Transmission vibration and noise while driving

[Escorttohades]

I have a '99 Ford Escort 2.0 SOHC with 65,000 miles. I notice a constant engine noise (like the transmission is in the wrong gear....too low) every time I press on the gas pedal. It temporarily goes away when I take my foot off of the pedal but is apparent every time I press down on the accelerator. The car also vibrates when shifting, especially when it is trying to shift into a higher gear. It maintains this vibration more at highway speeds. It's very loud on hills and seems to take its time shifting into the next gear. On the highway it sounds like its trying to shift into another gear which isn't there, thus maintaining the vibration. The transmission fluid is healthy looking but may be too full. There does not seem to be any leaks, although the other day, I shined a flashlight up into the engine compartment and noticed it looked wet way up above the oil pan, but nothing that leaks onto cardboard placed on the ground. Strangely enough, the car seems to perform better when the temperature outside reaches warmer temps. Also, when I start the car in the morning, it idles high as it is supposed to and then drops down....when it drops down, the loudness inside the cabin is quite apparent, which I think is related somehow to the engine noise while I am driving. Is this problem a transmission problem or just a really bad vibration problem causing the transmission to vibrate while I drive?

[Ford Man 59]

You might have a bad motor mount. They are a pretty common problem in the 3rd generation Escorts. I have an '02 Escort I bought for my son a little over a year ago and I noticed when I bought it, it had already had a new motor mount put in it and the car only had about 85,000 miles on it.

[Escorttohades]

Thanks for responding! I've had the rear and front engine mounts replaced (last month). There was no change. It seemed to get better/worse when people used a prybar to move the crossmembers around but I'm not sure why.... and if it got better, it was only temporary (as if whatever moved settled back into it's old groove). The fact it got better gives me hope, but I don't know what changed......and this was before either mount was changed.

[Rybo]

Originally Posted by Escorttohades

Thanks for responding! I've had the rear and front engine mounts replaced (last month). There was no change. It seemed to get better/worse when people used a prybar to move the crossmembers around but I'm not sure why.... and if it got better, it was only temporary (as if whatever moved settled back into it's old groove). The fact it got better gives me hope, but I don't know what changed......and this was before either mount was changed.

I understand the motor mounts have been replaced, but I wonder if the test --holding brake while in drive and raise engine rev-- might show any other loose things?

I'm no professional mechanic. If bolts are all in place and parts not worn, then maybe the trany is going.......?http://www.ford-forums.com/images/sm...et5/frown2.gif

Rybo

[Escorttohades]

We tried powerbraking. He said there was a lot of movement in the engine and suspected the rear motor mount...but, alas, no change after the mount was replaced. I'm thinking transmission as well...possibly differential....whatever causes the transmission to vibrate and make a constant exhaust-like noise while driving. It sounds like I'm pushing the engine too hard (like accelerating in neutral/park). I've also noticed, for example, when I get onto the highway from the on-ramp (or on a hill) if the car stays in the same gear too long, that if I press harder on the accelerator, the car won't respond(won't go faster, won't shift into the next gear), but if I take my foot off of the accelerator, it will shift into the next gear.