Found this forum last night and was able to quickly pinpoint overheating problems with my '98 Contour with 2.5L V-6....wasn't aware that the waterpump with plastic impeller was a real problem with these engines. Went through all the normal diags with thermostat and radiator cap with no results. Temp gauge still redlined....Went to NAPA and bought the metal impeller waterpump....damn near died when I pulled the old pump and found nothing there but a stump...took a decent back flush to get, what I think, is most of the impeller out of the engine. Runs like a charm once again. No more redline. For anyone with any kind of mechanical abiity, this is an easy do-it-yourselfer...not sure what the dwal would have charged for the whole job including the flush. All I know is that it cost me about $75, including a new stat and anti-freeze.
