Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Eastern Canada Good Shop for my tour in Waterloo/Guelph?

Well, guys, here's a bit of an update. Apparently, the transmission fluid is now shaved gear soup, and the whole thing needs to be rebuilt!

Good news was that the flywheel was properly installed. (Starter motor needs replacing, but he'll do that for me, since it comes off when he does the tranny.)

Bottom line: C$3,300 (incl tax) less the warranty pittance ( C$900) means its gonna run me C$ 2,400. Yikes! His logic is that when he rebuilds (he does CD4e's all the time) he knows which kits are best, personally does the rebuild, and he stands by it. He also does custom work, and he knows which combination of kits give the most reliable performance.

Talked it over with the missus, and she reckons, as do I, that if I plan to keep the car, we should do it properly. The work comes with a 2 year no questions guarantee, he'll fix the sticky shifter, and the misaligned shift light, and as a bonus, he'll do the O2 sensor while he's back there.

This takes the contour's 'cost' to me up to (before tax) about $6000, which (opinions please) may be still a reasonable deal. (New flywheel, bulletproof tranny) Mark, you've seen the car, albeit in the dark, whaddya think?

Next question: Since the tranny is off, its on a hoist, and I'm clearly jinxed when I do anything to the car, any recommendations for jobs which might be easy for him to do? He says if the part is accessible, I just have to buy the part, and if labour is quick (ie a few minutes, he'll happily do it. (This guy gives me a real good feeling of confidence.)

Lemme know,

Cheers,
T

I still say deal. The engine will have only 128000kms on it and it should be a pretty good performer after this I should think. Is it a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty? If so big bonus. Either way Get er done I say. Sorry to hear about the soup but next time I say go with the chicken noodle and not the tranny type.

Wheeee!

Got my car back tonight!

It was pricy, but now I think I know why you guys like these expensive, soul destroying, skin chewing but fast, comfy cars!

Turns out the flywheel was the only thing they did right. The munged everything else. Two of the engine mounts were shot (should have been replaced) they slid the gearbox to one side to do it, bent and damaged a ton of stuff (including the transmission lines) and the starter was fubar and fell in two when he took it out. Oh, and the alignment was waaay off.

Needless to say, I'll be talking to the (non-Ford) dealer who sold me the car soon. He's planning to (so he thinks) submit a claim later. I'm not going to be a part of it. I would have, if the car had been right. In fact, now I'm thinking of suing, since I spent as much on the bloody rebuild as I did on the car in the first place. In the seven weeks I've owned it, its been in the shop for three of them, for one reason or another, and has cost an additional $3800, on a $4000 car.

I know I sounds like I'm a whinging baaastid here, but I figure I'm owed something . The lemon-aid people (Phil Edmonstone's (sp?) group) think I have a strong case to sue/settle for non-merchantable quality, certainly the dealer, and possibly Ford.

Maybe that's for another thread, time to close this one out.

Bottom line, 2 year unlimited warranty (well, 50,000 km), including a tow if necessary. New starter, also a 2 year warranty, me a bit poorer, but well happy with the car. And, I found a damn good, meticulous, conscientious mechanic for any big jobs I might need in future.

And a sh!t-hot car!

Now I can do some simple, easy stuff, like actually clean it up! It was filthy when I got it.

Cheers,
Tim

Glad you have it back Tim. Is it feeling quicker now by chance? Sorry for the headaches but if it helps I bought the Mystique with the bad engine @ 74000kms. Now 100000kms of relatively minor mechanical stuff later. Aside from the onging leaky head gasket crap. Hopefully you get the same. I'll be knocking on wood for the both of us.

Oh, yes. Definitely feels like it has a lot in reserve. The engine sounded good before, once it ran, and now it can actually transfer the power to the rubber.

I'm not a fast driver necessarily, but I know how to handle a car (UK Advanced Motorist, Test admin by Traffic police). FYI Web site http://www.iam.org.uk/

It sure glues itself to the road, doesn't it? Handling is very sure and solid, even in rain. And, I get to go to work every morning on the 'twisties' so I'm looking forward to stretching it out a little.

The money thing I'm treating totally seperate from the actual car. The car is a doozie. The money I'm not happy with, but I'll deal with it later.

Tomorrow, I'm going for my first real road test.

BTW, after several test drives (cycles) the O2 sensor (replaced) seems to be fine, and there are no hard or pending codes. Looks like (gulp) smooth sailing all the way now (hand is firmly touching wooden desk as I say that ).

Cheers,
T

Tim, what was the name of the shop/mechanic that did your work? It would be good for the future if any of us plan some tranny upgrades .