[Kim]

I have a 94 escort Gt with 77,000 miles on it. My dad and I attempted to change the temp sensor while changing the thermostat. The sensor we bought did not match. We went back to the store, they checked their computers twice and 2 manufacturers books. The part we had gotten was the one listed for a 94 Gt, but the part my car had was not listed at all. Yet, it was in fact the sensor. We are baffled, why would it be different?
My fan runs constantly so we were going to replace the relay switch. We think we found that located under the air filter. Is this where it is? If we had it right once again my car had an odd ball part. It looked similar but the listed part would not fit. Baffled again, why the difference?
We are going to call the dealership. Yet this might not help because two weeks ago we called them for a water pulley and it was discontinued. We got a decent replacement at a junkyard off a 93 GT. I had to replace the pulley because I had taken it to a shop 2 months ago to have the timing belt and water pump replaced. They didn't tighten the three bolts on the pulley so it ripped thru.
That leads to my last question. My car is in great condition, it means a lot to me because it was my first car and I've had it 8yrs. I replaced the belt and pump not due to problems but to ensure no problems. My car has never acted up on me other than the alternator dying a few months ago which my dad and I replaced as well.
When the pulley busted I had just gotten off the expressway. I had been driving the car for about 20 mins when I pulled into a parking lot. I cut the wheel tight to the right while I was backing up, and that's when the bolts let go. I lost power steering and coolant came out of the over flow. I guess this means it overheated, but that must have been short lived because I remember seeing the gauge at normal on the expressway. My dad deemed the car drivable a short distance, 8 miles to home. It was running hot but never left the normal bar. What other damage I should look out for other than the thermostat getting stuck open from the event?
Also my power steering is a bit tight now. It was completely fine before as I call it the event LOL. The power steering belt had fallen off when the pulley broke but that's back on now. It is a slight difference, but I know my car. Different usually means a problem. Why would it have changed after that situation? Sorry this is so long. I love this car so I can't help it LOL. Any and all help is gold to me
Sincerely,
Kim&Scort

 

[zzyzzx]

Sounds to me that you went to a dumb auto parts store person. The temperature sensors did change over the years for the LX where the one for the radiator fan and computer input were combined and then the fan was controlled by the computer. The GT's didn't do this only the LX's after a certain year (I think maybe 1994 and after). The sensor you need is not hard to find! If they give you the wrong one it won't plug into your wiring harness.

And besides tha dumb auto parts counter person I say you need to look for a better mechanic also.

 

[Kim]

Confused

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm confused. The LX changed the sensor after 94? I have the 94GT. Is what your saying that Murray's Auto gave me the changed sensor for LX's after 94? Would this go for the relay switch as well? If that's what they did then I'll definetly search elsewhere, but I wanted to make sure I understood you right. As for the mechanic, you betcha they will never see me or my money again LOL! They're paying us back for the work. My dad is really good with cars, but since he's getting older, I was tryin to save him some labor. So much for that idea. Oh well I know a lot more now about things under the hood so that's cool. Kim

 

[sethxtreme]

everytime ive ever had to deal with Murrays they were always messing up my stuff, and not to mention the parts are over priced, id say advance auto, autozone, parts plus something along those lines.

 

[Kim]

Thank you sethxtreme I will definetly take the advice to shop elsewhere from now on.

 

[zzyzzx]

Re: Confused

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm confused. The LX changed the sensor after 94? I have the 94GT. Is what your saying that Murray's Auto gave me the changed sensor for LX's after 94? Would this go for the relay switch as well? If that's what they did then I'll definetly search elsewhere, but I wanted to make sure I understood you right.

Now that I have reread your post I see that you gave a GT. You have a separate sensor for the fan and the computer, and a third one for the gauge. The gauge one is very different looking from the other two. The other two look identical except the electrical connectors are mirrir images of each other so that you can't plug it into the wrong place into the wiring harness. So essentially, if you bring the old one to the store and the electrical connector on it doesn't match, then it's definately the wrong one! And try a better parts stor like NAPA or CarQuest. Don't buy any plastic temperature sensors like the ones from Pep Boys. you want one that's brass like the original. And exactly how do you know you need a new sensor anyway? The electrical contacts on those things get dirty all the time and require periodic cleaning.

