Ford Contour (1999 year). Manual - part 56

Capacities and specifications

222

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER

The vehicle identification number
(VIN) is attached to a metal tag
and is located on the front driver’s
side of the instrument panel. The
VIN tag may be seen by looking
through the windshield from the
outside of the vehicle.

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Customer assistance

223

GETTING ROADSIDE
ASSISTANCE

To fully assist you should you have
a vehicle concern. Ford offers a
complimentary roadside assistance
program. This program is separate
from the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. The service is available:

• 24-hours, seven days a week

• for the Basic warranty period
(Canada) or New Vehicle Limited
Warranty period (U.S.) of three
years or 60,000 km (36,000 miles),
whichever comes first on Ford and
Mercury vehicles, and four years or
80,000 km (50,000 miles) on
Lincoln vehicles.

In the United States, you may
purchase additional roadside
assistance coverage beyond this
period through the Ford Auto Club
by contacting your Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury dealer.

• Roadside assistance will cover

• changing a flat tire

• jump-starts

• lock-out assistance

• fuel delivery

towing to the nearest Ford of
Canada or Ford Motor Company
dealership, or towing to your
selling dealership if within 56 km
(35 miles). Even non-warranty
related tows, like accidents or
getting stuck in the mud or snow,
are covered (some exclusions
apply, such as impound towing or
repossession.

Using roadside assistance

Complete the roadside assistance
identification card and place it in
your wallet for quick reference. In
the United States, this card is
found in the Owner Guide portfolio
in the glove compartment in Ford
vehicles and is mailed to you if you
own a Mercury or Lincoln. In
Canada, it's found in the Roadside
Assistance book in the glove
compartment.

To receive roadside assistance in
the United States for Ford or
Mercury vehicles, call 
1-800-241-3673 or if you own a
Lincoln vehicle, call 
1-800-521-4140. In Canada call 
1-800-665-2006.

Should you need to arrange
assistance for yourself, Ford will
reimburse a reasonable amount. To
obtain information about
reimbursement, call 
1-800-241-3673 in the United
States for Ford or Mercury
vehicles; or if you own a Lincoln
vehicle, call 1-800-521-4140. 
Call 1-800-665-2006 in Canada.

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Customer assistance

224

Ford extended service plan

You can get more protection for
your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service
Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford
ESP is an optional service contract
which is backed by Ford Motor
Company or Ford Motor Service
Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of
Canada (in Canada). It provides:

• Protection against repair costs
after your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty period expires 

and

• other benefits during the
warranty period (such as
reimbursement for rentals and
towing).

You may purchase Ford ESP from
any participating Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury or Ford of Canada dealer.
There are several plans available in
various time, distance and
deductible combinations which can
be tailored to fit your own driving
needs. Ford ESP also offers
reimbursement benefits for towing
and rental coverage. (In Hawaii,
rules vary. See your dealer for
details.)

When you buy Ford ESP you
receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and
Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,200 participating Ford,
Lincoln-Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.

If you did not take advantage of the
Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle,
you may still be eligible. Please
contact your dealer for further
information. Since this information
is subject to change, please ask
your dealer for complete details
about Ford Extended Service Plan
coverage options.

Also, please be aware that some
ealers offer service contracts that
are not backed by Ford Motor
Company or Ford of Canada. On
the surface, many independent
plans appear to be like Ford's. The
problem is that they can often
require the use of non-factory
approved parts and have much
more complex and restrictive
claims coverage terms than Ford.

At Ford Motor Company and Ford
of Canada, we are dedicated to
providing Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury vehicle owners with
programs that will enhance your
ownership experience and protect
you from unexpected repair bills.
Genuine Ford ESP is the only
Extended Service Plan that enables
us to provide that service.

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Customer assistance

225

Getting the service you need

At home

Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada have authorized
dealerships to service your vehicle.
When you need warranty repairs
your selling dealer would like you
to return to it for that service, but
you may also take your vehicle to
another Ford Motor Company
dealership authorized for warranty
repairs. Certain warranty repairs
require special training though, so
not all dealers are authorized to
perform all warranty repairs. That
means that depending on the
warranty repair needed, the vehicle
may need to be taken to another
dealer. If a particular dealership
can not assist you, then contact the
Customer Assistance Center.

If you are not satisfied with the
service you receive at the
dealership, speak with the service
manager. If you are still not
satisfied, speak with the owner or
general manager of the dealership.
In most cases, your concern will be
resolved at this level.

Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada dealerships also carry
genuine Ford parts and
accessories, providing you with
original equipment reliability.

Away from home

If you are away from home when
your vehicle needs service, or if
you need more help than the
dealership could provide, contact
the Ford Customer Assistance
Center to find an authorized
dealership to help you in the
United States

Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, Michigan 48121
1-800-392-3673 (FORD)
(TDD for the hearing impaired: 
1-800-232-5952)

In Canada:
Customer Assistance Centre
Ford Motor Company of Canada,
Limited
P.O. Box 2000
Oakville, Ontario L6J 5E4
1-800-565-3673 (FORD)

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