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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 753
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 753 |
Originally posted by Ferret II:
Originally posted by spgoode:
How many miles on ferret II?
Hi. Just turned 60K
 Oh yeah, 60k service.
I hope you get a new engine out of it and reimbursement for a rental car. Good luck!
Dueling Duratecs
'95 SE V6 MTX 0 Mods
'04 Mazda6 S Wagon
'03 Kawasaki Z1000
But thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful!
Friedrich Nietzsche
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27 |
Originally posted by Ronan:
I dont know US law, but in Ireland if my engine died while in the custody of someone responsible for repairing and servicing, I would most certaintly be getting a lawyer involved if the garage was not willing to replace/repair the motor... *snip* ...My timing chains were replaced at 58k miles because they were loose for a while and in danger of damage. They made an awful rattling noise, and still did not snap!... *snip* ...Unless you signed a disclaimer stating that the garage accept no responsibility of damage, I think they have no choice but to replace your engine.
Good luck with getting your baby back in order 
Thanks Ronan! A reply all the way from Ireland. Boy the internet is cool...
I didn't sign anything and clearly (from your story - thanks! - and those of others) apparently the timing chains rarely, if ever, bust out of the blue on these Duratec engines ... so I've got my heart sort of hung on it being an issue with the clutch not disengaging due to air in the system, resulting in no or much less damage than a "dead engine". I am surely fond of Ferret II!
I'll send an update tomorrow. Hopefully I won't have to go down any nasty roads, but, if so... I could probably make a living myself helping wronged consumers' get their money back - an arena in which being a bit obsessive and detail-oriented can actually help for once! Thanks again. Lynn
Lynn
'95 Contour SE MTX, electric red, "Ferret II"
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 363 |
Quote:
I'm assuming you have a V-6 because the 4 cylinder is a NON-interference engine. No such damage should happen on the 4 banger.
I thought that the V6 was the NON-interference engine and the 4cyl was the interference type.
98 Mystique GS V6 - K&N, projectors
91 Mustang LX 5.0L
00 Jetta TDI, Yay, I bought it !!
95 VW Getta TD - RIP: Nov.3,2005
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714
Scourge of the Master Debaters
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714 |
No, its exactly the opposite. That's why the Zetec has a timing belt and the Duratec has a timing chain. If everytime a belt slipped or broke on a Zetec you'd have a lot of pissed off people on these boards.
Beer is my Gatorade.
Hooray Beer.
'98 "Sport" Pacific Green
'98 E0 SVT Silver Frost
Pictures
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
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Originally posted by weasel:
Quote:
I'm assuming you have a V-6 because the 4 cylinder is a NON-interference engine. No such damage should happen on the 4 banger.
I thought that the V6 was the NON-interference engine and the 4cyl was the interference type.
Hi. I think all Contour SE models (by definition) have the V6 Duratec, an interference engine.
Lynn
'95 Contour SE MTX, electric red, "Ferret II"
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 363 |
Crap, I was wrong. Don't tell my wife 
98 Mystique GS V6 - K&N, projectors
91 Mustang LX 5.0L
00 Jetta TDI, Yay, I bought it !!
95 VW Getta TD - RIP: Nov.3,2005
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166 |
Originally posted by Ferret II:
so I've got my heart sort of hung on it being an issue with the clutch not disengaging due to air in the system, resulting in no or much less damage than a "dead engine". I am surely fond of Ferret II!
This seems strange to me though. Even if the clutch was not fully disengaged, what would cause the engine to "die." With the clutch engaged, it means the power would go to the wheels, and the car would jerk. There was no mention of a jerking action by the mechanic.
It would be one thing if something was wrong with the transmission, but I don't see how the clutch would cause the engine to die.
Ofcourse there are those far more knowledgable than me on this site. Maybe someone could explain it to me. 
