5th Nov 2010, 10:55
I, too have a '02 Ford Escort with the rough idling issue. The car looks great all the way around, but when it shakes the way it does when my foot is on the brake, it makes me feel like I'm driving a "piece". I wish I could figure it out.
1st May 2011, 05:30
I just bought a 2002 Escort SE and it is perfect all the way around, except in gear at a stop light. It has a rough idle and feels like it wants to die... maybe a PCV? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.
15th Oct 2012, 10:27
Hi All.
I have owned a 1999 Ford Escort wagon for 10 years / 130,000 miles now, and it has always vibrated at idle when in gear. You can feel the vibration in the body of the car and in the steering wheel. I have also had the exhaust rattle, and it turned out to be the heat shields on the catalytic converter. During this time, much maintenance work has been completed, including a cleaning of the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve, replaced spark plugs, replaced air filter a few times, replaced timing belt / idler pulley and serpentine belt, etc. etc. The vibration has never changed a noticeable amount. I believe that this is just the nature of the car.
Thanks.
6th Dec 2012, 17:01
You may have been ripped off by buying a new engine. My daughter has a 2001, and she was driving it and the timing belt pulley sheared off and/or the belt snapped (not sure what order it happened in), but anyway, I had it towed to a mechanic I trusted and he said that those engines have non interference valves, meaning that if the belt does go, it doesn't ruin anything. He fixed the problem for $300 (parts and labor). Trust me, I was there while he was working on it.
28th Jul 2013, 02:14
Rattling under car while sitting at a stop light? Check for a loose catalytic converter heat shield.
30th Oct 2010, 12:54
My 2001 Escort seems like it will run another 100,000 miles. But it shakes at idle in drive, just like all the others on here. No one can find anything wrong. Motor mounts checked OK. This is just some quirk of this model. If Ford knows what it is, they are too cheap to offer any help.