Five problems related to engine have been reported for the 1996 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I bought it on 07/01/04. On 07/02/04 my on was driving it, and couple of times, whem he stopped on stop signed, the car wouldn't start. Eventually, in the evening, there was white thick smoke coming from under the hood and car was stopped. I called the dealership and they towed it to the mechanic shop. It happened that there was no oil and coolant and endine has gone bad. The dealer refused to pay completely for the repair, and we split it 20/80% where I'm to pay 80%. It's been 2 weeks and car is still in shop. I didn't buy it to sit in shop. Is there a way to correct the situation somehow?.
This engine situation was intractable because the Ford bulletin advises that head gasket removal warrants replacement, therefore even Ford technicians have to ?!@#$% foot around to see if the problem is elsewhere rather than going right to the source. I borrowed $10,000 to finish school this year and much of that money was spent on this car. It destroyed my academic year and I barely graduated thanks to this major headache. The was only at 49,000 miles when it finally went caput. When the engine was disassembled it was totally warped and blown. I bought a Ford rebuilt engine because I couldn't afford the extra $700 for a jasper rebuilt engine. . . See they rebuild the same engine and make a 7 year 100,000 warranty on the rebuilt engine because they use a graphite head gasket and make other improvements that Ford doesn't make. Ford not only sells their weaker rebuilt engines but only put a 1 year 12,000 mile warranty on it. Well, I'm broke and it's totally Ford's fault.
Pistons and rings were both shot in the motor, but the motor had oil and full compression.
Transmission/torque converter, and engine valve failure.
Oil filter loose causing fumes to enter vehicle.