Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle The worst ford I've ever owned.

We bought this 96 contour just over a year ago from a lease company with 80,000 miles. To date, we've spent almost $6000 on this car. Most of it going to the transmission.

Here's the latest mess:

Since day one, it's aways shifted a little funny. Tried resetting the computer, flushed the fluid in the tranny, etc. This is plain jane, bone stock 4 cylinder automatic contour gl.

In May, the tranny started making lots noise and w/in a few days was totally dead. No foward, no reverse. Dead. That night I started looking around and calling. Found the same as the rest of you. $2400 was the giong rate at ford. Most tranny shops quoted similiar. But we found a place in Phx that had a rebuilt one with a 12 month warranty for $925, including converter. (exchange). I came here and found out about the Transgo kit and asked the shop if they used that kit? Yes, I was told. Okay, so sounds like they know what they are doing. We found a local shop that'd do the swap for $600. Done deal. Also had all 4 motor mounts changed, and external filter added to tranny. Another $500.

3.5 months later, w/o any warning at all, tranny completely dies. no foward, no reverse, no warning. Just one day, went to make left turn. Car no go.

So I take it to another shop, that specializs in trannies. They confirm, tranny dead. Nothing electrical or computer. So we call up the Phx place, they say they send it back, we'll look at it. They have it for a few days, and say, "tourque converter blew up." 4 days later we had another tranny. I do not know if it's the same one, or another one. Have the 2nd shop install it, replace filter, flush any lines, etc, plus replaced the axles which needed replacing, $1700 more.

We got the car back Friday and here it is Saturday and the tranny is making noises (one time, wife was driving) and now it's really slow off the line and shifts (1-2) are very mushy.

What the heck is it with this car? I've owned a dozen ford products going back 20+ years. Nothing comes close to this
mess. We now refer to it as "the money pit."

What can I do? I'm not financially able to go buy a new car right now. Especially after forking over $4000 the past 4 months to keep it on the road. Yes, if I had known this would happen, when the first tranny died I would have rolled it off the cliff. But the car is a nice car and other than this, has been good. It drives nice, gets good milage and the perfect car for my wife.

Any suggestions?

Haha...you're preachin to the choir. I think we've all either experienced or heard about SOME problem with the ATX or MTX in the tour. I honestly don't know what to tell ya. Fix this tranny would be the only thing i could think of. If you really love the car fix it and keep it. If you could kinda care less then fix it, sell it, and eat the loss when u get somethin else. Nothin like a rock and a hard place huh? Sorry I'm not much help...we feel your pain.
><>David<><

I wish I knew what to tell you, but I have the CD4E ATX in my contour and in the wife's 626. So far, 175K miles between them with no problems. Heat is the major killer for ATXs, so maybe your fluid radiator is clogged and your fluid is overheating? I'd be concerned about a filter maybe slowing down the flow rate a little, but dunno for sure? Extra coolers are available. If you get another tranny, get a warranty for the parts and labor. Good luck

In reply to:

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We bought this 96 contour just over a year ago from a lease company with 80,000 miles

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I feel bad for you, but do you have any idea how BAD people treat any type of vehicle they don't own? Rentals, and especially leases. Let's just say there's a yukon denali running around out there with almost 30k miles on the ORIGINAL motor oil. I like to think of buying an off lease or old rent a car as wearing a kick me sign on your back. You're asking for it.

Dude, sometimes it's the best you can do. . .people neglect stuff they don't own, that's natural, but I'm sure he had a reason for buying it (namely price), and I'm almost positive it has something to do with the heat. At any rate, I'd say dump it, because you're gonna pour more money into it the rate you're going, and that money could go towards a down payment, and finance for close to $200/month for something more reliable. . .

I'm sorry to hear about your mishaps. If I were you, I'd buy a new car.
Good luck.