 

[Kim]

We replaced the thermostat without replacing the sensor and it's fine. I was just curious as to why there was the difference between mine and the one listed. My dad and I were aware that we didn't need to replace it, but he was just going to since he had the parts out. My questions remain the same. Why the difference in sensors? Was it just a bad auto store, is that what you're saying? Where is the relay switch located in relation to other parts under the hood? We have a picture that lists it with a line drawn to an area on the outer driver's side. The diagram just wasn't very clear. When I find it are you saying then that are three parts that need to be replaced to fix the fan? Also any clues about why the power steering is so tight now after that incident with the pulley? What other damage could have occured that day as well? Thanks again for the input.

 

[highanddry]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say your power steering is tight.

Regardless, the difference is likely due to the fact that the belt is now tensioned differently than you remember it. It may actually be at the correct tension now. Was a new belt installed? Did it before or does it now squeal at all when the car is first started up or when the wheels are turned fully to either side?

 

[Kim]

Yea I guess this power steering issue may be one of the things outta all this that bugs me the most. The water pulley and power steering belts that came off had no damage so both are the same ones as before. The power steering fluid is full as well. When I go to make a turn I feel like I have to work at it more than I ever have had to the entire time I've had the car. I feel like if I had to swirve suddenly that my reaction time might be quick, but my cars ability to respond to that reaction is going to be slower than normal. Sometimes it seems that the problem is more with left turns than right, but both are tight. When I was backing up that day when the pulley broke I had cut the wheel to the left hard and fast. When I did that I heard a pop. It was when I continued to hit the gas that I heard the bolts tear thru the pulley. The first pop may have been related to the pulley, but the sound came from a different area. I'm trying to remember exactly where now, but it seems it was on the drivers side in the wheel area. My drivers side tie rod was replaced 6 months ago at the same shop, but different mechanic. The wheel is tight in general. If my car is still running and in park it used to be that you could turn the wheel from side to side like you can with any car. Now the wheel will barely move at all. I know something is up, it's just a matter of pinpointing it to fix it. ggrrrr I am so mad at that shop. They have cost me so much of my free time working on this car. Thank you for reading my long posts and trying to help me

 

[highanddry]

Now, methinks your P/S pump is toast.

Have you ever driven a car without power steering for comparison?

Does you A/C still work?

To check if your P/S pump is shot, you could remove the belt and see if there's any difference.

 

[hotrodjim72]

could be just one of the hoses is shot, and could just be another problem that coincidentally occured. Make sure that the garage that did the work didnt use the wrong fluid. If you have rubber lines that run from your pump to your steering rack, chances is that if the wrong fluid was used, the lines could be swelling shut, and when you minimize the line size it makes steering harder.

 

[Kim]

No power steering is much worse than what it is right now. I have power steering in comparison to no power steering. Now how much or how well it's working I don't know yet. I just find it odd that the event with the belts would trigger it. My dad said something about it could be related to the tie rod, or something that sounds like the words rack and pinuns (i don't know what he's saying when he says it lol). It just worries me that it was completely fine before that day.

 

[Kim]

hmmm but would the shop have changed my fluid? They were doing a timing belt, water pump, and transmission fluid, and also fixed some clamps on my brakes. They didn't charge me for any power steering fluid so I don't think they touched it. As for the hoses all are fine I think cuz my dad and I have been up under it, above it, and inside it the past two weeks a few times fixing that other junk. Is there a hose we might've missed looking at that would be important with the P/S? Sometimes my dad doesn't notice things until they are pointed out. Plus he hates working on a scort cuz it's so small so my car tends to frustrate him. Thanks again for all the input everyone

 

[highanddry]

I didn't understand your first few sentences regarding power steering vs no power steering.

Unless you really ran into a curb hard, it's not your tie rod ends or tie rods.

Jack the front of your car up until it's completely off the ground.

Then, with the wheel unlocked (ie engine not started, but in "ON" or "ACC"), turn the wheel back and forth. It should move relatively easily.

Check for mechanical damage while you're there.

Report back after that.

 

[Kim]

Sorry to have had mixupped words but basically what I was tryin to say was that I know what not having power steering feels like, and this is not as bad as that. When you say mechanical damage what parts could be damaged?

 

[zzyzzx]

When you say mechanical damage what parts could be damaged?

We want to make sure that everything at least "looks right".

I am not sure if you have a damaged inner or outer tie rod end, or somehow bent something somewhere. I am also not positive if your power sterring pump is working correctly. If everything looks OK and your belt isn't slipping and no leaks than the next guesses might be the pump itself or the rack.

