[CABGx3]

Hi All......
Just got our Grandson his first car. It's a 1998 Ford Escort SE Sport model with 2.0 engine, AutoTrans, and 95k miles. It seems like a basically good runnilg little car except it has a rough idle and heavy vibration that gets worse with the car in drive and worse yet with the A/C turned on. It smooths out nicely with just a slight increase in the RPM's.

This is my first experience with an Excort and I was wondering if there is any particular ailment common to this car that would give these symptoms, before I dig in to it.

TIA for any advice,
Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[kids-at-711]

my 96 lx did the same thing, turned out to be the iac on the throttle body was dirty, quick cleaning and a new gasket fixed it right up, might try that

 

[CABGx3]

my 96 lx did the same thing, turned out to be the iac on the throttle body was dirty, quick cleaning and a new gasket fixed it right up, might try that

Thanks for the tip.......I'll check that first.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[vtec-this]

another thing to check for the vibrations could be the engine mounts as they are technically wear related items.

 

[CABGx3]

another thing to check for the vibrations could be the engine mounts as they are technically wear related items.

BINGO........you hit the problem.......I just got back from seeing my Mechanic and he looked the car over and concluded the IAC valve was ok and the front motor mount is very bad.

BTW, do you know how many motor mounts that 2.0 engine with AutoTrans has?

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[juggalo]

they should have 4. the front and rear r bolted to the transmission. the driver side mount is below the battery tray on the upper part of the transmission and the passenger side is by the timing belt. i'm gonna fill my front and rear mounts with polly urethane soon.

 

[CABGx3]

they should have 4. the front and rear r bolted to the transmission. the driver side mount is below the battery tray on the upper part of the transmission and the passenger side is by the timing belt. i'm gonna fill my front and rear mounts with polly urethane soon.

thanks for the info.......Whatchu talking about "poly urethane filled motor mount"......how you do that?

 

[juggalo]

by filling ur stock mounts with a tube of polly urethane.

 

[CABGx3]

by filling ur stock mounts with a tube of polly urethane.

Hmmmm.........never heard of that. Will have to check in to it. Do you do it while they are still in the car, or pull them out?........does the poly urethane have to "cure" or "set-up"?

 

[juggalo]

it will put more power to the wheels but it won't prevent vibrations. i'm gonna do it with them out of the car and let them dry before puttin them back in.

 

[CABGx3]

it will put more power to the wheels but it won't prevent vibrations. i'm gonna do it with them out of the car and let them dry before puttin them back in.

OIC......well, I guess I'll take a pass this time then....I'm only interested in reducing the vibrations for now........thanks for the info tho, interesting.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[CABGx3]

Apparently there is an extensive TSB on this subject. TSB #03-15-15 goes into a lot of detail with pictures about how to solve the vibration problem which is apparently a problem in the basic design of the positioning of the engine in the car.

There is also an old thread somewhere in this group on this subject wherein some say it's all not necessary and one guy said he worked at a dealership and did several cars this way and it really worked...........I'll ask my "Super Mechanic" when we get in to this after he gets back off vacation and see what he says.........or if any of you have direct personal experience with this, let us hear from you please.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[cklaubur]

When I replaced the front and rear mounts on my '97, I did just the neutralization procedure listed in the TSB, and it made a big difference in vibration. This engine, however, just doesn't idle as smoothly as newer 4 cylinders.

Casey

 

[CABGx3]

When I replaced the front and rear mounts on my '97, I did just the neutralization procedure listed in the TSB, and it made a big difference in vibration. This engine, however, just doesn't idle as smoothly as newer 4 cylinders.

Casey

Thanks Casey........I've ordered all the parts and will try to get my Mechanic to put the mod on my Grandson's '98 Escort this weekend.....I'll post back and let you all know the results.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[CABGx3]

When I replaced the front and rear mounts on my '97, I did just the neutralization procedure listed in the TSB, and it made a big difference in vibration. This engine, however, just doesn't idle as smoothly as newer 4 cylinders.

Casey

Thanks Casey........I've ordered all the parts and will try to get my Mechanic to put the mod on my Grandson's '98 Escort this weekend.....I'll post back and let you all know the results.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

I got all the parts in......Motor mounts came from Autozone and Advance and all the bushings, spacers, and the special bracket came from Green Sales Company......just waiting now for my Mechanic to get some time to do the job.....not cheap by any means......I've got about $200 just in the parts so far......and the labor will be on top of that. I'll keep you all posted as to how it all comes out.
Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Escortlvr1]

Dont get infatuated on the vibration of this engine or you will spend alot of money and get no where fast. Replace the motor mounts, re neutralize via the TSB if you want to. But after that leave it alone. The chassis of these cars have a tendency to amplify vibrations pretty good.

 

[CABGx3]

Dont get infatuated on the vibration of this engine or you will spend alot of money and get no where fast. Replace the motor mounts, re neutralize via the TSB if you want to. But after that leave it alone. The chassis of these cars have a tendency to amplify vibrations pretty good.

Thanks for the advice........I always appreciate hearing from "those who have been there", and I really don't expect to get rid of "all" of the vibration. Indeed, this will be the extent of my anti-vibration repairs on this vehicle......and a good "consumer report" on the TSB, as I am having it followed exactly except will replace all four motor mounts instead of just the two they recommend. Thanks again,

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[CABGx3]

Hi All......
Well, we went and did it! Actually installed TSB #03-15-15 on my Grandson's 1998 Escort Sport. The TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin and procedure intended to alleviate the vibration problems caused by the 4 cylinder 2.0 engine. It ain't cheap. We spent about $250 in parts (mostly for all new motor mounts) and another $150 to have my Mechanic do the procedure (cause I'm too old), but it was, well worth the effort. The vibration has been reduced to almost nothing. In fact, if you did not KNOW the vehicle has a reputation of this problem, you would not even notice.

We went a little beyond the TSB, in that we replaced all four Motor mounts where I think the TSB only askes that two be replaced. But in our case, three of the four were bad anyway. We also used all new bushings, the special new spacers, and the new mounting bracket for the top passenger side mount.......everything the TSB asked for.

We followed the procedure exactly, including slotting the mounting holes for the lower rear mount and the shaky-shaky procedure to allow the motor to settle in to find it's own resting place, then bolting everything down tight........road test and all is very well. Grandson reports that he feels like he's "riding on a cloud" now, and very happy with the work. so there you have it Guys. If you have the vibration and really want to minimize it, you can with this procedure. Hopes this helps someone who has this problem.

One more interesting thing. One procedure in the TSB says that when you install the NEW upper Passenger Side Motor Mount BRACKET, that you leave it the black color that it comes in and not paint it to match the rest of the engine compartment sheet metal like the original bracket is. This, I suppose, so later on, one can just look at the color of this bracket and determine that the TSB mod has been done on this vehicle. I wonder how many of you readers have a black bracket and how many have one that matches the rest of the engine compartment?

Also, I had to replace the two M12 bolts for the front of the bottom Belly Band as the originals had shoulders on them that would not work with the new bushings.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Escortlvr1]

Good job! I've done a few of the TSB's and it works every time to get rid of 90% of it. Like I said people seem to get obsessed with it and that's when the frustration sets in :lol:

 

[rickprado]

Good job! I've done a few of the TSB's and it works every time to get rid of 90% of it. Like I said people seem to get obsessed with it and that's when the frustration sets in :lol:

I'm at that point...lol! I have seen the bulletin with actual diagrams, but cannot seem to find it now. The only one I can find on the web is just the text version. Any ideas where I can get the ones with pics? I need to see pictures....thanks!