I am about to buy a 1998 Contour LX, 2.0, Automatic with 97,800 miles.
Currently I am trying to troubleshoot the intermittent temperature gauge, the air bag warning light (code 5-1), and a clunking sound in the left front when I turn sharp or into a driveway etc.

Any advice is appreciated!

-Dan

CARFAX REPORT:

Good News -- Vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee! No severe problems (major accidents, fire, flood damage, major odometer problems or lemon history) were ever reported by a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). If you find that any of these severe problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee! CARFAX Talking CarTM The story of this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) according to our interpretation of the information reported to CARFAX: It was originally registered as a corporate fleet vehicle. It was owned by a company that manages its own fleet of vehicles. These vehicles are typically used by smaller companies like banks or firms for business purposes. The ownership history for this vehicle is currently not available. It is being reviewed by the CARFAX Research Department. It has had no minor or moderate accidents reported to CARFAX. It has had no DMV-reported total loss events, like a major accident, fire or flood. It has a consistent mileage history with no indication of an odometer rollback. It was driven an average of 18,568 miles per year, which is higher than than the industry average of 15,000. The last odometer reading, reported on 12/07/2002, was 93,817 miles. It was not reported to a DMV as a Manufacturer Buyback (LEMON). Its basic warranty has expired. You may want to discuss an extended warranty with your dealer. Go to the Detailed Vehicle History for the complete history and a glossary of terms. Report Summary 1. ACCIDENT CHECK Total Loss Check No Severe Accidents Reported to DMV - Buyback Guarantee! Other Accident Indicators No Accident Indicators Reported 2. MILEAGE ACCURACY CHECK Truth-In-Mileage Check No Odometer Problems Reported to DMV - Buyback Guarantee! Odometer Rollback Check No Potential Odometer Rollback Found Mileage Consistency Check No Inconsistent Odometer Reading Found 3. LEMON CHECK® No Mfr. Buyback Reported to DMV - Buyback Guarantee! 4. OWNERSHIP CHECK Number of Owners Not available Type of Owners Originally Registered as a Corporate Fleet Vehicle 5. RECALL CHECK Recall Information Is Now Available From FORD 6. WARRANTY CHECK No Coverage Remaining on Basic Warranty DETAILED VEHICLE HISTORY 10 HISTORY RECORDS REPORTED Tell us what you know about this vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX Body Style: SEDAN 4 DR Engine: 2.0L L4 PFI 16V DOHC Fuel: GASOLINE Driveline: FRONT WHEEL DRIVE Manufactured in: UNITED STATES Safety Equipment: 4 Wheel ABS Optional, Dual front air bags/active (manual) belts Standard Equipment: Power Windows Optional, Power Steering, Air Conditioning, AM / FM, Power Brakes, Tilt Wheel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Still looking for the perfect FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX? Check out a list of them in your area. FREE to you from CARFAX. With the CARFAX Vehicle History Report, you get all this additional information to help you make the right decision when buying or selling a used car or truck. How safe and reliable is this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX? Find out with the CARFAX Safety & Reliability Report. Looking for other CARFAX Certified Cars like this one in your area? Get a complete, up-to-date list of CARFAX Certified Cars What are other CARFAX customers saying about this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX? Share what you know about this vehicle - Add a CARFAX Customer Rating & Comment. Helping your teen learn to drive? Get safe teen driving tips and information with the CARFAX Safe Teen Drivers Program. Total Loss Check: GOOD NEWS! No severe damage events were ever reported by a DMV for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). If you find that any of the following severe problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee! Salvage Title Loss Due To Fire Title Junk Title Flood Damage Title Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title Hail Damage Title Dismantled Title Canadian Total Loss Other Accident Indicators: This 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) had no accident indicators reported to CARFAX from its sources. This section checks for accidents and/or related damage reported from many public and private sources. Not all accidents are reported to CARFAX. A vehicle inspection completed by your dealer or professional mechanic is recommended. No Salvage Auction Record Reported No Crash Test Vehicle Record Reported No Fire Damage Record Reported No Airbag Deployment Record Reported No Police Accident Record Reported No Damage Disclosure Record Reported CARFAX depends on public and private sources for its accident data. Each one of these sources has different processing times. CARFAX can only report what is in our database on 19.Jun.2004 23:23:49. New data will result in a change to this report. Not all accidents are reported to the Police. Tell us if you know of other fender benders, accidents or damage. Accident Check FAQs: Accident FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center Truth-In-Mileage Check: GOOD NEWS! No major odometer problems were ever reported by a DMV under the Truth-In-Mileage Act for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). If you find that any of the following odometer problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee! Not Actual Mileage Title - issued by DMV when the owner discloses mileage fraud or a broken odometer. Exceeds Mechanical