1993 FORD PROBE

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 upshift, Slipping in third or fourth gear under load, Transmission will not upshift past second gear, Burnt transmission fluid smell, dark or metallic fluid

Fix: The CD4E (V6) and F4EAT (4-cyl) automatics suffer valve body wear and clutch pack failure. Requires rebuild or replacement. Rebuild takes 12-16 hours including R&R, fluid, and often the oil cooler which fails internally and cross-contaminates coolant. Used transmissions are gambles.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, especially cold start, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Rough idle or misfire after warming up, Milky oil on dipstick or oil cap

Fix: The Mazda KL 2.5L V6 develops external and internal head gasket leaks. Requires both heads removed, resurfaced, new gaskets, timing belt, water pump, and all seals. Machine work and parts add up. Figure 18-22 hours labor for both sides done properly.

Estimated cost: $2,400-3,800

Symptoms: Hatch will not stay open on its own, Visible rust perforation around strut mounting brackets, Strut pulls through sheet metal when opening hatch, Cracking paint or bubbling around hatch hinges

Fix: The rear hatch strut mounts rust from the inside out, especially in salt states. Struts themselves fail too, but the real issue is the metal around the mounts deteriorating. Proper fix requires cutting out rust, welding in new metal, and repainting. Shortcut is reinforcement plates. 3-6 hours depending on rust severity.

Estimated cost: $400-1,200

Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi

Symptoms: Vibration at idle that worsens with RPM, Serpentine belt walking off pulleys or shredding, Visible rubber separation between outer ring and hub, Wobbling crankshaft pulley

Fix: The rubber bonding layer in the harmonic balancer degrades and separates, causing severe vibration and potential timing/accessory belt problems. Replacement requires special puller and installer tools. 2-3 hours labor, and you should do the serpentine belt while you're there.

Estimated cost: $300-550

Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Oil pooling around base of distributor, Oil dripping onto exhaust manifold causing burning smell, Oil residue on back of engine near firewall

Fix: The distributor base O-ring hardens and leaks oil. It's a 1.5-2 hour job requiring distributor removal and timing reset. Not dangerous but messy and can lead to ignition problems if oil gets into the distributor cap.

Estimated cost: $150-280

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into gear or during acceleration, Excessive engine movement visible under hood during throttle blips, Vibration through steering wheel or shifter, Engine sitting lower on one side visually

Fix: The hydraulic front engine mount collapses internally, causing excessive drivetrain movement. The mount itself is inexpensive but access is tight. 2-3 hours labor, often done with transmission mount at same time to save labor overlap.

Estimated cost: $250-450