[jimgrimmett]

Ok Studs and Studettes

I FINALLY got my hands on the 93 escort wagon. It has 136,000 miles, the timing belt was replaced about 20,000 miles ago, the clutch was replaced about 6,000 miles ago.

**** PROBLEM ****

The car idles LOW and very RUFF... I have checked the vac lines to pcv valve and it has not made any difference. The idle is a stumbling kind of idle, ie 300 rmp up to 800 rpm and back down to 300, rinse and repeat.

in second and third gear the car kind of "BUCKS" as well.

I am thinking TPS but I could use some help figuring this out.

Thanks again all

Jim

 

[Intuit]

From what I've been told, an automatic trans will not act right if the engine isn't. So that has to be addressed first.

First thing I'd do is clean up the MAF and ACT/IAT sensors. MAF cleaner available in stores. Be sure to follow the instructions on the can.

Second thing I'd do is take off the IAC valve and clean it up. It being stiff with carbon build-up can cause erratic idle. With ample time for drying, if it doesn't improve, then try replacing it.

Spark plug wire and gap issues usually cause miss under heavy load conditions. (harder to reproduce on automatic trans)

TPS should be a rare failure item for 'scorts.

 

[HyBrad]

Spray some carb/intake cleaner around the intake manifold gasket area and fuel injector seals whlie idling and listen for a change in idle. You'll know when you find the vacuum leak.

Also check the PCV valve, make sure it's not stuck open or closed... and check the 'elbow' fitting on it.. these tend to collapse and break.

 

[jimgrimmett]

Hi Again...

I thought I would post what we found in case anyone else has this problem...

The car Idled like crap, very low idle after the car warmed up. It would "LURCH or BUCK" WICKEDLY in second and third gear.

I went through and changed all the hoses, pcv valve and all the other normal things I could find. The problem ended up being a bad intake manifold gasket.

I am still not happy with the power of the car, and the highway bucking problem is still there around 55 miles an hour, but the gasket solved all of the idle - low speed problems...

I hope this helps someone...

JIm

 

[juggalo]

get a can of mass air flow cleaner and spray it on the small fragile coils of the maf sensor

 

[Intuit]

It's common for the nuts, studs and bolts to back off for both the intake and exhaust manifolds. Recommend a re-torque on the exhaust manifold fasteners as well.

As for the bucking at high-speed, there was another very recent thread with that exact same issue. Check out the top-20... and search for like 55, 60, 65, 70 and should be in there somewhere. Will post it if I run accrossed it...

 

[jimgrimmett]

The bucking at high speed problem was solved by......

You guessed it, cleaning the MAF sensor,....

I had to buy one of those damn special torx but I did get it all apart, followed the directions on the can (kinda) and 50 sprays later plugged her back in...

We then had one last problem, a minor bucking in 2nd and third gears.... we replaced the plugs and wires.... now she runs great....

I hope this will help someone else as much as you all helped me....

BTW... getting the plug wire on and off on the HIDDEN cylinder is a real pain. I finally used a long pair of HOSE PULLLING pliers and that seemed to work the best...

Thanks again to everyone that helped me get this car running the way I needed it to...

Jim