Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Just Purchased 95 Contour

Thought I'd share my experience with you all. Last month I bought a 95 Contour 2.3L with automatic. Interior was in good shape and engine ran fine but did have oil leaks with some leaks causing smoke to rise from the engine. Did get the car for a good price. I planned on working on the car myself and repairing it - second car for driving to the office, etc.

Well, I pulled the upper intake off. removed the lower intakes, removed the valve covers, found power steering pump was bad. Had to replace it (this was quite a bit of work since i had to loosen the motor mount to get to it!!! I also had to replace the oil pan gasket because it leaked badly. After putting the car back together, I found that sometimes the car would run and at other times it would not start. I did have the equipment to plug into the PCM and found that at times 3 to 4 different problems where reported and other times all was fine. When I removed the intake manifolds I did find that the injector wiring harness as well as the entire engine harness had large pieces of the insulation falling off. I was alarmed when I found this and started to do a bit of research. I did find the product recall on the Contour that provided extended warranties and free replacement for the entire wiring harness in the engine compartment. The warranty covered the car for 10 years or 100,000 miles whichever came first. My car had 114,000. Anyways I talked to the Ford dealer who talked to the Ford Rep that agreed to replace all the wiring under this recall. The only stipulation was that I pay 20% of the cost since the car was out of warranty. Well I did agree and ended up paying $222.00 for all the work. The car runs like new. The engine idles very smooth that is hard to tell it is running. The pickup this car has is impressive. I plan on keeping this car for quite awhile. Giving it a new paint job in a couple of months.

Just thought I'd share my experience... It only took be 6 years to learn about the Contour after it first came on the market!

Regards,
BT

Correction, engine is a 2.5L!!!

Congratulations on your Contour. Enjoy!

Do you know what the recall number is to have the wiring harnest replaced? I have a 95 Mystique with 92K miles and I would like to have it done if i can have it done for free. I've had some intermittent problems that i suspect may be caused by the wiring harness.

Here is the sample letter:
http://www.alldatadiy.con-ilalldata/AFhV 1 O24639~C2O9 1 7?RO~-...


October, 1999
Serial Number: 12345678901234567 Recall Number 99M03

Mr. John Sample
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345

Ford Motor Company is providing a no-charge Service Program, Number 99M03, to owners of Certain 1995 -1997 Contour and Mystique vehicles for under hood wire harness - additional coverage.

REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM
Under ambient factors of high temperature and high humidity, your vehicle may be susceptible to under hood wiring harness cracking on certain engine wiring harnesses. These harnesses deliver electrical power to the engine and its cooling and control systems, the climate control, and other power distribution systems.

WHAT WE WILL DO
Ford is voluntarily providing additional coverage.

ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE
Effective immediately, Ford is providing additional coverage for the replacement of the under hood wire harnesses on your vehicle for a period of 10 years or 100,000 miles ,which ever occurs first, from the original warranty start date. This coverage exceeds the provisions of the original component warranty coverage on your vehicle as reflected by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and is automatically transferred to subsequent owners at no charge. This additional coverage does not include normal service diagnostic or repair charges unrelated to wire harness brittleness and cracking.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please keep this letter as a reminder. If your vehicle should exhibit wiring insulation brittleness and cracking the conditions listed above during the extended coverage period provided by this program, contact your dealer. The dealer will do the repair at no charge to you. If you should lose this letter, the dealer will still honor the provisions of this coverage.

REFUNDS
If you paid to have your wire harnesses replaced due to insulation cracking before the date of this letter, Ford is offering to fully refund to you any amounts you paid. For the refund, please give your paid original receipt to your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer. To avoid delays, do not send receipts to Ford Motor Company.

CHANGED ADDRESS OR SOLD THE VEHICLE?
Please fill out the enclosed prepaid postcard and mail it to us if you have changed your address or sold the
I of 1 11/26/2001 6:24PM

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