1999 Ford Contour engine and engine cooling problems

“I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR I BOUGHT IT AND 6 MONTHS LATER THE TIMING BELT WENT OUT THIS COST ME $800.00 OUT OF POCKET AFTER THE WARRANTY PAID THEIR PART. DROVE IT ANOTHER 3 MONTHS WHEN IT STALLED OUT AND STARTED SPUTTERING I REPLACED THE PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITION CONTROL BOX, AND FUEL FILTER AND FOUND A HOSE THAT HAD A HOLE IN IT FROM BEING MELTED AFTER REPLACING ALL OF THAT FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE LEAKING AND NO WAY TO GET TO IT EASILY. STILL RAN CRAPPY TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT BROUGHT IT HOME AND IT WON'T RUN ANYMORE IT STILL DOES NOT RUN NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO HAD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK WHILE STILL PAYING ON THIS ONE AND CAN NOT USE IT ANYMORE. THIS IS MY SECOND FORD AND I WILL NOT EVER GET ANOTHER ONE. AND WITH ALL THIS GOING ON WHEN THE MECHANIC SHUT THE BACK PASSENGER THE GLASS SHATTERED AND IT WAS SHUT NORMALLY. ALSO THE RADIO HAS ISSUES. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT WAS MADE, THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A GAP NEXT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT, WHICH OVER TIME, CAUSED THE VENT TO SINK BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (KEN GORDON FORD) AND HAD IT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.”

“NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED .CAR WAS TOWED, AND AS OF THIS EMAIL IS BEING REPAIRED IN FLORIDA. WE WERE ON VACATION AT THE TIME. HEAD WAS REMOVED, AND IS BEING REPAIRED. WE HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET BACK TO PA. ALSO HAVE TO FLY BACK TO FLORIDA TO DRIVE CAR BACK TO PA. *TR”

“1999 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT DASHBOARD PEELING. MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO PEEL AWAY AT APPROX 60,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF A RECALL ON THIS MATTER, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY A SECRET. I HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DUE TO THE LAX CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ALL THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED (I AM 60 AND HARDLY HOT RODDING), REAR STRUTS AND SOMETHING RELATED TO A LOUD HUMMING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CAR TO REMAIN IN WORKING ORDER AND PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND ALSO A FUEL PUMP. *TR”

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THREE TIMES FOR DIFFERENT OXYGEN SENSORS. THESE GREATLY EFFECT THE GAS MILEAGE AND TIMING OF ENGINE RESULTING IN MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC STATED HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF FORD CONTOURS IN WITH THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. COST IS MINIMUM $250-$450 TO REPLACE. *JB”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN GEAR. A POP NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND IT WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS PROCESSED.*AK UPDATED 12/11/06. *JB”