Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting SVT saga - long, sorry

Hey everyone,

I just joined, and I'm hoping you all can help me keep from getting ripped off any more than I already have been. It's a long sordid story, so here goes: I had to tow my '98 SVT to a dealership because it was overheating and wasn't driveable. I told them to fix that problem and to fix whatever the check engine light problem was, which they had previously said was the O2 sensor. The day I got my car back, they had to jump it because the battery was low (didn't have that problem when I took it in), and the check engine light was still on. The tech told me it was b/c of the battery and that I should go straight to Sears or somewhere and get one put in. Did that, check engine light still on. Back to Ford I go, and there they tell me that since it's Saturday, they don't have anyone who can help me, even though I'm due to be back at work on Monday 80 miles away and I just returned my rental car and the place is now closed. The service rep finds someone to take a look, and he cleans some carbon off of something (sorry, my lack of car knowledge is showing) and lo and behold the check engine light goes off.

Later that night, after I've driven down to my parents' house where I'm staying for the summer, the check engine light comes back on. I complain and get the Ford dealership to pay for a diagnostic at a local dealer; they tell me that it's the intake manifold runner controls, but if it's not that, it's the O2 sensor. The guy I'm dealing with from Ford tells me that sometimes you have to fix problem A to get problem B to show up; meanwhile, I'm having trouble understanding how the 02 sensor is still bad if it just got fixed and why the IMRC problem didn't show up when Ford had my car in the shop to work on it. He continues to give me the run around, albeit politely, until three weeks later, when my coolant light comes on again. The engine temp starts fluctuating from the RM in NORMAL to red and back down. I check the reservoir only to find it bone dry, and whenever I add coolant or water, it ends up almost pouring out from the underside of the car.

I take the car into another local dealership since I don't think I need to be driving it on the interstate while it's overheating and leaking coolant. They come back and tell me that (1) my water pump is "shot," (2) the check engine light is on b/c of the IMRC AND (not or) the O2 sensor, and (3) the heater blower resistor recall needs to be done. Here's the funny part: the first dealership where I towed the car charged me $898 for (1) a new waterpump and (2) a new O2 sensor, and they also claimed to have done (3) the recall.

At this point, the lady at the dealership that has actually fixed my car agrees with me that it looks like the first place didn't do a damn thing to the car, especially since the recalls are entered into the computer and cleared through Detroit (she said) so that they don't get re-done at other dealerships. I got parts and labor for the water pump written off the bill since it was under warranty, but I was told that the O2 sensor they fixed was actually a different one from the one the first dealership "fixed."

So that brings me, finally, to my question: would every O2 sensor on the car have a different part number? Here's what shows up on my first bill:

1 F5RZ*9F472*B HEGO SENSOR- 'H' DPT 360 MM 4.5

And here's what shows up on my most recent bill:

FMC* F5RZ 9F472B HEGO SENSOR- 'H' DPT

Considering the first dealership's track record in this whole situation, I'm thinking that the O2 sensor I just got replaced is the same one the first place claimed to have taken care of. I've been going back and forth with these people since Memorial Day, and now that I've found out that it's highly likely they charged me for work that wasn't done, I'm livid. I definitely got taken advantage of, and from what I've heard, this dealership might do this kind of thing a lot, since it's in a college town where many of the customers are students who wouldn't know they've gotten ripped off. Sorry this was so long, but I needed to vent and I thought you all might have some words of wisdom for me. Thanks,

Emily

Emily,

Dude, I feel your pain. Like most of these cars, the water pumps tend to fall apart after 50k miles, which would cause bad overheating. It happened on my 95 GL at 70k miles and I know its happened to a lot of us. My best advice is the second that your car starts to overheat and gets in to the red is to STOP DRIVING IT IMMEDIATELY!!! Driving a car around with an engine hotter then Hitler in Hell, will ruin a lot more then just your afternoon. Also, talk to people around your town and find a good honest car garage. A lot of dealerships won't hesitate to charge up the A$$ for little to no work accomplished.

Good look with your Contour, and I hope things turn for the better.

Hi Emily,

There are 4 total O2 sensors on the V6 SVT. Two identical Upstream sensors and two identical Downstream O2 sensors. The "Ups" are positioned before the "pre-cat" built into each exhaust manifold and are VERY important to the running of the engine as they control the air-fuel ratio 99% of the time. The "Downs" are positioned after each "pre-cat" and are less important as they are only used to monitor the effectiveness of the pre-cat. I could be wrong but I do not think they have any effect whatsoever ont the running of the engine. They will however trip a CEL (check engine light)if they start running at a voltage about 30% beyond "normal" and so will the Upstream sensors at about the same point.
Both the sensors you referenced are the important Upstream sensors.
If what you say is true and you have written proof that they billed you for parts and labor for a water pump replacement that was not performed and they don't have a plausible excuse...holy crap...livid would not begin to describe my feelings. I'd be naming names to Ford and the BBB and on this forum. The consuming public, Ford, and especially you don't need that kind of blatant disrespect.

...Ed

What he said. Sounds like the first dealership didn't do squat. I'd be making a call to my local (or their local) Consumer Affairs department with the government (like the DA or the police - probably in the "blue pages" of the phone book).

The second dealership is right - the Ford system is called OASIS, and all recall work is entered through there for the reason they told you. Stick with the second dealership if you can for any future work - they sound reputable (something of a rarity for a Ford dealership). The first dealer is NOT, and the local mechanic just sounds unfamiliar with Contours (not fraudulent).