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Ford EscortFord Escort ZX2 is a hot-looking compact coupe with a rakish design. Yet its handsome interior reveals a roomy back seat and surprisingly large trunk. ZX2 provides responsive handling and good road manners and its engine delivers decent power. At the same time, the ZX2 is a practical car, with plenty of room in the back seats for friends.
I've gone through some of the threads dealing with idle problems, but none of them are quite like what I am experiencing. This problem has been happening on and off for about 2 to 3 months. The idle is normally low, but upon coming to a full stop, the car stalls out. The car is driven roughly 50 miles daily and this usually happens once or twice a day if it happens at all. When it does not stall out the idle seems very rough and low (under 500 RPM's). It always starts back up without hesitation, and the check engine light has never come on nor does the computer show any codes. We replaced all the normal tune-up parts, which seemed to have little effect, and brought it to a non-ford certified mechanic who promptly scratched his head after running diagnostics. The car only has about 45K miles...Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and if you have run into this problem before, i would appreciate your input. Thanks - Craig
Try a Ford Dealer because this may be something they encountered before. Certified mechanics are OK but they lack working on one model of car repeatedly so they dont have a one type car experience that makes them experts on certain models.
My guess is a good Vacuum leak somewhere, they usually dont promote codes.
Please post your results if you decide to take it to a Ford Dealer.
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Mark V
1998 Explorer 4.0 SOHC
1998 Windstar GL 3.8
2001 Corvette Coupe 6 Speed
2006 Honda Shadow Spirit 750 http://public.fotki.com/snextime/
If your Exhaust tip is bigger than your cylinder bore, you are a Ricer!
I agree with mark. I think its a vacume leak. Check/replace you PCV hoses. OUr Focus did the same thing. Dealer charged like 200 bux. DO it yourself. Good luck.
A friend of mine who was previosuly managed a Mazda parts counter seems to think this may be caused by the idle air controller motor/vavle being gummed up,what he said is a common problem on the 626's which had the same engine. Any thoughts? I'll check the hoses first and take it from there...
Yes that could be the problem and it does make sense. Back in 1993 when I worked at a Ford Dealer they had a machine that you plug in your removed IAC valve and they put a solvent in it and it did something and cleaned it from what I remember, I dont know if they still do this.
After sounding much worse yesterday it finally threw off a code. Turns out it was a vacuum hose, and after $12 we're good to go. Thanks for the insight -
I've gone through some of the threads dealing with idle problems, but none of them are quite like what I am experiencing. This problem has been happening on and off for about 2 to 3 months. The idle is normally low, but upon coming to a full stop, the car stalls out. The car is driven roughly 50 miles daily and this usually happens once or twice a day if it happens at all. When it does not stall out the idle seems very rough and low (under 500 RPM's). It always starts back up without hesitation, and the check engine light has never come on nor does the computer show any codes. We replaced all the normal tune-up parts, which seemed to have little effect, and brought it to a non-ford certified mechanic who promptly scratched his head after running diagnostics. The car only has about 45K miles...Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and if you have run into this problem before, i would appreciate your input. Thanks - Craig
If you found out what your problem is would you please let me know, I'm having the same problem, thanks in advance..curt at startsavingnow@msn.com
Probably the PCV elbow. Either at the PCV end or the intake manni end. Very common issue on the ZX2.
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1998 Escort ZX2, T3 Super 60 at 8 psi, SCT Xcal2, Cobra MAF, 42#/hr injectors, MSD coil, Ford Racing wires, Ford Racing UDP, Fidanza flywheel, Spec 3 clutch, B&M shifter, Trubendz 2.5" exhaust, 19mm RSB, ES bushing kit, Eibach sportline springs, other goodies....
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Idle Problem - 2003 Ford Excort ZX2 (Automatic) 
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