Ford Escort Engine Problems

176 messages,  Last post on Jan 10, 2013 at 3:26 PM

You are in the Ford Escort Wagon Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escort, Engine, Wagon

#93 of 176 1998 Escort ZX2 Hot - timing belt by mcwllw

Apr 06, 2009 (8:56 am)

I had the tensioner break on the serpentine belt and the timing belt broke at the same time (is that possible? ). I had it towed to the Ford dealership, all they came up with was the tensioner and serpentine, at an astronomical price to replace. So I took it to another mechanic (ASE certified) and he told me the dealership mis-diagnosed the car. He said the timing belt was broken and there is a 50/50 chance it damaged the valve(s). My understanding is the engine is non-interference and would not have damaged the valve(s). Anyone know for sure if the engine is non-interference?

#94 of 176 2000 escort with a knock on decelleration by sillyman63

Apr 23, 2009 (7:58 pm)

I am working on a 2000 escort with a 2.0 L engine. It was brought to me with a knock in the engine that appears when the A/C compressor kicks in and also under a quick decceleration. I have replaced the A/C compressor and the catalyst, thinking the knock was coming from one of those components, but it still knocks. I also have checked the engine bearings for wear and the pistons for cracks or breaks, but all are fine. I inspected the rocker arms and valve lifters for wear and found nothing to be wrong with them. The noise seems to be coming from between #2 and # 3 cylinders. Any input on what could be wrong would be greatly appreciated.

#95 of 176 Dying on the freeway by tracethis

Apr 27, 2009 (5:29 pm)

I wanted to let anyone know who has this problem that the problem was the fuel filter. Not alot of fun to change but doable compared to soem of the other thoughts I had.

#96 of 176 Re: 98 Tracer stops running [tracethis] by xwesx

May 08, 2009 (9:48 am)

Replying to: tracethis (Mar 09, 2009 6:06 am)
It may be due to moisture getting on the mass airflow sensor. The sensor tends to get more sensitive to moisture if it is somewhat dirty. The problem manifests itself (early on, anyway) more readily on the highway due to higher speeds and more road spray. The good news is that if this is the problem, a quick cleaning with a fuel system cleaner should resolve the issue entirely. Or, you can replace it, but that is far more expensive.
 
The sensor is located inside the air intake pipe, just inside of the air filter (between the air filter housing and the intake manifold).

#97 of 176 Re: Dying on the freeway [tracethis] by xwesx

May 08, 2009 (9:52 am)

Replying to: tracethis (Apr 27, 2009 5:29 pm)
Hah! I should have read the rest of the messages before I responded!
 
Odd that the fuel filter would act up only in the rain...

#99 of 176 1997 Escort 2.0L with possibly related issues by smirshkahoven

Sep 30, 2009 (2:40 pm)

I have a 97 Escort wagon with 49k miles. I've had it since 25k miles, about 3 years.
Check engine light has come on and off at least twice, but it's been a long time - at least a year. I remember twice thinking that the car felt excessively hot when returning home from short (30 minute drives) and made a mental note to ask someone about it which I never did (coolant was OK).
 
Car has never got great mileage, 20-22 mpg, mostly local.
 
Here are the issues - flaky temperature gauge will register correct temperature at cruise or at stop, but when I let my foot off the gas or the car shifts or occasionally when neither of those conditions exist, the gauge drops to zero - sometimes it recovers immediately, sometimes in a few seconds.
 
Car surges at about 1 second cycles when at a stop when car is warm - IF the A/C is ON the idle is fine - if A/C is then shut OFF the car resumes surging when the cooling fan stops.
 
There is some sluggishness getting up to highway speed - not terrible, but noticeable.
 
There is a sound in/near the engine compartment while accelerating that sounds like the exhaust system, but there are no leaks.
 
Plugs and wires are new, serpentine belt new, fuel filter new, air filter nearly new, IAC cleaned, throttle body cleaned, new muffler and pipes. No apparent vacuum leaks.
 
Does anyone have clues about any of my issues? My next thoughts are EGR, O2 sensor, throttle position sensor, replace IAC, but in what order or is any one more likely than another. I don't see how any of those will cure the temp gauge although they could help the other issues.
 
Thanks for any help you can give.

#100 of 176 Re: no power??? help [clarson4] by gruchow

Oct 11, 2009 (6:35 am)

Replying to: clarson4 (Mar 25, 2006 9:49 am)
It could be the timeing has jumped and you need to replace the timeing belt. if you have never done this before it takes about 4 hours or so lots of little parts to take off to get to the timeing belt.

#101 of 176 Re: no power??? help [clarson4] by gruchow

Oct 11, 2009 (6:45 am)

Replying to: clarson4 (Mar 25, 2006 9:49 am)
I have the same year escort and the same problem did you find any help on what it could be.

#102 of 176 Re: are all Escorts loud? [ckone0814] by token2

Oct 13, 2009 (11:01 am)

Replying to: ckone0814 (Dec 04, 2007 5:58 pm)
1st things 1st is it auto or manual trans? if auto trans parked check noise in nuetral and put in deive, engine should have bout same idle, big change and noise its bad mounts. 2nd check is exhaust put ur hand over tail pipe if you here air excaping it exaust
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