Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Need some postive thinkers

Bought my 98 SE sport 2.5 exactly 4 weeks ago. Have already fixed door jamb switches, sticky seat tracks (both seats), warped rotors, ignition switch, and today I find out from my local Ford dealer my Contour now is asking for a new trans. Apparently it wasn't treated very well by the previous (moron) owner. Question is, is this normal? The car has 50K, but a new trans? I know dealers are replacement artists, but this seems extreme. This car is bringing me down, but I am trying real hard to like the car. Plus, the dealer I bought it from (not the same as who's fixing it, thank goodness) has yet to inform the warranty company that I paid for a warranty, so my car is disabled while I get to staighten all this horse*** out between 3 different parties. Your job is to tell me how much fun it'll be once I finish repairing my whole car. Thanks guys.

Sorry big guy but when you buy someone elses car you dont' know what your getting no matter what make or model!

-Andy

Turtle98,

Find out what is wrong with the transmission.
There are several things that can go wrong this the ATX that is due to MALFUNCTIONS and not abuse.
The CD4E is known to blow the pump seal and to fix it requires pulling the transmission.
The ValveBodies are also made of low grade aluminum that is prone to wear.
This wear can cause a number of malfunctions.

You can check all of this out at Trans Online

Good Luck !!!

It'll be worth the wait (I think thats what you're wanting to hear)

Actaully, the guys doing the work are pretty cool with the whole thing. they told me the trans wasnt worth fixing, thats how bad it looks inside. Had the valve body problem, plus shift solenoids and some sensors, too. So they figured, hell, its a warranty job, lets just replace the whole thing. I just hope all is well when I get it back. Im gonna check that link.

well if its warrently- let em fix EVERYTHING they want to who cares!! less you have to deal with later- FFIW I love my Tour and I will sorely miss her when I sell her! ill have to buy another one eh?

Just tell the dealer you bought it from either they straighten the warranty thing out or 1) you contact the B.B.B. 2) you contact an attorney about inacting the lemon law protection and 3) you contact your local newpaper to make sure the general public knows about there business practices!! We had to do this when hubby bought his 89 Z-24 and 3&5 gear went out in a matter of weeks, really made the dealer sit up and pay attention!! Good luck!! As for the tour, I LOVE mine and would never consider selling it for any reason, she's going from my driveway straight to the junkyard, hopefully in many years, when she can no longer be kept alive!!

I bought a used 95 about 1.5 years ago. Had 82K on it. I just assumed there was going to be stuff that had to be fixed especially during the first year. I budgeted $1000 for repairs in first year...ended up spending exactly that...but only by putting off $225 of brake work for about 6 mo.

Mine is only a 4 cyl GL (mtx though ) but I like it so much I am trying to buy another as this one has been promised to my Daughter as a graduation/birthday present. She likes the car a lot too.

I don't know how much fun yours will be though, since it is an atx... :p

hell long as its under warranty let them replace it...just had mine replaced under warranty and glad i did....cost me less than 900 with other work also being done and total bill was over 4000!!! warranty covered over 3k worth of repairs and i only paid 1500 for it when i bought the car...

im secretly wishing my engine would go before my last 3k miles are up...if it does i'll ask them if i can just have a 3.0 swapped in instead of the 2.5 ...anyone can do the warranty repair so if its goes i'll just have it towed somewhere other than ford....i know they wont go for it but i can tell them the 3.0 swap would be cheaper

oh yeh the tranny swap was 2700 dollars of the bill plus a waterpump, thermostat and some other things

also when researching contours before buying i found that sound early models had tranny issues brand new and alot of them were replaced by the dealer no questions asked....i dont know if this was an issue with later models

Have the Warranty take care of the probs and then sit back and enjoy.