Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Another SVT Engine Is Dead!

Background:

We bought the car Aug of 2000 second hand. Car had 10K on the OD. The guy we bought it from purchased the car Dec of 1999. Car currently has 22k on the OD and still has 6 months of factory warranty. I have never raced or abused the car, nor has my wife... I admit to craving corners a lot... Yes that means some right hand corners too... :rolleyes: but have never done anything to the Contour that I haven't done in the Mustang the past 11.5 years....

I took the car in for the dreaded dash recall, :rolleyes: AC was cooling very poorly (Not at all), Oil leak, and had the usual suspension noise in the right rear area...... That was Tuesday 6/18 @ 0730. Just got another update 6/21 at 1630 and now I am being told that "Good News" and "BAD NEWS" GRRRRRRR... Good news is your new AC compressor is in and the dash has been replaced...... BUT.......

They say while working on the oil leak while trying to find it and running the engine they hear a knocking noise. So now they want proof of oil changes.... Receipts.... I ALWAYS do my own oil changes/tune-ups and general maintenance. Oil has never gone over 2500 miles since I have owned it. I have written in good detail all maint. in the maintenance logbook each time I even looked at the car... What oil/weight/filter/air-filter/dates/amounts and so forth...

So now they tell me they are calling a specialist to come look at the car/engine and my receipts to see about changing out the engine...

What suggestions does anyone have to deal with this issue. I am just crushed about the car, as I try to totally baby it as I have my old 1991 Mustang GT, but now I feel like my car is doomed to a life of poor(er) resale since it may possibly have a Ford rebuilt engine in it.

Please point me in a direction as to how to best deal with Ford... I have owned nothing but Fords the past 18 years..... So far I have owned 5 previous Fords... Do you think there is any chance they will come through and work with me... I am hesitant to say the L word... (lemon) but with all that is wrong with the car....

Sorry for ranting and running at the mouth...

Thanks,

Volcano God

someone with more insight should happen by this post soon enough...

meanwhile show ford what u have and maybe try to be nice (and knowledgeable) to the service guy...i believe once they tear your engine apart they will see that it is clean inside with no or very very little gunk which would help prove that u changed the oil regulary and at low mileage

i hope things work out for u...and u could also look into going through customer care or whatever its called...in past yrs (including with her 2000 taurus) mom has gotten good results going over the heads of the dealer to get things done...and its amazing how curteous service people can be then

Thanks gdub520 for your reply! I think I will be at the dealer when the factory rep shows up so I can defend myself and my SVT if needed. I think my Mustang is proof of how well I care for my cars. I bought the Mustang in 1991 and it has 82K on it and still looks great and RUNS great... I haven't done anything different in my care of the ContourSVT or the the way I drive the 2. But hey why say that when you can see pictures listed in my Sig....

Thanks again! Please everyone else, let me hear from ya!

Volcano God

Doubt if you will win...one of my customers 60+ with SVT accused of 'racing'...New engine out of pocket!!!

yeah they are turning me down as well- I wont go without a fight but my cars engine is now a pile of crap- I lost at least one mabey more main bearings-
the dealer knew about my problem back in Jan when I took it to them- they thought it was valve train knock- so now after a month of the car being in my garage and I goin gthrough it part by part and peice by peice - I found out that I have a taosted engine - and FoMoCo wont pay a dime

This kind of thing is why I always have the dealer change the oil and filter. They are not going to have that excuse with me. I just stand there and watch them change my oil and if I see them do something I dont like I let them know about it right then. I once had a problem and called customer service. I was told that they would try to help me, however they said they would back whatever call my dealer made. We then had a 3 way conference call between the dealer the Ford customer service rep and myself. Everything went great! I got everything taken care of the way I wanted it done. The key is DO NOT piss off the dealer[remain calm]and DO NOT piss off the Ford rep and they will be more inclined to help you. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and ideas... I always try to use tact when dealing with a lot of things. I just wanted the perpective of those that have been through this problem with Ford and how best to approach the situation.

Thanks again!!

VG

Please read this thread. It will help you when you talk to ford.

OIL STRAVATION

is it's under warrenty..fight tooth and nail..

yup! I put 6 quarts in the last oil change after thinking about the thread you posted... Shortly after I had an oil leak..... Was probably something to deal with anyway that the additional .5 quarts caused...

Thanks for the feedback! I think Ford is hoping this car goes quitely away into the night. I hope they will take one look at how clean and perfectly kept my car is and say ok, you will get a new Eng.... Well here is hoping anyway.. I guess Monday will tell all.

Thanks,

VG

Come'on man, don't let others talk you out of puttin up a fight. I've won several of these disputes where Ford thought they could get out taking responsibility. You gotta kick up a stink if you expect them to give you what you deserve. If they don't want to help you, you need to call Ford's National Customer Service Division. Threaten the dealer (if you have to). Your car is still under the FACTORY powertrain warrantee for cryin out loud! These cars have factory REV LIMITERS built in to the computers! They are made to operate within the RPM ranges as shown on your tachometer. You are rightfully entitled to a replacement eng. 90% of people will just accept the dealer's 'no' answer and walk away feeling reemed (which is what they ideally want), but the other 10% (maybe you?) will fight them and get what you deserve. Threaten to get lawyers if they still don't budge, but don't just 'accept' their standard answer that they try to give everyone