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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 26
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 26 |
Now that I've had the opportunity to work on my (new to me) '95 Contour, and work on it and work on it and work on it ad infinitum...... I vote we form a punitive expedition to the Ford factory and kick somebodies ass  This isn't a car, it's a cruel joke. Can you say "I'll never buy another Ford product as long as I live ?".
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,506
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,506 |
So when my '65 Electra convertible died in 1977 and my '69 Mach 1 died in 1979, I was wrong to NOT berate Buick and Ford over how my cars did not live longer?
Or instead, is your gripe that the Contour is a pain to work on, as the engine bay is stuffed so tightly? That one I can agree with.
MSDS, SHO-shop Y, custom 2.5" catback; xcal2; 63mm TB, K&N 3530; Koni struts, Aussie bar; THaines forks, Quaife, SpecII, UR fly; DMD; Nima UD pullies; Stazi brakes; f&r Pole120 mounts. Just a daily commuter car. Silver '98 SVT E0 #3159
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 26
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 26 |
No, I've just about had it with ALL makes of cars. I've been a professional mechanic (automotive, motorcycle, marine and small engine) for over 35 years and believe me I've seen some real sorry excuses for engineering but this Contour is almost in a class by itself.
Simple maintenence operations are a nightmare and common component replacement is ludicrus.
Drain the radiator, well first you have to jack up the car and remove the lower valance panel (the one with the crappy rusted hardware) then unscrew the crappy little squirt gun drain screw that was engineered to hide behind a frame rail where you can just barely get a tool on it.
How about replace the water pump? Simple once you remove a motor mount, the serpentine belt, a bunch of guards, the power steering pump and the timing belt. Oh yeah, if you touch any of the belts you also have to replace the tensioners cause they're one time use.
Or the rear brakes ? What a friggin' chore that is. It would be easier if you could remove the rear hubs but they're one time use also. If you pull them you have to replace them.
Or the wiring in the engine compartment. Never mind that it's wired like a TV, if you disturb any of them the insulation crumbles in your fingers.
Oh, and the springs on the struts broke. First car out of hundreds that I've owned where the springs just broke.
I stand by my earlier statement, somebody at Ford deserves an ass whippin'.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840 |
Sounds to me like you've got a lemon. Some of those troubles I haven't heard of on a Contour at all.
Troll. 1997 VW Jetta MkIII GLS 5spd
All hail my appearance on CEG!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,007
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,007 |
Originally posted by bill c.:
No, I've just about had it with ALL makes of cars. I've been a professional mechanic (automotive, motorcycle, marine and small engine) for over 35 years and believe me I've seen some real sorry excuses for engineering but this Contour is almost in a class by itself.
Simple maintenence operations are a nightmare and common component replacement is ludicrus.
Drain the radiator, well first you have to jack up the car and remove the lower valance panel (the one with the crappy rusted hardware) then unscrew the crappy little squirt gun drain screw that was engineered to hide behind a frame rail where you can just barely get a tool on it.
How about replace the water pump? Simple once you remove a motor mount, the serpentine belt, a bunch of guards, the power steering pump and the timing belt. Oh yeah, if you touch any of the belts you also have to replace the tensioners cause they're one time use.
Or the rear brakes ? What a friggin' chore that is. It would be easier if you could remove the rear hubs but they're one time use also. If you pull them you have to replace them.
Or the wiring in the engine compartment. Never mind that it's wired like a TV, if you disturb any of them the insulation crumbles in your fingers.
Oh, and the springs on the struts broke. First car out of hundreds that I've owned where the springs just broke.
I stand by my earlier statement, somebody at Ford deserves an ass whippin'.
Well, yes the engine bay is tight...
The rear drums on my old 99 mystique were a little time consuming sure, but if you're careful and observent its really no trouble... 
The insulation for the engine harness has a recall, I believe its 10 years, 100k miles, TALK TO A DEALER
The springs were a recall item as well, on my 98 they installed crappy metal protectors, i will soon replace them with stock 99 or 00 springs...
These cars have issues, but there is definitely worse out there... 
1998 Mystique LS:
-2.5 Duratec ATX
-Vibrant White
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=Pics=
=Info=
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,779
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,779 |
Quote:
Now that I've had the opportunity to work on my (new to me) '95 Contour, and work on it and work on it and work on it ad infinitum......
I vote we form a punitive expedition to the Ford factory and kick somebodies ass
This isn't a car, it's a cruel joke.
Can you say "I'll never buy another Ford product as long as I live ?".
It's a $2000 car, what do you expect? 
99 SVTC, T-Red, #652/2760-12.8.1998
Mother#@%@!* did I sound abstract?
I hope it sounded more confusin than that!
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,301
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,301 |
I agree, the car has some problems, and it can be very hard to work on due to there being no room. But its not the worst I have seen. Almost every car ever made will have at least one area that makes you wonder what the designers were thinking when they put the car together.
One bolt you cant reach, taking 3 parts off to get to one part, etc. Check out a Ford Y block sometime. If you dont turn the engine upside down, all the lifters and pushrods fall into the oil pan if you take the camshaft out 
-Ken V.
1998.5 SE Praire Tan Zetec ATX
psycho_bass@hotmail.com
Roush springs Roush rear sway bar BAT struts 17" Millie Miglia HT3 and a ton of subtle asthetic mods
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,223
"Absolut Rara."
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"Absolut Rara."
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,223 |
Fwiw, the contour is notorious in the Ford world (inside the company) for being a nightmare to work on. A lot of Ford old timers won't even claim it as a real Ford product because it is such a pain. Most of the basic package work was done by Ford of Europe.
I can say that Ford is working very hard on all new designs, and every time an old design changes, to make them easier to service. But a big problem is that between government regulations and consumer demand for more bells and whistles, we end up having to squeeze ten pounds of stuff into a five pound bag . . .
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