Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches California precat failure?

My '96 SE at 86K miles had the check engine light go on. Dealer claims the front precat and maybe the back precat are bad and need to be replaced (including $135 for diagnostic hookup to determine the CE code). Total cost for both precats is ~$1500! Parts cost is around $650 for the front cat and $250 for the back cat. Seems pretty excessive to me.

Is this a common failure? Cost appropriate? Should I be concerned about the main cat - while everything is apart should I just replace that also? Have I heard correctly that precat replacement requires removing an axle? That makes me nervous, CV joints being what they are ...

Also, I've replaced brakes every 25K miles - pads AND rotors! Granted, I'm not easy on the brakes, and I live in steep hills, but that still seems like excessive wear to me. And no, I don't wait until it's metal-on-metal.

Unrelated, but since it seems to be a common failure: Water pump died at 70K, and replacement at 80K. Dealer now claims to have put in a new-style water pump, that Ford has determined that the old style ones had a high failure rate (duh).

I'd have to say that my 'tour has not exhibited the same reliability as my former cars (Toyota and Honda - the 'tour has had more minor failures which I haven't mentioned here) - but it's a lot more fun to drive!


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don't streess, they are much more fun to drive, and let me be the first to say that I hear ya on the foreign car lasting longer, I drive a rice mobile to work everyday and the wife takes the tour, everyday she comes home with this race and that race and I smoked this guy and that guy thought he was slick, any way I have never changed any thig on my acuda and it runs like new I have how ever just changed the water pump on my car as the group could tel ya the last drive was cut short for me cause of it, and they put that new one in there and I will say that my car defintly runs cooler alot cooler. If you don't have a warranty try steer clear of taking your car to ford. it is like taking your car to midas for breas of jiffy lube for oil they will tell you everyting under the hood is either broke or going fast and they will try to get all of your money, you see most of the service writers over at ford are former car sales men, any way. I have some good places to take your car if you need a good mech. just let me know.

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Marshall,Chris
Black
98 contour V6
Tinted Windows
Borred Air Box
dual exaust
Super charged"just kidding"
San Jose
marshallc@mindspring.com
future mods" New rims, lowering about 2"s and cold air intake mod of some kind!!!

Marshall, thanks for the reply, and yep, I could use a good mech (I just post a request for same not 5 mins ago :-) so feel free to let me know who you like to use. My dealer seems reasonably competent (well, I'm hoping) but as you noted, pricey. Most things they work on they actually fix, so I take that as a good sign.

Oddly enough my car runs a tad hotter after the (first) water pump, possibly because they also replaced the thermostat (which was the actual failure which stranded me, the pump was noticed to be leaking when they fixed the 'stat, but it hadn't actually failed yet). But it doesn't seem to to overheat, it's just that the normal running temperature is now a bit higher.

Yeah I hear ya on the pump, I have a 98 and my temp was always high, yet once they changed it to the new one it is always alot cooler, The guy I would like to recomend is a guy I really trust he does great work and he is in sunnvale, His name is Mike him and his dad are the owners of Zucatto's auto care, they are on Evelynn ave cross street is Mary ave. give them a call and tell mike that marshall sent ya!! good luck

Are you talking about the cat converter? If so it's cheaper to purchase super-flow ones.

I have a very trustworthy mechanic you can go to. My dad worked there for 15 years and I worked there a couple summers. They always tell you the truth and never screw ya. They are not the cheapest in certain areas but not expensive either. They do very good work. I have never had to return my car for a repair they just did. They do it right the first time.

Sounds good to me! Want to post name/addr/phone info?

I'm referring to the pre-catalytic converter; my 'tour has two of these, in addition to the main cat converter. Apparently these are there to lower emissions when the car is cold (a cat converter has to get warm before it works, and the precats are both much smaller and closer to the engine so they warm up much faster). I've heard it's not street legal to remove them even if you still meet emissions tests, but I have no idea if it's true (could be, since you normally run an emissions test after the car has warmed up, and at that point the main cat would be working, so just passing the test wouldn't mean you weren't spewing emissions when cold).

Can you tell me more about super-flow converters (either main or precat)?

I think the address is 1850 Old Almaden Rd.
San Jose 95112? Phone is 1-408-267-1114. Don't think it will matter if you mention my name or not. But it's Josh Tanner. Ron Kobesak is owner. You will probably speak with him, if he is there.

my 2 cents on the matter-
the precats are supposed to be in the y-pipe. you may want to ask in a forum to make sure, but that's how it is on the newer cars, 98+.
so, if you just replace the y-pipe, with something like a sho-shop y-pipe, not only will your problem go away, but you're car will be more fun.
if you really wanna stay legal though, don't do this. chances are that no smog check will ever know what you did, but if you dont wanna stray that way, you can buy an oem one.
removing an axle should not be necassary, you just need to get the car in the air, i think it's just a couple of bolts.

-jason


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