Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Southwest Need Help in Provo/Orem

OK group, I know this is somewhat unorthodox, but I am attempting to help a co-worker with his daughters '99 Contour SE. We are in Portland, Oregon and are seeking assistance from someone local to Provo/Orem. The twin daughters are in school, their Contour is at Willey Ford/Mazda, awaiting a decision to go forward on needed (?) repairs. Here is what we know:
1. Vehicle was meticuosly maintained while in Portland, Oregon (until a few months ago). No issues with the drive to Utah. Last week the vehicle started making a loud valve noise. Oil was fine, as expected since it was recently changed.
2. Over to Willey Ford; diagnoise is that a valve (not clear if intake/exhaust) on the #2 cylinder is bent. Also there may be damaged with the adjacent cylinder/piston. Something about a "tube" that broke and let dirt into the engine.
Any clues as to what the dealer is talking about? What "tube"? My co-worker is facing a $2400 to $3500 repair bill, depending on what is found once the head(s) comes off. He has until Wednesday of next week to make a determination as to what to do in regards to repair.
Does anyone have any light to she on this subject? Is there someone local to this vehicle that would not mind lending there technical expertise to the diagnoise and hopefully provide data that would allow a rational avenue to take?
Are there any locally know repair facilities that CEG members can vouch for as far as integrity?
HELP!!!!
Thanks for everything - Bill

sorry, can't help ya there(no expertise)
But you might wanna post in the NORTHWEST forum,
they might be able to help you with more info in your region.
good luck!

Troubleshooting might be a good forum to post this in also. It sucks that it broke down that far away, but if the owner doesn't want to pay the stealership that much....it'd be about $500 to have it transported back home.

If one of the Provo area guys can't make it in there if need be, I might be able to pop in and get the word in person..... But first check w/ the troubleshooting forum and let us know what they say.....

dont even get me started about willey ford- dont EVEN GET ME STARTED!!!!! (insert madder and more pissed off voice as you read)

Willey ford is to blame for my engine failure- my 1998 CSVT with 49K miles - they incorrectly diagnosed it about 7 times - everything from the wrong ECU program to a collapsed lifter-
it ended up being a blocked crank oil passage becasue of a spun bearing and well long expensive story later- I spent over $3400 out of pocket (the dealership wouldnt help me in anyway to get a warrenty claim ect ect) to fix the car (BTW the dealer wanted over $6K) and then sold it to Tom- and damn me - he hasnt had a single problem!!!


any way - want to hear my opinion- run down to willey ford - tell them to keep jerking off other customers because you will be taking your car to (your choice - either/or) Hundleys or Cleggs- they are both excellent private shops - Hundleys was the place that installed my motor for about a grand less than everywhere else- and like I said - it hasnt had a single problem yet-

im not joking either- go get your car and take it to hundleys- its on Freedom BLVD and about 200 N or 300 N - something like that- east side of the road just south east of smiths grocery store-



DONT LET WILLEY LAY A HAND ON YOUR CAR -


if you have any questions let me know- im about 5-10min from willeys


ps is it a V6?

Yes, it's a 2.5 V6. I hear what you are saying about Wiley's. Sounds like Hundleys has been good to you. Have their phone number, by chance? Yes, if you wouldn't mind dropping by Wiley's and speaking to a Tech and try to get the "straight scoop". I would like to know what an enthusiasts opinion of the problem is; if you could stop by and determine this, I can relay this on to my friend. The Willey Service manager has not been able to provide specifics as to what caused the bent valve. he wants to pull the heads and do more exploritory at greater $$$. It should be the only '99 with Oregon plates at Wiley's, with bent valves.
I might put this post to the Tech Forum (good suggestion), but wanted to get input from locals' first; we are not going to repair this ourselves, but pay someone locally to do the necessary repairs.
My friend has put Wednesday as the "drop dead" date, which he will then determine WHO is going to do the repair. The vehicle has only 50k miles on it, he bought it new and it has been maintained to a very high standard. BTW - my friend (Jon Brems) owns a '98 SVT as well, it's in Oregon.
Jon and I will make it worth your while on any assistance CEG'rs provide.
thanks again guys for your input -- Bill

Hundley'd is good...I know Dick and Richard, I also worked at a shop called Doug's Auto that is in Orem. He's a big time ford guy. I know they have done a couple v6's in the contiques. They aren't really cheap, but very good and very honest. You could call him 801-224-4055. Cleggs does all their machine work. Doug and Clegg are good friends. I would not touch the dealer, they are so incompetent they couldn't even give me a price of a cv axle! They said there wasn't one. Anyway good luck.

yeah what taylor said- either go to Hundleys or Cleggs or Dougs- ive heard dougs is good - ive had experience with the other two - any of the three should treat you well.
ps - do SVTs and non SVTs have the same valve size? if they do Im sure daymon (swazo) could give you one for free from my old heads.

They do have the same valve size, and I have 48......er...46 (sorry Scot ) handy I'd be more than happy to give you. I also have 4 good 2.5L pistons if one of it's turns out to be bad. I'm not sure there is a diff between the SVT and Non-SVT pistons.