Looks like the 95 Contour has a blown head gasket. I pulled a plug to check for spark and antifreeze sprayed all over me and in my face. Anyone know how much a repair like that might run or how man labor hours it might take? I know this isn't going to be cheap. I wonder if it is something I can do myself.

 

My dad had a valve bend and destroy the head on his Izuzu Trooper (glad he got rid of that pos). Parts was about $500 including labor. I think the total was like $700-$750 for a mechanic to do the job. And this was a four cylinder. If I were trying to save some $$$, I'd buy a Hayne's manual, and look in the salvage yards for a used head and try to install it myself.

 

I have a Chiltons on it but I can't find anything on the head gasket. I've read some really high estimates to repair this from web pages.

 

Edited: My mistake, I thought you needed a whole cylinder head. A head gasket shouldn't break the bank. I n your Chilton's book, look in the overhauling section and see if it tells or shows you how to replace it. Basically all you do is just unbolt the head, remove the rocker arms, pull the head, sit the gasket over the head bolts, sit head over the head bolts onto the gasket, re-install the rocker arms, and torque head bolts to spec.

 

Contour? Those are expendable, throw it away and buy another one.

Just remember that head's aluminum and can only be trued so far. If it was overheated to where the head gasket blew, that might be something to consider. If there's water in the crankcase, the bearings may have been damaged as well.

 

If you do go at it yourself, at least get the head checked out at a machine shop. If it's cracked or really warped (more than .008 or .010 thousands), the problem will still be there when you get done replacing the head gasket.