Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Some General Advice?

Hey everyone...I just got a 95 SE with 60K, about two months ago. Car is in pretty good shape and I'm just starting to wonder what i need to worry about with it. I'm reading a lot about this blown engine thing and whatnot... Should i really be concerned about this stuff? I replaced the original waterpump today and when i took it out, it looked like new on the inside... Is some of this stuff just getting blown out of proportion? i also noticed that i need to replace my oil pan gasket...it's getting a little oily, not to the point of dripping yet. Being in college, i cannot afford to be doing major work on my car bimonthly!

good thing changing the water pump. I think the reason for the problems with the pump is the absecnse of quality control in the manufacturing of the Motorcraft pump, after market pumps likely have some sort of QA during manufacture.

blown engines: I wouldn't worry about it if you don't do alot of "spirited" driving. One sure fire way to blow it, keep the revs high on a long right hand turn while going fast.

oil pan leak, are you sure it isn't residual oil from an alternate source, like the oil that dribbles out of the oil filter when it is removed? No sense in changing a gasket that doesn't actually leak.

you say "spirited driving", how hard are we actually talking? every now and again, i do enjoy "getting into her" and whipping around curves. i wouldn't say i was red lining third doing so, but i'll push it a little. should i concern about this engine thing?

yes, i'm sure it's the oil pan gasket because there is a little oil leaking just about all the way around the pan. not just in one spot.

i would keep a close eye on the positive battery cable. that is the most frustrating thing i have dealt with, to this date. check for the posts on the "problems" forum, a few days back.

oh! i almost forgot, the leaking trunk thing too. you can find some posts in the "Problems" forum about that too.

and yes, i am worried about the oil starvation problem after reading this website. i guarantee you wont find me redlining my car around any hard corners in the future.

of course, i dont think cornering in my Contour is any fun anyways.... damn front wheel drive crap. :p

Funnily enough here in England, the land of roundabouts, there's no problems with ours blowing engines on hard cornering

make sure you keep the oil topped up

Water pump you've changed so you've covered it.

My web site has a lot of info on the Europe version of the Contour including lists of all the known common faults etc. Take a look as they should be the same as for yours

Great car, you'll love it, and as for front wheel drives cant corner, mine has recently completely stomped an M3 Beemer, while out cornering it on the inside of a 90mph 300 degree roundabout, while he understeered like crazy (shame he got me at around 120 on the straight afterwards)

spirited thinking you are mario andretti while driving down the highway

honestly I don't know the threshold for oil starvation. I think your best bet is to go to auto cross forum and ask them since they are the ones driving spiritedly all the time.