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Joined: Feb 2006
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I have heard so much bad press about the Ford Contour. Is the reliability issue with this vehicle real? Do Contours fail more often than other like vehicles? I'm looking for the real answer from current owners.
-sp
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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my waterpump broke once which is pretty much a regular fix if you have the plastic empellar pump. Ive honestly never had any problems with mine other than regular maintenance.
Jim Hahn
1996 T-Red Contour SE Reborn 4/6/04
3.0L swap and Arizona Dyno Chip Turbo Kit
364 whp, 410 wtq @ 4,700 rpm
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 733
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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My tranny is giving me problems; the strut recall was never done, and now I have steering problems; alternator is crappy; a/c doesn't cool well; and now I have arcing spark plug wires. My car is currently collecting dirt in front of my garage, waiting to be driven again. Haven't driven it in almost 3 weeks.  I need to find time to fix those problems. Among the things I need to install for the car's improvement is the throttle hang fix, installing a tranny fluid cooler, recharging the freon, and a few other things that I can't remember.
Is my car for sale? PM me if you're in South FL.
Originally posted by XKontour98:
Haha that's awesome! Go GM!
YES, SIR!!!
General Aviation is Looking good right now...http://www.beapilot.com
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 66
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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I have a 98 GL with 120,000 on it I have replaced the timingbelt/water pump. My tranny failed at about 105,000 about 3 months after I had the tranny flushed I personally blame the flush I've heard since how much of a bad idea it is especially on a transmission that has been poorly maintained like mine was.
98 T-Red SVT #540
98 T-Red GL ATX (Family Truckster)
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by sprindl:
I have heard so much bad press about the Ford Contour. Is the reliability issue with this vehicle real? Do Contours fail more often than other like vehicles? I'm looking for the real answer from current owners.
-sp
Issue?
I've had good luck with mine. A few recalls early on. A waterpump failure at just over 50k.
Nothing you wouldn't find on a Porsche, except with cheaper parts and service.
Depends what you consider a "like vehicle."
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,116
Hard-core CEG\'er
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besides hitting a deer with it, no. But then again it was the deers fault. up to 170K on original tranny, clutch, waterpump.
95 SE MTX
svt exhaust
intake
deer killer
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,118
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ive had mine car for a little over 2 years and have had no problems with it, with 57k on the clock. other than regular maintanance, i havent had to do any major work on this car. i think its a great car
kevin m
98 T-red mystique gs
zetec ATX
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by gilroynewball:
My tranny is giving me problems; the strut recall was never done, and now I have steering problems; alternator is crappy; a/c doesn't cool well; and now I have arcing spark plug wires.
My car is currently collecting dirt in front of my garage, waiting to be driven again. Haven't driven it in almost 3 weeks. I need to find time to fix those problems.
Among the things I need to install for the car's improvement is the throttle hang fix, installing a tranny fluid cooler, recharging the freon, and a few other things that I can't remember.
^GRUMP^
TRANNY? well alot of cars that hit 10 years old have tranny problems...
What strut recall?
Alternators where out all the time...
If your compressor is crap and the freon had to be recharged, thats why it doesn't cool...
Throttle hang isn't a real issure, the fix does improve performance.
oh course a tranny cooler will extend the life of the tranmission if you drive long lenghts where the fluid gets to high temps...the problem is most people don't need one and its semi impratical to install them on all cars.
The biggest problems with the contour fleet:
1. The water pump was made with a plastic impeller that can break for obvious reasons..
2. the ATX tranny isn't the best in the world, but if you don't abuse it will do fine and last into 100k no problem. Problem is most people are 2nd owners, and the trannys were abused by one of them 
3. the valve covers have funny PCV valves elbows that seem to degrade with age and cause leaks on the intake. Leaky intake = stalled car.
4. The age of the fleet is causing some of the vehicles to fail. After 10 years any car model will starting having AC problems, altnater problems, spark issues, etc. Its called old age, not crappy design. ALOT of these problems can be avoided if the car hasn't been abused.
Basicly like all used car purchases, its a gamble. Test drive the car for a distance before you buy. Make sure there is no leaks of oil. Look over the car to see if there are any give aways it was in an accident. Car-Fax is a must, its almost stupid not too.
On a personal note I love my contour and I've had it for a year and a half. Its a great car that will give you some thrills and everyday usability.
1998 SE Duratec V6 ATX
Ebay intake with K&N Filter
Trubendz Exhaust
Custom Hood
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like any car...it depends on who you ask..there's lemons in every tree...personally, i havent had any problems..i dont count wear items..like altenator,wp..i never had the wp issues...i'm still on the original clutch tranny,would be on the engine too,but i wanted a little more performance...now on the other hand we have some member who've had nothing but issues,just look in the troubleshooting forum for example,but like stated before it depends on the previous owner and preventitive maintence,so many people dont do the latter,they prefer the repair maintance for some reason??? than [censored] about how bad the car is...try owning a last generation jetta if you wont bad build quality
"Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but STUPID lasts forever."-Aristophanes.
--93 pgt,headers,intake,borla=14.9 1/4mile
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Originally posted by gilroynewball:
a/c doesn't cool well
Really, mine is probably the coldest of any car I've owned and I bought it used. It's never been serviced either, currently at 78,000 miles. Still blows hard and cold.
Gilroy, if you wouldn't drive your Contour so fast trying to get it to fly it would probably drive a bit better. j/k 
Kip
98 CSVT
Black/Midnight Blue
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