NHTSA Complaint #10075148 — 1998 FORD CONTOUR

1) A/C BLOWER SHUT OFF AND UPON INVESTIGATION A 60 AMP FUSE BROKE UNDER THE FUSE BOX IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD WERE DAMAGED. AND FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED SEVERAL OPEN WIRES COMING FROM THE BATTERY AND ONE COMMING FROM THE FUSE BOX WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CAUSED THE FUSE TO BREAK. 2) NOTIFIED BY 2 DIFFERENT AUTO-ELECTRICAL REPAIR SHOPS THEY HAD SEEN SIMULAR DAMAGE AND INFORMED ME OFF THE COSTS OF A REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS AND LABOR WHICH RANGED FROM $3800 - $4400. CHECKING OTHER VARIOUS WEB SITES SHOWED A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH RANGED FROM FIRES TO HAVING TO DRIVE WITH BROKEN FUSES OR HAVING TO PAY HIGH AMOUNTS TO REPLACE IT. 3) DOING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENTENCE BY CLEANING AREA AND SPRAYING A HIGH BASE IN THE AREA TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY EXPOSED WIRES TO THE ELEMENTS ON A WEEKLY BASES TILL I CAN AFFORD SUCH A LARGE REPAIR AND NOT REPLACING A FUSE WHICH CONTROLS MY BLOWER AND ABS. *AK