aux trans cooler for the ATX at 130km's


Next weekend - O2 sensor and TPS sensor as well.:cool:
 
Last edited:
hmmm here we go...

purchased in summer '05 with 59,3xx

i'll start with warranty items :):
60k - fan
60k - leaking governor cap on tranny (at least thats what he called it, i have NO idea what it is HAHA)
60k - o2 sensor

MY problems lol:
60k - a/c compressor leaked all the refrigerant (had to replace a hose and o-ring and refill refrigerant)
62k - new tires (birthday present :D)
62k - cleaned the MAF sensor (my mechanic said not to bother replacing it unless it gave me probs after he cleaned it :), it's worked like a charm lol.)
65k - replaced right rear bumper after getting rear-ended. only damage to bumper and nothing else.
80k - new front pads and rotors
80k - new rear brake shoes and calipers (leaking caliper ruined mine :(...) and turned down drums
82k - repaired damaged right front caliper, was hitting wheel :-\
82k - new swaybar bushings
82k - as a result of trying to GET to bushings, nut cage on sub-frame bolts broke, loose sub-frame...had to cut hole in sub-frame arm and replace nut cage.
84k - new front coils and struts
84k - replaced right rear tire...drove over a screw :-(

i think i got everything, if i missed something i'll edit it in hahaha


EDIT: aha i knew i forgot something! i shall be replacing the rear suspension quite soon. it sits really low and having my subs in the back doesnt help :)
 
Last edited:
I bought this car with 94250 miles on it. It now has 96750 miles
Problems with this zetec/ auto car.
1. replaced left wheel hub
2. replaced right axel shaft due to bad cv joint.
3. replaced starter
4. fuel filter
5. air filter
6. plug
7. plug wires
8. water pump
9. timing belt
10. timing belt pulleys
11. drivers door glass molding

And now it is not running again. I HATE this car. I wish I had never bought this POS!
 
zetec guy

zetec guy

I acquired the 96 auto with 101000 miles from a dealer just trying to get rid of it(cheap). It was a repo and it need work.
Brakes-front Discs and pads rear shoes and wheels cylinders
Bad oil leak-new filter-old one was loose
Driver window regulator and window
Driver door panel
Plug wires
battery(blem from interstate-$29)
plugs
Blower control on dash
Struts all around
Front springs
2 new tires
replaced all locks(thanks ebay)
need to replace pass cv shaft
Mods-removed silencer on intake box
when weather is better adding new rear swaybar(thanks spy)
will fix power door locks in summer
replace rug
found stock 8 spoke wheels
needs new head lite housings
 
99 Tour LX

Drivers window master control switch - 89,000
Heater blower motor riostat - 89,000
dash pad reattachment - 89,000 (factory defect that the wife didn't know was recalled in time to fix it for free)
oil dip stick - 89,000 (handle broke off)
Timing belt @ 97,000 - it snapped (wife didn't know it needed to be changed at 70,000 interval)
front and rear struts @ 100,000 - worn out
lower control arms and ball joints @ 100,000 - worn out
rear driver side wheel cylinder @ 110,000 - crapped out in the driveway after a 1000 mile roadtrip
head rebuild @ 121,000 - over heated and warped the head, burned all 16 valves, new water pump, new thermostat, new serp belt, new plastic coolant tank (bulged and split).
 
Last edited:
Year/Submodel: 96 GL MTX
Time of ownership: March 06/157xxx miles now 170xxx
What repairs and when they were performed:
right before I bought it both cv shafts were replaced as were the tie rods.
158xxx miles: both ball joints (one factory) and new plugs and wires.
160xxx miles: timing belt and pulleys, water pump, and serp belt. got it all back together and fired it up...missing on two cylinders replaced coil pack.
one week later replaced alternator and battery.
168xxx miles: replaced blown wheel cylinders.
170xxx miles: possibly getting ready to replace a head gasket or swap an engine. and also rear suspension and possibly front so my summer rims and tires will clear the fenders.
171xxx miles: Lifter noise and random quitting going down the road.
 
Last edited:
I mide as well contrubute now that I have a zetec tour again :)

1) Timing Belt x2 (first one walked like a MOFO!)
2) Spark plugs x2 (first set, one plug busted porcelin)
3) Plug wires
4) front sway bar endlinks

Car just turned over to 158K miles, still on the stock suspension, which surpriseingly still rides pretty good, although it will be getting upgraded soon ;)
 
1997 Ford Contour, Zetec
Purchased in 2002 with 47,000 miles
Currently at 127,000
Need to replace the front 02 sensor.
Replaced;
Serpentine belt (when I got an UDP)
Timing Belt (when I got adj. cam gears)
Valve cove rgasket
Clutch & throw-out bearing (when I got a T. Haines built MTX w/ Quaife)
Stock FPR gaskets (when I was hunting down a fuel pressure problem)
Valve cover gasket (when I changed valve covers)
Both front wheel bearings and CV shafts
Rear sway bar, endlinks, and bushings (upgraded to 19mm rear bar)
Stock exhaust (upgraded to a high flow cat-back system)
Misc. lights
Stock suspension (replaced with BAT kit)
All fluids and filters done regularly as well as plugs (oil always comes back clean form analysis)

Need to re-tune the superchip.
And need to have the rear sway bar brackets welded down.

And it looks like I'll be moving on to another car (Volvo or Audi), not sure If i'm gonna get rid of the Contour though.
Anybody interested in it?
 
Last edited:
1996 Zetec mtx 5 speed bought new in 1996 with 3 miles. 104,500 now.

70,745 timing belt normal maintainance
74,910 Front brake pads needed
93,722 PVC valve normal maintainance
93,722 Serpentine belt normal maintainance
94,384 Valve cover gasket leaking into the plug wells
94,384 Plugs/wires normal maintainance
102,900 Starter needed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top