Question: 1991 Ford Escort mileage: 132,000. The car when it starts idles good, but stalls when put in gear. It floods very easily and sometimes wont start and gas gets in the oil. I have new spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor. I do have a good spark. I have checked the timing belt and all timing marks line up. The check engine light does not come on. I checked for codes with engine off and there are none. I installed a new fuel filter and installed a gage in the fuel line and it is 37 psi. I have installed a new air intake pipe because the old one had a hole in it, but there was no change.

Answer: Check for a plugged catalytic converter. Also, check the idle speed control motor. It may need to be replaced

Question: 1998 Ford Escort mileage: 55,000. I was wondering how hard it would be to repair the clutch on my car. What happens is that it slips as I hold the clutch in, and then eventually grinds. I know a little bit about cars and enjoy working on them a lot, I just don’t have the know how. Can you recommend some books and tutorials, or even some sites where I can get information on a repair process so that I may improve on my mechanic skills? Please help.

Answer: Your clutch master or slave cylinder may be failing. In addition, a Mitchell or Chilton auto repair manual will have diagrams showing what you are looking for. Click here to find out more.

Question: 1999 Ford Escort mileage: 74,500. Sudden signs of overheating on a cool night alerted me to a much more serious car problem - a small stream of coolant was seeping from between the head and block of my Ford Escort. After closer inspection, I found that the front, right corner head bolt, next to thermostat housing, (#10 head bolt) broke, allowing the sudden seepage to occur. With the head removed (joy, joy, joy), there are only signs of slight internal coolant seepage in the head, and none in the chambers of the block. There is also no coolant on the dipstick, and no oil in the radiator. Only the one corner of the head gasket failed - the rest looks fairly good. I think I caught the problem before it caused any major damage. Due to the mileage, my plans are to: 1) Replace the head gasket & torque-to-yield head bolts, 2) Replace the timing belt, 3) Replace the serpentine belt, 4) replace the thermostat and housing gasket, 5) Flush & fill the cooling system, 6) Change the oil & filter (then again 500 miles after gasket replacement). I am leaving the valve cover gasket intact, as it's a rubber gasket in great shape, and replacements are cheap cork. Here are my questions: 1) Is it common for a head bolt to just "break," or is this an indicator of poor driving habits, or worse - some serious, underlying engine problem? 2) Are there other repair steps I should consider (that I can perform on my own) at this mileage? 3) What "gotchas" should I be aware of while performing the repairs?

Answer: 1. No, it is not common for head bolts to break, 2. Replace water pump and all head bolts, 3. Be sure timing marks are aligned properly.

Question: 1995 Ford Escort mileage: 85,000. After driving for maybe 20 minutes (whether stopping & starting or straight driving) car stalls & won't start for 4-5 hours. Sometimes very rarely, I can put a little fuel directly in the carburetor & get it started but even then, it will run maybe a block before dying again. The fuel filter has been changed (going into the carburetor); is there another filter on the car?

Answer: Only one fuel filter. Your fuel pump may be failing.

Question: 2001 Ford Escort mileage: 50,000. The automatic transmission is very sluggish when I first start the car on a cold morning. After about a block the transmission kicks in and seems to drive fine after the initial sluggishness. Any ideas?

Answer: Your transmission may be ready for service. Replacing the filter and fluid may correct the problem.

Question: 1998 Ford Escort mileage: 108,000. I was in the car about to make a corner at a four way stop when the car went dead. It still had power but wouldn’t start so I had it towed home. I checked the fuel filter and fuel pump, I also checked the oil and every thing checked ok. When you try to start it it sounds like its trying to start but wont. Can you help?

Answer: Here are some things to have checked: 1. Check to see if the timing belt/chain has failed, 2. Check for ignition spark at spark plugs, 3. Check for fuel pressure

Question: 1994 Ford Escort mileage: 98,000. No heat in car. Seems to be blower problem. Nothing happens when I turn on heat or A/C. One moment heat...the next time I started the car, nothing! Is it a fuse? If so, which one (no manual here).

Answer: With a test light, test all fuses with the key on and the heater fan on. Some fuses test okay without a load.

