Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting HELP URGENTLY

>>I will certainly be back there tomorrow to have them removed, armed with pages from this forum as evidence of Ford incompetance.<<

Good luck. I took a dozen or so pages printed off this forum from several threads dealing with the clunking to the dealer when I went back to ask them to remove the guards. The service manager wouldn't even read them and instead just stood there reciting that it was a safety recall.

If they won't remove them it takes less than 1/2 hour to do it yourself. Plus, you can verify that the lug nuts were torqued correctly when you put the wheels back on and it is a great opportunity to inspect your brake pads. You'll need a Torx #40 bit, a ratchet, an extension and a small adjustable wrench for the guards.

Jeff

I see that this problem of clunking I quite wide spread. I too had this problem. I originally got the recall done because my front left coil was busted in 2 places. They had to order the coils and would not let me take my car sighting a Saftey Hazard!
Oh well the gave me a loaner (damn 4cyl).

But I returned just this Friday complaining of the clunk. The mechanic got in there and looked at the guards (they actually let me into the service bay to watch) and couldn't find a problem. So we went for a test drive, he heard the clunk and back to the service bay we go.

The mechanic then took off the guards and examined them, there where signs of rubbing(catching more like it) on the top edge of the inside guard and on the bottom edge of the outside guard. After confering with the service manager they removed the guards and he contacted some higher up Ford service guy.

GUESS WHAT?

There is an "UPDATED" Spring Guard Kit. It's on order and I hope it doesn't do it when the put the new ones back in.

At least we aren't paying for it! Imagine the bill I would have had if I had replaced the coils before the recall.

I just saw an update on this recall. I think it hit QCDealer (where the dealers can down load the information) on Thursday or Friday.

The revised instructions say to not install the kit if the car has tires other than the sizes listed on their inflation sticker on the door post. What was not mentioned is how the dealer was to clear the recall from OASIS if the recall couldn't be done.

There is also clearification on how to install the guards.

This really does sound like it is a not well thought out recall.

I have not yet had a car come in for this recall. I think California cars are not involved.

Big Jim, the recall is only for us poor slobs who live in cold weather states. Of course, I had the clunk and I run stock sized 205/55R16's. Lots of help there. Stupid Ford.

I'd love to hear what the differences are in the "revised" guard. If they had a set that worked, I'd let them put it on. Better safe than sorry you know. But I'm not going to drive with a so-called safety fix that could be doing more harm than good. Until then, I just have to pray that PennDOT keeps the anti-skid mixture high on gravel and low on salt.

You know what else is funny? I have NEVER received an Owner Notification letter on this one. Or the extended warranty for the springs either. I did get the one for the heater blower resistor. I say again: Stupid Ford. Maybe I should call NHTSA and see if they can get me my letter.

SVT's are not included!

I checked the revised recall again today. It specifically excludes SVT's. There really isn't a lot of room for something like this.

Now my "bad logic" light is burning. If we have the same springs (?) then we are at as great a risk of damaged tires as any other Contour. What is Ford doing to keep us SVT drivers safe from these poor quality springs? Ford is really asleep at the wheel on this one!

same with me

nullQuestion: is all the Ford dealer doing is installing coil spring guards and not replacing the springs? This is about their speed (backwards), like the cooling fan fuse install. They do not replace the (maybe) defective fan motor and stick a fuse in that will blow when it craters. Then they sell you a new cooling fan assembly for $400 - what a rip. The coil spring breaks, the guard keeps the spring from carving up a tire so avoiding an accident, sell (former) customer new springs, blame state work crews for using salt to melt snow and ice instead of the spring supplier.

I know what you mean. I had the #3 Yellow fuse go in my 98 Contour, which turned out to be an ABS contorl and Ford's fix was basically this:

"If this fuse goes, replace it. If it goes again, replace it with a 80 amp fuse instead of a 60 amp. (Well, duh, since it controls not only the blower fan, but the ABS too!!) If this problem persists, replace the ABS Module." (Which fixed it)


Another thing, Should I even get this recall? I live in Erie, Pennsylvania where they use alot of salt, and I don't want that damn spring flying through my tire. But, at the same time, I don't want to hear that noise all the time when I drive, and I do wash the underbody of my car regularly. Is this something I should worry about?

Where did you see this? I'd like to take a copy of it with me when I go back to the dealer and ask them to remove those damn things so I can drive my car without it sounding like it's falling apart!

While having warranty work done on my 95 SE, I told Hill Ford of a problem with the L tail/brake light not always working. They suggested replacing the bulb first, and offered to do so for $20. I told them nicely to stick it and went to Wal-Mart where I got 2 bulbs for something like $1.50