1995 FORD CONTOUR User Comment / Complaint

Experienced transmission issues, with intermittent rough shifting and intermittent failures to engage in drive or reverse. it mysteriously started to run fine for several days. one morning i drove a short distance for an appointment. upon returning and starting the car i noticed smoke exiting the left side of the engine compartment. i turned of the vehicle and inspected the engine compartment, and i could still see some smoke coming from the left-rear part of the engine compartment. after this incident, several of the vehicle's electrical functions failed, including park/brake shift interlock, heater fan, backup lights, directional flashers. following the incident, the transmission issues have resumed. upon inspection, i noticed several wires had cracking insulation, and some even had bare wire exposed.