Hi,
I bought a *used* Contour in August...
Thought it was a nice car, cornering is nice, has nice power for a 4-banger, but that bitch has some serious issues...
-While cruising on the highway, I noticed a coolant odor, then it stalled on me (temp gauge never went past 3/4). Found out I ran out of coolant, the computer cut off the engine according to the mechanic (4-banger Zetec)
-It wouldn't start 1 week later. they changed the battery (I'm guessing I've been had, it would crank, but not start)
-2 days after it was *fixed*, wouldn't start again. They told me it was flooded, changed the plugs, and it was fine for another week, until the water pump died (what kind of moron has the water pump driven by the timing belt?)
-Had the pump replaced, along with the timing belt and the idler pulley (they were all original parts, dating from 172,000 KM)
-2 weeks later, won't start. Now I'm getting the EGR and O2 sensor changed, they tell me they're flooding the engine.
I'm out 2,000$ already, the tranny is beginning to slip, sometimes it won't downshift.
I agree, I only paid 1,000$ for it, but I was expecting more than my 1.000$ Cavalier (that one never failed to start, nor had any tranny troubles)
It still needs some new rear bearings & brakes, new rear sway bars, and the heat exchanger is vaporising coolant.
I'm about to trash it.
(power doors froze on me at -2C too)
I understand it's a 10 year old car, but it's the crappiest, most stubborn POS I've ever owned.
(I miss my '79 351 T-bird...)