1998 Ford Escort ZX2
Summary:
Great if I can get it running.
Faults:
I just bought this car about 7 months ago. I am a single mother, and needed a good car. My father had a 2000 and it was great.. Unfortunately someone hit his and totaled it.
Okay, back to my issue, that I PRAY someone can help me with. Since I have had the car, I have put in a new alternator, tie rod ends, and a wheel bearing. All of the work I had to do has made me late on a lot of bills.
The car was running great. On my way home from work, about 5 miles away, the car would not shift into 5th gear. It is a 5 speed. I got it home driving it in 4th. When I got home, it seemed like it was stuck in gear. I came down later and it will shift in any gear, it just will not go. We did get it moving in 3rd and 4th, but it will not drive in any other gear. I've been told a million things. Clutch, trans?? I have not been able to afford to have anyone come out to look at it. A mechanic did come out to look at it. Said he would be back to jack it up and find out what's wrong with it. I ran into him trick or treating, and he was drunk. He told me to drive the car down to the shop and he'd fix it. OK, at this time it still hadn't moved. So needless to say I will not be calling him back. It is almost Christmas, and I am thankful I have my aunt's van to drive, but my Christmas wish is to get this car going. I want to cry every time I walk outside and it just is sitting there.. I know it will probably be a few hundred to fix it. It more than likely will not be anything minor, but if you have had this problem, please let me know what you did to fix it. It will move in 3rd and 4th, so I'm thinking it isn't the transmission, but honestly I have no clue.. Thank you.
General Comments:
I love the car. I knew it needed some work. It is great on gas, and just perfect for my daughter and I.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th November, 2011
17th May 2012, 01:41
I own one too. But no matter what the car, that problem can only be a couple exact things. No question about it, don't blame the clutch.
Either a) the transmission is damaged inside, or b) the shift linkage is worn or sloppy.
A) Damaged transmission - better off getting a used trans out of a wreck. It will cost less and be quicker to fix, and somebody could sell a used tranny from a wrecked Escort for a few hundred bucks, and it should only cost a few hundred to change. I've done a transmission change for a hundred bucks in my backyard! That should be worst case scenario.
B) Shift linkage - there are cables/rods from the shift lever to the transmission. They connect to little arms on the transmission. They push/pull the little arms back and forth to switch gears inside. The cables/rods attach by a little ball-joint or pivot-end, which you should be able to see after removing a few pieces. These "ball joints" wear and get so sloppy that they can't push or pull the little arms far enough. This is common to all cars, and is an easy fix.
If you can't afford a few hundred bucks for a used tranny change, you got no business owning a car.