1998 FORD CONTOUR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HE DID NOT KNOW THE BOLTS WERE MISSING AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD HAVE THEM ORDERED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION FAILED AND CAUSED THE WIRES TO TOUCH, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE 1995-1997 MODELS FOR THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE A BEEPING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,782.

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS EXTREMELY COLD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS NEEDING A NEW PROCESSOR. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON.

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE FILTER AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY INDICATED THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *NM THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, A SHORT WAS FOUND, AND WIRES WERE FOUND CHAFFED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THIRTEEN RECALLS SINCE OWNERSHIP BY THE CONSUMER. *AK *LA *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ENGINE WOULD RACE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CAR SPUTTERING AND STALLING. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAVE HAD IT "RESET" TO TURN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT OFF ONLY FOR IT TO COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IT OCCURRED A LOT AT IDLE OR WHILE COASTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. DEALER CONFUSED. *PH *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

FORD OPERATION #991308A FORD IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CYCLE VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING (VCT) SOLENOID WHICH ACCORDING TO A PRINT OUT IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY COVERAGE OF 80,000MILES AND 8 YEARS. HOWEVER, WHEN CALLING THE DEALER ONTHE PROBLEM - THEY PLAY STUPID AND QUOTE A PRICING IN THE THOUSANDS. WHAT GIVES??? MY INFORMATION COMES DIRECTLY FROM FORD TO THE MITCHELL INFORMATION COMPANY., LLC. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR - HE SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HE IS SEEING TOO FREQUENTLY ON THE CONTOUR, ESPECIALLY THE 98. IS THIS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FORD DISCONTINUED TO PRODUCE THIS CAR? SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL, SINCE THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IN THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING? DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLS, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN WHO NOTICE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE VEHICLE IS ON THE SECOND TIMING BELT. NLM

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VHEICLE WAS TOWED TO GARAGE AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT FLYWHEEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BLOCK EATER FELL OUT AND BURNED CYLINDERS. HOWEVER, ENGINE LOCKED UP AND LOST ALL POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN 8/26 DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR CORRECTLY AND THEN MY ENGINE BLEW UP BEFORE I LEFT TOWN. THEY REPALCED ENGINE AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS AGAIN. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH ALL THESE ISSUES AND THE SERVICE I HAVE REC. MIRACLE FORD HAS NOT REIMBURSED ME FOR ITEMS THEY PROMISED, NOR HAVE THEY SENT ME INFORMATION I REQUESTED SINCE SEPTEMBER. HOW CAN A CAR KEEP HAVING MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. I HAVE RECORDS OF TAKING MY CAR IN FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM FACING AGAIN TODAY.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JULY, 2001 THIS CAR HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN IN FOR DEALER SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR THAT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR SWITCH (WHICH WAS REPLACED TWICE, I WAS TOLD), THEN STATED THAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS THE CAM SHAFT ITSELF. THAT WAS REPLACED THE FOURTH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND A MANUFACTURER'S REP CONSULTED ON THE FOURTH REPAIR, WHICH TOOK 6 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS/UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. IT HAS HAPPENED OFTEN WHEN TURNING INTO AN INTERSECTION, BUT ALSO WHEN TRAVELING AT 60+ MPH ON BUSY FREEWAYS. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKELY TO RESULT IN INJURY IF NOT FIXED. I DON'T BELIEVE THE DEALER CAN FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FOUR TIMES...

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 5MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LOOSE LUGS: NUTS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FOLLOWING: FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, TRANSMISSION, CV BOOT, BRAKES, AIR FILTER, WIRE, ROTORS NEED TURNING, TIMING GEAR, TIMING BELT, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *SLC

WITHIN 55,000 MILES ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, AND ENGINE TO RISE WHEN ACCELERATING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET BOLT BROKE. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MOVE. *AK

ENGINE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH HAS CAUSED WIRE HARNESS TO BURN. FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLE. HOWEVER,VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED MILEAGE.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY UPON ACCELERATION, BRAKING, CHANGING GEARS, WHILE ANY TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED, FLYWHEEL FAILED CAUSING SCRATCHING NOISE. NLM

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY UPON ACCELERATION, BRAKING, CHANGING GEARS, WHILE ANY TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED, FLYWHEEL FAILED CAUSING SCRATCHING NOISE. NLM

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY UPON ACCELERATION, BRAKING, CHANGING GEARS, WHILE ANY TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED, FLYWHEEL FAILED CAUSING SCRATCHING NOISE. NLM

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT REPLACED. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY HAD THE REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED. JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND THAT IT WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. NOW I HAVE APPEALED TO FORD MOTER CO. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR COST. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN UNDER WARRANTY BUT ONLY MANIFESTED ITSELF 3 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

TIMING BELT SLIPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FIVE TIMES ALREADY. WHEN TIMING BELTS SLIPPED VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK

ENIGINE MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL ON THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING DIFFICULTIES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OWNER REPLACED THE MOUNT RESTING ON THE STEERING SHAFT AT THEIR EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR AT THEIR COST. *AK *YC

OIL PAN GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS

CAM TIMING UNIT FAILED. *YC

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40MPH IT STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD CHECKED UNDERHOOD, THE TIMING BELT BROKE. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP & HEAD GASKET FAILED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

CAMSHAFT SPROKET FAILED.

TIMING BELT FAILED.

VALVE ROCKER ARM COVE FAILED.

WHENEVER DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP. VEHICLE WOULD BUCK BEFORE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. TOLD NO PROBLEM EXISTS. NOW NEEDS PARTS FOR REPAIR. *AK