5th Oct 2006, 09:16
I have a 1996 Mystique. I've had NUMEROUS problems with this car, many of the same problems already cited (too numerous to list). Safe to say, I will NEVER buy a Ford product again!
5th Nov 2006, 10:24
I have a 97 mercury mystique, with 174000kms on it 40000 of those are from this year. Never really had any issues with it until now. Driving back from work one day around 30 kms the coolant light came on. Nearly home 5 minutes left the oil light was flickering came on and the temp gauge went nuts.
When I got home the coolant was empty and spraying all over the inside of the hood.
The next morning when I looked under the hood there was oil on the coolant add box. Haven't fixed it yet as I'm not sure how much it will cost me. I have already took the insurance off of it and will be buying a set of winter tires for my other car..
Any ideas to how bad it might be? To try and cool the engine off I was using the blower motor, but all I could get was cold air, not hot..
Not the best way to start holidays... any ideas.
7th Nov 2006, 08:36
Please do not buy a mistake. I bought my 2000 v6 car with 33000 miles for 5600.00 I thought it was a great buy. Boy was I mistaken. This car has cost over 2500.00 in repairs in one year. Now it has a belt tensioner going bad and the dash has peeled up. It's a shame really as it's a nice car to drive.
Terry.
15th Nov 2006, 18:50
I have a 2000 Mystique that I had tuned up in may. After two months I had to have a new fuel pump AGAIN. Had a new one put in just two years ago. yesterday the same problem kept coming up that the dealership said was the fuel pump. Come to find out the mechanic put in the wrong spark plugs during the tune up in May and in my opinion ruined the fuel pump. My question is to any mechanic, can the wrong spark plugs cause the fuel pump to starve and then go out? Also, is anyone else's dash popped up near the vent in the front window? I was told this would cost about 700.00 to repair, so I just have two tennis balls hold it in place. Very ghetto, indeed. Thanks for any responses.
28th Dec 2006, 17:16
Unlike most of the contributors to this dialogue, I have been impressed with my 1995 Mystique GS with 5 speed transmission, four cylinder engine and now 230,000 (mostly highway) kilometers on the clock.
The vehicle has been serviced since new with regular fluid changes, wheel balancing and belt and brake pad replacement. Everything works and the body and interior are tight and in fine condition. The cloth seats show little wear despite family use.
Amazingly it still has the original clutch, which continues to have plenty of grip, the original starter motor and original generator The car's third gear synchromesh is now disappearing so I will have to restore the gearbox at some stage. The four cylinder engine has lots of smooth power and delivers good fuel consumption. This was one of Ford's classic engines. The exhaust system is still sound, not bad for a 10 year old vehicle. It is on a third set of tires, which are about half worn.
This model was very successful in Europe as the Ford Mondeo and I can only suspect that some of the vehicles in North America were not serviced properly or regularly.
I have just returned from a trip to the UK where I rented a new 06 Toyota Yaris. Unlike the Mystique's comprehensive heating, defrosting and air conditioning system, this car's front and rear window defroster systems had a hard time doing their job. The visibility had some blind spots and everywhere were signs of assembly cheapness. It's fuel consumption failed to match the claimed figures despite slow driving around England. So perhaps all cars have a few examples that are lemons.
My thought is that low mileage, manual transmission Contours and Mystiques in good shape can be a terrific driving bargains. Replacement parts such as brake pads, shock absorbers and fuel injectors are not expensive and they are quite easy for DIY work. Even replacement headlight clusters are reasonable. This car provides European handling, and build quality with lower North American parts prices.
Cool.
6th Mar 2007, 17:40
I am appauled at the way this car was made, and to see it new at 18,000. My Mercury Mystique is nothing, but a lemon. If I didn't have major medical bills, prescriptions, whatever I would have gotten rid of it along time ago. I have spent 8,000.00 since 2000 on repairs. No lie, I have every receipt. Every repair listed on this web site has been done to my car, and more now I need a sensor for the throttle anoother 600.00. Wishing I was dead today.
14th Mar 2007, 20:54
Shelley, it sounds like the simplest thing to try with your transmission is to get the fluid and filter changed.
I don't care for the flush, I prefer when they actually take the pan off, and change the filter, which doesn't happen with the flush.
Be sure that the correct transmission fluid is put back into the car. The owner's manual should specify it. The fluid should be some kind of Mercon, but it's important to pay attention to the number, like Mercon I, II, III, IV, or V. Simply getting the fluid and filter changed could clear up that hard shifting. Get the right fluid, or you'll ruin the transmission, though.
Regarding the coolant light, try getting the cooling system pressure flushed. If it's the original coolant, or if rust has built up in the radiator, one of these days the car will overheat and you'll blow a head gasket unless you get the coolant changed.
25th Mar 2007, 15:27
My Freshman College Son has a 1998 Merc Mystique with 145000 mile on it. Problems started some five months ago. You would be driving along at 65 to 70MPH and without warning the RPMs would surge to 4000 with the tranny going into neutral searching for a gear. No check engine light nothing indicated on a scanner. To add to the problem, it does not happen on a consistent basis. We have had the fuel filter, the alternator, the tranny fluid and filter and finally the tranny rebuilt.
Current problem: after the car has been driven for some 20 plus miles, the RPM's again would surge and the tranny feels like it is looking for a gear, this happens between 70 and 75 MPH. Reducing speed to 65 seems to bring everything back to normal. This time around, after the rebuild, there is no heavy clucking into a gear.
Any suggestions.
Chris.
28th Sep 2006, 10:38
I have a 1995 V6 Mystique, now has 100,000+ miles. Same problem with the water pump. Had the main wiring harness replaced per the recall. New brake pads all around, but that would be normal. Otherwise no real problems. Its been a good, dependable car. Less trouble than some Honda or VW owners I know.
I do have a new problem with the AC. The coolant level is OK, it does not leak. The relays and wiring is OK. The problem might be the main computer. Does anyone know about that problem???