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What did you do to your 3rd gen today??

516K views 6K replies 131 participants last post by  Intuit 
#1 ·
Just wanted to start one of these for us 3rd gen ppl...

I rotated my tires, set my front camber and toe.
And cleaned my wheels.

Tell us what u did??
 
#825 ·
I replaced the outer tie rods.

this weekend, I did plugs, wires, a few random vac lines, tb gasket, iac gasket, new exhaust, exhaust gaskets, and both o2 sensors
did you reset the ECU? both battery terminals off for 1/2 hr then neg back on, then pos terminal tap pos post three times. then tighten pos terminal back on. (rebooting computer) to learn new peramiters..... let idle for five min then drive normaly . may start ruff on next cold start... (still learning) it took the so called mystery vac leak and mid throttle surge out of mine for smooth running engine. had also tested TPS and Coil Pack with ohm meter, both tested bad.....
 
#14 ·
Yes, I was actually pissed when it happened, and wanted to just trash the car, but with it being my first car, and seeing how newer cars are harder to work on and this one is pretty easy. I decided to keep it and just replace the bumper and hammer the trunk area a bit. Sucks that the person didn't have insurance, but insurance would have totaled it anyway.
 
#15 ·
Sucks that the person didn't have insurance, but insurance would have totaled it anyway.
If I was not at fault and somebody did that to my car I would give them the estimate for the damages and demand they pay for it. If they refused I would take them to court, asking for the damages and court costs.
 
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#21 ·
>> What did you do to your 3rd gen today??

Drove it and became annoyed that I probably need an alignment. When I put the new headlights in we had to run the front wheels from side to side. I knew it was stupid, but the wheels needed to move to allow removal of the various parts so the bumper cover could be removed. Now I am dealing with the decision of not taking to a service center that would have jacked the car up.

Oh well. You win some, you lose some and occasionally you have to pay the piper to get your Ford Escort's wheels aligned.

It's the cycle of life, yes?
 
#23 ·
>> You need an alignment because
>> you changed the headlights????

I know...sounds stupid. But we were pushing the wheels right and left to make space to get to the screws in the wheel well covers were attached to when we changed the headlight assemblies.

What I know is that 2 weeks ago, the car ran straight and true. This week, it is pulling to one side. I know i did not slam some curb, so I am assuming that shoving the wheels right and left screwed the pooch.

Oh well...such is life.
 
#24 ·
^ The suspension and steering is under far more stress when driving the car than it would ever be turning the wheels when the car is stopped. In short, there is NO WAY that what you did messed up the alignment.
 
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#25 ·
ok.....i agree with your assessment in principle. But given that i drive so little since the wheel turning event, how did this happen?

Don't get me wrong....i believe what you state. In fact, that is total common sense! I am just a bit baffled how I screwed the pooch on this one. IDGI - I don't get it.

Clearly, I am missing something.

weird weird weird weird
 
#29 · (Edited)
Swapped out: water pump, timing belt + tensioner, accessory belt + tensioner, coolant, one ornery hose clamp, lack of pain in my hamstrings. :laugh: Second semi-involved service on the car, and it was a no-start strander :nailbiting: with a very odd cause.

This episode's takeaway: Inspect and swap your belts on schedule, even moreso if you live in hot and dry... and don't skimp on swapping the water pump at the same time.

Need swapped out: both front tires (prolly with Michelin Defenders, need mileage); rear shocks (really need to swap 4 corners but not until I move); radiator (for an all-aluminum one, also not until I move or old one leaks); transmission wear items (heard these auto trans were designed with decontented parts and wear aluminum particles into the fluid or something?). :mooning::cautious:
 
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