 

[Kim]

Okey dokey I'll see what we find and report back later. I'm going to see my dad later on this evening to have it checked out. He hasn't paid as much attention to the power steering issue yet. He was more concerned with the direct effects of the pulley issue first, but with continued daily driving I'm convinced something is up with the power steering. By the way, the shop has retracted their offer to compensate despite the fact that we did have a certified mechanic look at the situation and verify what happened. This mechanic is my dad's friend and he owns an Amoco with a giant warehouse attached to it. He runs a real good shop which is why it's so big. The amount of business he gets is outrageous. This is where I should've taken my car to begin with. I just always thought his prices were kinda high. So much for saving money...but we're taking that other shop to small claims court now instead. Should be interesting...

 

[DWW722]

I have a 94 escort Gt with 77,000 miles on it. My dad and I attempted to change the temp sensor while changing the thermostat. The sensor we bought did not match. We went back to the store, they checked their computers twice and 2 manufacturers books. The part we had gotten was the one listed for a 94 Gt, but the part my car had was not listed at all. Yet, it was in fact the sensor. We are baffled, why would it be different?
My fan runs constantly so we were going to replace the relay switch. We think we found that located under the air filter. Is this where it is? If we had it right once again my car had an odd ball part. It looked similar but the listed part would not fit. Baffled again, why the difference?
We are going to call the dealership. Yet this might not help because two weeks ago we called them for a water pulley and it was discontinued. We got a decent replacement at a junkyard off a 93 GT. I had to replace the pulley because I had taken it to a shop 2 months ago to have the timing belt and water pump replaced. They didn't tighten the three bolts on the pulley so it ripped thru.
That leads to my last question. My car is in great condition, it means a lot to me because it was my first car and I've had it 8yrs. I replaced the belt and pump not due to problems but to ensure no problems. My car has never acted up on me other than the alternator dying a few months ago which my dad and I replaced as well.
When the pulley busted I had just gotten off the expressway. I had been driving the car for about 20 mins when I pulled into a parking lot. I cut the wheel tight to the right while I was backing up, and that's when the bolts let go. I lost power steering and coolant came out of the over flow. I guess this means it overheated, but that must have been short lived because I remember seeing the gauge at normal on the expressway. My dad deemed the car drivable a short distance, 8 miles to home. It was running hot but never left the normal bar. What other damage I should look out for other than the thermostat getting stuck open from the event?
Also my power steering is a bit tight now. It was completely fine before as I call it the event LOL. The power steering belt had fallen off when the pulley broke but that's back on now. It is a slight difference, but I know my car. Different usually means a problem. Why would it have changed after that situation? Sorry this is so long. I love this car so I can't help it LOL. Any and all help is gold to me
Sincerely,
Kim&Scort

Kim,
The relay for the cooling fan is under the hood on the drivers side, it's in a black box that has fuses and relays marked on the box and is labled "Cooling Fan Relay". I went to three parts stores that said they had it, which they did'nt. I finally found it at AutoZone and it is relatively inexpensive.

Good Luck,
Darrell

 

[Kim]

Thanks DWW now I know for sure that what we had was the relay. Maybe my labeling is rubbed off or he didn't see that it had a label. Very possible with my dad. I'll definetly check out autozone for that part. I'm not worried about the sensor since it's fine, but I thought maybe that difference would give a clue as to the difference with the relay too. That's what confused us, how could to of my parts not be listed. Maybe Murray's is silly, but they did check two manufacturers' books so that's weird.
As for the power steering issue, we looked into it today. We checked the areas suggested here but found no damage. When the pulley and it's belt flew off the P/S belt was hit with enough force to knock it off as well. So our theory is that the pump was already weak. I read on this site that that is common with scorts I guess. If it was already weak and something got shook in such a way as to increase that weakness, that's probably what I'm feeling now. Think this could be the right track? In any case I guess a new pump would be in order. Also my P/S fluid is nasty, but my dad's been mentioning that for awhile now lol. So new pump, new fluid and hopefully problem solved. I'm going to take it to that good mechanic I mentioned for a check up on everything. Make sure nothing else is iffy with the previous repairs. One last thing, how can you tell if a timing belt was installed correctly. Is there anything performance wise that would be noticeable. The scort seems to be dragging a lil when I try to speed up from a stop. ooooo I want to hurt the guy that messed up my car sooooo bad. All I can do now is damage control it seems. Thanks again
PS. DWW I knew it was under the hood LOL I wasn't lookin in the trunk or nothin lol just playin I know what ya meant but I had to say it