Limits Title - issued by DMV when the owner discloses an odometer rollover. Odometer Rollback Check: CARFAX found no odometer rollbacks for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). Rollbacks reported in this section originate from readings collected by a DMV or other verifiable source. Mileage Consistency Check: CARFAX found no inconsistent odometer readings in the mileage history of this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). Date: Mileage: 11/14/1997 6 11/10/1998 40,437 11/26/1998 40,539 06/26/2002 93,745 08/09/2002 93,781 12/07/2002 93,817 Average miles driven per year 18,568 CARFAX AdvisorTM Compare this vehicle's average annual mileage to the industry average of 15,000 miles per year. Use this comparison to determine how this vehicle was driven. Do you know this vehicle's current mileage? Tell us and help protect others from mileage fraud. Mileage Accuracy Check FAQs: Mileage Accuracy FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center GOOD NEWS! No manufacturer buyback was ever reported by a DMV for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). If you find that a manufacturer buyback was reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee! Lemon Check FAQs: Lemon Check FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center Ownership History: The ownership history for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) is currently not available. It is being reviewed by the CARFAX Research Department. CARFAX analyzed this vehicle's title history and other supporting events to identify potential ownership transfers. In compliance with the U.S. privacy laws, CARFAX does not collect or report owner names or addresses. CARFAX AdvisorTM The cost of ownership varies by vehicle. Go to Edmunds.com to check the recommended service schedule and estimated costs for this vehicle. Types of Owners: This 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) was originally registered as a Corporate Fleet Vehicle. No Personal Use Registration Reported Fleet Registration Reported No Lease Registration Reported No Commercial Registration Reported No Rental Registration Reported No Non-Profit Registration Reported No Taxi Registration Reported No Built to Non U.S. Standards Record Reported Do you have information about how this vehicle was used or driven? Tell us what you know. Ownership Check FAQs: Ownership FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center Recall information for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) is now available directly from FORD. Get a current list of recalls that require repair for this vehicle. Recall Check FAQs: Recall FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center CARFAX estimated the remaining original manufacturer warranty coverage for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376) using the date this report was generated (19.Jun.2004 23:23:49) and the last odometer reading reported to CARFAX. If you have a current odometer reading, you may recalculate the remaining warranty coverage. Estimated start date of warranty: 11/19/1997 Last reading reported on 12/07/2002: 93,817 miles Today's Date: June 19, 2004 Type of Coverage: Original Warranty: Estimated Remaining Coverage: Basic 36 months or 36,000 miles Coverage expired Drivetrain 36 months or 36,000 miles Coverage expired Emissions 24 months or 24,000 miles Coverage expired Corrosion 60 months or unlimited mileage Coverage expired Transferable Transferable at no cost Same Roadside Assistance 36 months or 36,000 miles Coverage expired Safety Belt & Inflatable Restraint 60 months or 50,000 miles Coverage expired Specific Components 96 months or 80,000 miles Coverage expired Notes: Manufacturer covers emissions components under basic warranty. Emissions coverage may vary by state. Refer to owners manual for specific details. Transferable: no cost, unlimited owners covered. Adjustments and bulbs are covered (except alignment and wheel balance) after 1 years or 12,000 miles. CARFAX Warranty Check provides an estimate of this vehicle's remaining warranty coverage. It does not take into account some vehicle history events. For example, major accidents resulting in Salvage or Junk titles that may void the original manufacturer warranty or ownership transfers that may decrease warranty coverage. Complete warranty coverage information is available for this vehicle at the FORD web site. Warranty Calculator FAQs: Warranty FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources and found 10 record(s) for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR/GL/SPORT/LX (1FAFP6533WK213376). Date: Mileage Reading: Source: General Comments: 10/29/1997 NICB Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer 11/14/1997 6 California Motor Vehicle Dept. Odometer reading reported for title 11/19/1997 California Motor Vehicle Dept. Title issued Loan or lien reported 11/19/1997 California Motor Vehicle Dept. Registered as corporate fleet vehicle 11/10/1998 40,437 California Inspection Station Norwalk, CA Passed emissions inspection 11/26/1998 40,539 California Motor Vehicle Dept. Bellflower, CA Odometer reading reported for title 11/18/1999 California Motor Vehicle Dept. Bellflower, CA Title issued 06/26/2002 93,745 Auto Auction Sold at auction in Pacific Southwest Region Listed as a fleet vehicle 08/09/2002 93,781 California Inspection Station Passed emissions inspection 12/07/2002 93,817 California Motor Vehicle Dept. San Bernardino, CA Title issued Tell us what you know about this vehicle Detailed Vehicle History Definitions: Fleet Vehicle Vehicle was registered or sold to a company that manages vehicle fleets. Detailed Vehicle History FAQs: Detailed Vehicle History FAQs | Glossary | Register FREE Guarantee | CARFAX Help Center