- Zack
WANTED: T-Red HEATED Side Mirrors
FOR SALE: 4 14" Alum Alloys and Nearly New Avid H4s Tires w/ Center Caps
2000 T-Red SVT
1995 LX V6 MTX (RIP)
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
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Hi! GOOD NEWS! My engine is only flooded!!! What a relief!! But, can anyone believe this? Being told it my engine was probably destroyed because at startup it had made three huge thuds like hitting a fender with a fist and sounded like it was running backward... that they wouldn't dare start it again and needed to consult Ford? How do you flood an engine anyway, when doing a flush/replace of brake, power steering, and transmission fluids? The service manager said he didn't bleed the brake or clutch after flushing them with the machine, so he could't have been stomping on the throttle (instead of the brake)...
What a fiasco!!!! Fortunately the shop manager was in today, and my husband and I went down to talk with him, after getting inconsistent info this morning. Our whole approach was we wanted to help resolve things, not blame anyone for anything; during some slightly tense exchanges reminding that this was our intention helped move things forward positively.
After much conversation, the shop manager finally checked to make sure the clutch was engaging (it was), so we didn't have air in the clutch system system. The service manager had refused to rule this out, saying that they had heard a timing chain rattle and they "were way beyond this issue".
Then they reached a Ford service manager by phone, who said neither timing chains nor tensioner arms break out of the blue on these cars (he'd never seen it though there's always a first time...) AND that any damage that would have been done was done if the valves/pistons had collided at start-up. Finally, based on the info from Ford (and Janos and I) the shop manager decided to start the car. Janos tried to get him to turn it over with a breaker bar by hand, to be on the safe side, but he wanted to start it.
It was simply flooded! Took awhile to start, but started, and ran a little rough. The shop manager and Janos said that was because the plugs are saturated with fuel, and that he will replace the plugs at no charge. I asked, "how could it be flooded based on what was done?". He said he had no idea, but is going to check things over carefully.
The minute the car started he said he's firing the service manager for putting us (and him) through all this for no reason. Among others, a whoppingly weird and wrong statement the service manager made (in front of the shop manager) was that the 60K service included examining the timing chain, that it was only a matter of removing a couple covers and that's what the $180 charge for 60K service was all about! We asked why wouldn't he do this now then (all the time knowing that it was a HUGE job to get to the chain) since he suspected a broken chain or tensioner. He replied because now there were liability issues, and he had to get information from Ford before proceeding.
The manager said he would now handle the job himself. I think the clutch feels funny as it rises, little play at the top and a little hitch. I thought the brake felt a little hard. We'll see how it drives. I'm also still nervous that they're saying some racket came from the engine. What happened to Ferret II at that shop?! I think the shop manager will have it looked over carefully, as he was quite appalled by the situation. At one point, though, the shop manager did say he thought the problem was that the tensioner had gone when oil pressure fell, and he related it to my husband's having changed the oil. Fortunately, Janos kept his cool... but he was pissed. I have liked working with the manager, but I was disappointed he would try to hang anything on Janos' oil change.
Thank you all so much for helping in this!! Going in with some info helped us keep this thing moving forward. I really did not want them to tear into that perfectly good engine without ruling everything out!! Or, as they were on the verge of at one point, to send it to Ford to be torn up.
Lynn
Lynn
'95 Contour SE MTX, electric red, "Ferret II"
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166 |
Glad to hear that things are working out! That's great news.
Just one thing to note. You mention that the shop is going to change the plugs for you. Make sure the replacement Spark Plugs are Double Platinum plugs!!! You'll find alot of shops try and save a few bucks by replacing the plugs with single platinum tips. The Duratec will eat through single plats in no time. You have Double Plats in there from the factory, and that's what you'll want in there now.
To be sure, get the part number of the plug they used, and check back with us to verify they used the right plugs. Knowledge is power.
Good luck with everything!
- Zack
WANTED: T-Red HEATED Side Mirrors
FOR SALE: 4 14" Alum Alloys and Nearly New Avid H4s Tires w/ Center Caps
2000 T-Red SVT
1995 LX V6 MTX (RIP)
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