1998 Ford Escort accelleration oss

JASMICALL

MEMBER
1998 FORD ESCORT
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
103,500 MILES

When I am driving, (usually down the highway) every once in a whie I lose power in the acceleration. The enginestill revs, but it will top outat about 40 miles per hour. This has happened about once a week for the last three weeks. After I park it, and turn off the engine, let it sitfor a little bit, and start it back up, it seems to fix itself. Any ideas what could be causing this so I can get this fixed before it becomes a real big problem?

4 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok so give me some history on what you have done to this point. Have you changed or checked spark plugs, how old is the fuel filter and have you cleaned the mass air flow unit etc. The more you include the better I can try to help. Thanks

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Saturday, October 16th, 2010 AT 9:31 AM

JASMICALL

MEMBER
11 POSTS

I have not done much because i dont know much. i dont know what a mass air flow unit is or where it would be located. all i have done sofar is replace the air filter and check all the hoses and vaccum lines. we just bought this car and i dont have much money left right now to buy parts, so i was hoping that i could find out what was mybe wrong with it from you guys before i go experimenting. you mentioned the spark plugs, could it maybe be them that is causing the acceleration loss? i have a new setof plugs and wires that ibought for my 1999 windstar, dou you thik that they would fit, as i do not have enough money to buy new ones for about 2 weeks? thy look like they are the same. as i was inspecting everything, i found that a unit of some sort was not atatched correctly up by the fire wall. it has 2 vaccum lines attached to it and a clampwith a bunch of wires. i dont knowwhat it is, but it was just leaning up agaisnt he fire wallbecause the rubber pieces that the screws go through to attatch it were both cracked off. i included pictures below. is thisthe air flow sensor? if not do you know what it is? please help, this is our only transportation and we are very reliant on it!!

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Saturday, October 16th, 2010 AT 10:25 AM

JASMICALL

MEMBER
11 POSTS

Jsut wondering if I had to pay again for an answer cause I havent had a reply o my first question other than that you needed more info. Thanks

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Saturday, October 16th, 2010 AT 1:09 PM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

No that is not the mass air flow sensor it is for the EGR. Now the plugs and wire for the windstar will not fit the escort sorry. Here is a pic of a mass air flow meter or sensor all I would like you to is get some mass air flow cleaner remove it clean it and put it back. As for the spark plugs if you would like pull them and take a pic and include them and I will see if I think they look bad. Here is a pic of a mass air flow meter it is between the air filter and engine, it may even be attatched to the air cleaner lid.