Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting More Problems With My Car.........

On Thanksgiving, I took a trip up north, and the whole entire way up there, my car shook! Actually, more like a REALLY bad vibration. The steering wheel didn't vibrate much, if any at all, but you could feel underneath the entire car vibrating. You could even feel it all the way up the drivers seat. Hell - I WAS VIBRATING...

I have had this car for exactly three weeks today, and already I'm having problems with it!

At two weeks, there was jerking/hesitation. And the dealership just "assumed" that there was water in the gas tank, or spark plugs. They said they would not look at it unless I paid $98.00.

I know that the vibration under my car will not be covered under warranty, so I called the dealership today, and instead of talking to my sales guy, I asked to speak with who ever runs the entire dealership.

I spoke to this guy named "Walter" and I told him what was wrong, and that I shouldn't be responsible for this, that THEY should have to fix it. He told me that he is the "New Car Manager" and that I need to speak with the "Used Car Manager." I told him that the used car manager was a "jerk" (to put it nicely), and that I didn't want to talk to him. So this lady from the "Customer Relations Dept" is supposed to call me shortly.

I just think it is ridiculous that I have to do these repairs on a car that I JUST bought. I honestly do not think they even looked at this car before they sold it. It's like they cleaned it up, and put it on the lot.

So I suppose I'll give them three options.

1.) Fix my car
2.) Take my car back
3.) Law Suit

It's their choice.

AT 60K the car ought to drive pretty well!
I only wish my '95 GL ran like it did when it was at 60K!
Mine is at 175K and I drive it 48 miles to and from work almost every day.
All this and my wife drove the car hard (well over 100 miles per day) for several years.

I wouldn't get too despondant because a fairly minor problem can make a car run bad.

Keep on them and maybe they will make it right.

If they have to deal with you every day they will eventually figure-out that it is easier to make you happy than listen to you everyday!

My dad used to be the master at this technique.
I used to think that he was being a bastard, but I eventually learned that if you make yourself enough of a problem they will take care of your problem so you will LEAVE!

I have to do this myself from time to time!
It is much easier for them to make you leave then to deal with the problem.
Switch it around on them and they'll move.

IT CAN BE FUN!

DB

your tires are probably out of balance and causeing the shakeing you can have them rotated and balanced for less then a $100

Sounds like tires to me too.

just go in a weddle it out of em:

step one: walk in and state your problem to the manager if he doesnt fix your problem move on to step 2.

step 2: give him no warning, just repeat the folloing word as fast as you can in a monotone voice:

WEEDLE WEEDLE WEEDLE WEEDLE WEEDLE WEEDLE...

EVENTUALLY HE WILL GIVE IN...DONT GIVE UP!

i have the same car u do. i bought mine at 41,000 miles and it ran beautiful for like 3 weeks. then it all was down hill from there. i now have 78,777 miles on the car. i have replaced the mass air flow sensor, catalitic converter under warrenty from ford till 80,000, 2 speed sensors oh and lets not forget a transmission. let's see i've had the sway bar fixed once. i had every recall done onthe car know to date. not just because either. it had to be done. my front spring broke and wore a grove in the tire. oh i have had loads of fun with my 98 ford contour v6. i am now looking at putting a brand new computer in my car. thank god it's also under warrenty till 80,000 miles. right now i owe just over 6,000 dollars on my car and it sits in my grams drive way because it won't even turn over i am hving it towed to a dealer tomarrow to have it fixed yet again.i have had the car for just over 2 years. the car has been in the shop since the beginning of august so just waitt he best is yet to come. my fav saying i love my contour when it runs right

Karilyn, you might also contact the local newspaper or TV station consumer advocate. Most times, just a call from the media will get these guys in gear to make things right.

If you do it soon enough, before it gets to be a BIG problem, everybody will be happier in the long run. Especially you, & that's what counts.

JimR

Oh, phooey!

You bought a used car. In the window was a sticker that told you what your rights were as far as any warranty. Read it. You and the dealer are both bound by its terms.

You should have had the option to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic of your choice prior to completion of the purchase. Did you do this?

Did you thoroughly inspect and test drive the car prior to purchase?

The vibration is probably due to an unbalanced tire. You might have thrown a wheel weight or a tire might have failed after you purchased the car. Balance and rotation can be done for about $40 or less at almost shop.

The hesitation/jerking is likely because the car is in need of some preventative maintenance. New plugs and wires come to mind. Parts cost for these is around $75 at Advanced Auto parts.

Fix the car and quit whining.

Steve

Yes, I bought the car used, and yes, there is a warranty that the dealership & I are bound by. BUT when I bought this car, I bought it so I would have something *reliable* to drive back and forth to my new job, which is farther away from where I live. When you buy a car from a dealer, you don't, or atleast I don't expect to have to put $100 + into it the FIRST month that I have it!

When I bought this car, I test drove it for THREE days before hand. They let me take it home on Friday, and keep it until Monday. Nothing seemed out of place, or wrong, except some shaking in the rear brakes/tires when I would brake. They "supposedly" fixed it - but it has come back too.

So if I'm being cheap for not fixing this on my own - or being "Whiney", than I apologize. I just know that I am not putting the money into this car when I just bought it. I'm sure many people feel the same way that I do.

i had the same promblem too karilyn. my car was hesitating they said it was my fuel pump cause it had been replaced a week before i got the car. so now 2 yrs later after we fixed the hesitation with no money cost at all. go call ford motor company dont call the dealer and and say you bought this car useed and just explain the sistuation keep bugging them and also ask FMC if theres any recalls u have to do on your car did u get this car from a ford dealer or another dealer? well good luck karilyn