riverwolfe

keep us updated, I've got a 2000 SE V-6 with 84k.

2000 Contour SE, 2.5, ATX, Performance White, had 53k when I got it last year, now 63k, one year later. When I got this car it had been semi-abandoned a couple of times, it even had ants in the dirt built up behind the LF wheel well liner. The cabin filter had probably never been changed and I think it caused a burning sensation to my eyes when I drove it on the Interstate. Nice car, so far. In the past year I've gotten: New metal-impeller water pump, ball joints, left cv axle, abs sensor, 4 tires and 1 new wheel cover, some new hoses. "New" fog lamps, rear reflector & tail lamps from LKQ. For the first time I'm now using synthetic oil, Mobil-1 in this car, and in my 2000 F-150. Once I get the fuel pump working right (new module ordered from BAT today) I hope to make her presentable with a new rear bumper, some bodywork, 4 new struts and bigger, 15 or 16" stock alloy wheels and Michelins.. I'm changing the atx fluid (4 or 8 Qts.) every 3 months or so till it comes out clean. I like this car so much I'd like to find a low-milage Zetec Contour/Mystique to commute to work in and maybe even a low-milage 2002 Cougar limited edition to round out the collection.

Gee, Rufus, that's a real find getting a '95 with such low mileage. I bought a 2000 SE with 53k last June and I'm putting about 1000 miles a month on it. A car with such low milage probably sat around a lot and didn't get much maintenance, I'd guess. If the plug wires are showing signs of age, replace them. Change all the fluids and all your filters, oil, air, fuel and especially the cabin air filter, mine was moldy. I'm planning on changing my water pump soon, I guess I'm lucky mine's held up so far. I imagine all the flexible suspension parts, including the struts, will need replaced soon. I really like my Contour, wish I'd had one sooner. I'm hoping to find a low-milage Cougar soon to be my GT car! good luck, Tom

Thanks. I was able to get a free download of a book by Dave Mann by googling Dave Mann oil. I'd seen AMSOIL stickers before but never knew what it was. I may well try the AMS oil and microgreen filters in one or both vehicles.

I'm looking for information/opinions on changing over to synthetic oil. I've always used regular, 'natural' oil in my 2 Fords, a 2000 F-150 4.6l with 110k miles and a 2000 Contour SE V6 with 59k miles. I'm pretty easy on both vehicles and try to change the oil and filter in both vehicles every 3 months. I'll ususally buy whatever 5w-30 oil is on sale. I've read a Ford TSB that recommends switching over to 5w-20 oil for both vehicles and I've noticed that the price of synthetic oil has come down, or at least, it's a lot closer in price to regular oil than it used to be. My questions are: Is there any reason why I shouldn't switch over to synthetic oil? I always change the filter when I change the oil. Can I expect more milage out of synthetic oil? Say, changing oil and filter every 6mo. or 5000 miles? Thanks in advance for any info, I hope to get at least another 10 years out of the truck, if I can afford it and likewise the Contour, though I may be using a bicycle most of the time in 10 years at the rate things are going. Tom

Good luck with the rear brake change-out, I want to do that one myself.

I have a 2000 SE V6 with 14" steel wheels and hubcaps. I'd like to upgrade these one day to some stock 15" or 16" alloy rims. I noticed that RockAuto lists different size inner tie rods for 14" versus 15" wheels, and I'd never read of that being an issue before on any of the forums. Is it necessary to change the inner tie-rods when putting on bigger rims? Also, what benefits can I hope for with bigger wheels? I'd like a nicer ride but I'm planning on replacing the struts, and strut mounts & stabilizer bar links before getting new wheels and tires. This car has only 58,000 miles on it but the suspension is pretty squeaky and stiff. So far the only work I've done on the front end is to replace one cv axle and the two lower ball joints because the rubber was bad on all of them. I use this car as my commuting vehicle and for my youngest son to drive but I like driving this car so much I want to fix it up for myself now and maybe get him a Focus or some other 4-cylinder instead. Thanks in advance, Tom