Question: 1999 Ford Escort mileage: 84,000. When I come to a stop the car stalls; when I start it back up it starts right away. I just had a tune up and a new battery put in as well as fuel injector fluid and timing belt. This problem happens when I come to a stop even if it is in park. I noticed that if I have the a/c on it's less likely for it to stall, but it has stalled once with the a/c on...also the idle seems fine...(it’s an automatic, but has a tachometer) and the tac is not shaking like if there was an idle problem. If you can help me, I’d appreciate it. I’ve been to 3 mechanics and they've been no help just doing things I don't think I even needed.... thanks!

Answer: Check the catalytic converter to make sure it is not “plugged” or restricted. Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine management system. An independent auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error codes. The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components.

Question: 1999 Ford Escort mileage: 100,000. I noticed one day that I had a radiator leak, which was promptly sealed. Two days later, the engine heated up causing vapor. Thermostat and radiator fan, thermo sensor exchanged. Thermostat was stuck and the sensor did not activate the fan. I have a smoke problem now. The engine needs to be hot for the smoke to show itself. It appears from under the hood on the driver's side, when I stop at a traffic light, Lasts about 10 seconds and everything is back to normal (no smoke at all). I have tried looking under the hood immediately to see where it came from, but it's quite difficult Because the fan is blowing all the time dispersing the smoke all over the place. The smoke (looks like smoke) smells a bit acrid. Checked for any electric problem, none. I thought it might be an exhaust problem, so I stopped the car and covered the tailpipe with my shoe for a couple of seconds, which resulted in smoke from under the hood and disappeared 10 seconds afterwards (tried twice. with the same result). The problem is getting on my nerves, so if you have any tip/advice I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks in advance.

Answer: We are guessing at the smoke may be hot coolant leaking, turning to steam. It may have plugged up the coolant passages in the engine causing more overheating. A brand new radiator should take care of the problem.

Question: 2000 Ford Escort mileage: 55,000. Recently I had a small accident and I hit a curb going really fast. I ended up busting the tire and denting the rim. Unfortunately, I hit something else because now the car won't move. When I put the car in first, or reverse it won't move it acts like it's in neutral and the engine does not cut off it just sits there. I don't believe it's the clutch because it goes into gear pretty easily. But then I don't know much about cars. Please if you can send me any information about what the problem could be and how much it would cost me I would dearly appreciate it. I understand that you might not know but anything you could send me would help.

Answer: The impact of the curb may have caused one of the drive axles to “pop” out of the transmission. Other damage may be present. Have the car inspected at an auto service center and get an estimate for repairs.

Question: 1998 Ford Escort mileage: 80,000. On this Escort do the valve lifters need adjusting or are they hydraulic and self-adjusting?

Answer: They are self adjusting.

Question: 2001 Ford Escort mileage: 63,000. I cannot seem to get new disc brakes back on. The new pads are ok on the rotor, but the two bolts that hold caliper on to frame cannot match up anymore. Are the bushings that the bolts fit into adjustable? How can I line them up or make them fit? The rotor is all the way in to the end, but those two bolts are too far in to catch. By the way, I haven't done brakes in 15 years, because I have a company car!!!

Answer: We think your problem is the pistons need to be pushed back into the calipers. This is easily done with a "C" clamp. It is a good practice to do one side at a time leaving the other side for reference.

Question: I have a 1999 Ford Escort mileage: 105,000. It started running a little rough and the next day died on the way to work. I got it started, but it would only idle and the gas pedal did nothing unless you kept it all the way to the floor and then it would begin to rev up after a minute or two. It would then rev up and down normally until I let off on the gas peddle and then it would only idle again. I changed the fuel filter first and that did not help and then I changed the fuel pump in the gas tank and that did not help either. This is a fuel injected engine. What else can i do?

Answer: Good job tracking the problem. You have done the basic maintenance on your fuel injection system. At this point, I would hook your car up to our electronic scan tool to check for any stored faults in the control module computer. Assuming, however, you don't have access to this tool, it's back to the trial and error method. Check the timing belt. It may have "jumped" a tooth. If that checks okay, next check the ignition system, starting with the pick-up coil, ignition module, and coil. When the cap is off the distributor, check wire connectors. Next check the fuel management components, oxygen sensor, map sensor etc. There is a remote chance you may have a plugged catalytic converter.