Common trans problems with 2000 Ford Zx2 escort?

FLAGMANBILL

FLAGMANBILL

Club Member
I recently just picked up a 2000 ford zx2 escort from a friend of mine who was buying a brand new car. He has said once in a while the trans would seem to slip or come out of gear, but if you let off, it would grab again, and continue to drive as normal. I did some research and think it might be a shift solenoid.

Are there any common problems with them? the car is in good enough shape and I got it cheap enough i dont mind putting a few hundred bucks into it, and I plan on using it as a fuel saver to use to drive to college and to work (100 miles round trip daily) and park my gmc serria.

I should note, i've driven it about 5 miles, and I cant get it to malfunction, Id like to get an idea what could be wrong with it before i plate it and insure it.

Any common problems? any thing that likes to break at a certain milage? it just rolled 120k and averages 30 mph on the freeway. This is my frist ford, so i dont know a thing about them. thanks in advance, Bill.
 
It sounds like it might be a motor mount. Maybe the left one. Step on it with the hood open and your foot on the brake.
 
really? i'd have never thought of that, but it makes sense. its got a noticeable vibration at idle when you start it up, but while driving, its gone.
 
While the engine mounts (especially the right upper) will cause bad vibration at idle, the shift engagement concern is most likely not related. The trans speed sensor will fail causing disengagement problems when hot and usually at highway speeds. It mounts in the trans where the speedometer cable clips in, and has a 2 wire connector on it. They do seize in the trans case and can be difficult to remove, but it's not an expensive part to replace.

If it has the 2.0 ZETEC engine it is overdue for a timing belt. They will break and leave you stranded, but it won't hurt valves if it does break.

If it the 2.0 split port (SPI) engine, they are notorious for dropping a valve seat and chewing up the head/piston. Hard to predict at what mileage though, and some just run forever without issue.

As with any car, they do have plenty of normal problems. The outer tie rods seem to wear quickly. The parking brake mechanisms in the rear drums rust and seize, but can be lubed and freed up. The radiators all seem to develop slow leaks at the plastic side tanks. The valve cover gaskets harden and leak on the ZETEC engine, and well as premature alternator failures due to the rear placement(poor airflow to cool them). More I'm sure I am forgetting, but mostly all small maintenance type stuff.

That being said, they really are great cars in general. Parts are cheap and easily available. I've worked on these cars for many years at the dealership, and would certainly recommend them to anyone.
 
Thanks joe, I just looked at the engine and the only thing I can find is VCT on the front of the valve cover. What does the sensor and labor usually run to fix it? For $300 bucks I think I got a pretty good deal
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