97 ford escort lx rough idle

[christer54321]

I have a 97 ford escort lx and have replaced a dozen different things

a new head,timing belt,pcv valve,plugs,wires,alternator,iac valve,oxygen sensor and so on...but after getting the head replaced and the timing belt...it ran great for about 2 weeks...but then it started doing the same thing it was doing before it jumped time .....which is in while in park or while at a redlight in drive...the rpms will drop and then slowly bounce up and down a bit.......making the whole motor/car kind of rock or as my kid says....like its gonna throw up...Ive taken it to auto zone and the only thing that shows up is i think p1443.... the evap sensor...which ive had that problem since my second day owning the thing........Does anyone have any idea what it could be making my car chug like it does?...all help will be greatly appreciated

[Rybo]

You didn't mention vacuum leak. There may be hose diagram underside of hood. I had to do this with my Toyata. pku after guys at lube joint switched vacuum hoses on two ports.

Just a possibility, I'm not a professional mechanic. Rybo

[christer54321]

Thanks there actually is one under the hood...surprise surprise...but its not that easy understand since i only recognize a couple of words on there and it doesent really match up like the diagram says.......but i did find a small hose thats a bit corroded...but i had most of the hoses replaced when the head was replaced but the one i found is on the right side under the hood on the bottom of the part my iac valve is connected to.....

[christer54321]

Well Ive replaced the vacuum hoses and had a diagnostic done again and nothing is showing up code wise....But its still doing the same thing....After it gets going good and then i stop at a redlight for a minute or so...the idle gauge will drop down slowley and then bounce back up a little over 1rpm and then do it over and over untill i start moving...and it has stalled while going slow...like rush hour traffic or in a drive thru line........All help will be appreciated...Thanks

[escortAndy]

Originally Posted by christer54321

I have a 97 ford escort lx and have replaced a dozen different things

a new head,timing belt,pcv valve,plugs,wires,alternator,iac valve,oxygen sensor and so on...but after getting the head replaced and the timing belt...it ran great for about 2 weeks...but then it started doing the same thing it was doing before it jumped time .....which is in while in park or while at a redlight in drive...the rpms will drop and then slowly bounce up and down a bit.......making the whole motor/car kind of rock or as my kid says....like its gonna throw up...Ive taken it to auto zone and the only thing that shows up is i think p1443.... the evap sensor...which ive had that problem since my second day owning the thing........Does anyone have any idea what it could be making my car chug like it does?...all help will be greatly appreciated

I have a 94 escort with a 1.9L engine and I had a similar problem and did a lot of research on this to save a few bucks. The problem with my car was the idle air control valve. Most cars have this valve I'm sure that the 97 also has one. The idle control valve is used for controlling air flow when not adding gas, something to make the car burn less gas. After thousands of miles that valve can get sticky. Some can be cleaned, mine had to be replaced. It was around 50 bucks. Now it runs smoothly hardly can hear the engine. If that is replaced and still you have problems than make sure that the egr valve is cleaned.

Here is a picture of the idle air control valve
http://MalyLink.com/0jrvhfx

[christer54321]

Well i went and bought a brand new iac valve after testing out several junkyard ones....but still doing the same thing but a little more info is.......Ive discovered when my fan cuts on it doesent do it but when it cuts off and warms up again it does it(the rpms dropping below 1 and then goes up and down a bit.....bouncing so to speak to right above 1 rpm....im totally stumped and 2 shops ive taken it to are stumped also.....So all help will be appreciated....Thanks

[shlomoamar]

The car may have a"ground problems". check that the engine block ground and the battery nagative pol are connectet as nedded. ther is a set you can use and it called "voltage stabilizer"


forum.autostyle.co.za - View topic - DEIZIN Voltage stabilizer

[TheSmJ]

I have the exact same problem with my 97 escort lx. Also thought it was the IAC valve and never got around to pulling it out and cleaning it. Guess I should check the ground too.

I should mention that I had to actually replace the same tube twice as it was leaking the vacuum. This time I can say for sure it's not the problem, though.

[edying]

it could be a problem with your torque converter .Does it only idle rough in gear or does it do it in nuetral also? You could try unplugging the lock up switch from tranny and see if that makes a difference