2000 Ford Escort Died on Highway

1997 Ford Escort died on Freeway

117,000 Miles, 4-cylinder, Automatic, 2-Wheel drive, Subtle (clicking/Rattling sounds) : like something you would hear out of an air-conditioner.

I was driving in the fast lane on the freeway when I heard this subtle clicking/rattling sound. At first I thought nothing of it then, about 60 seconds later all my service lights came on simultaenously and my gas pedal no longer worked.

I pulled off to the shoulder, put it in park, put my hazards on, and took out the key. Car wouldn't start up, or sound like it was trying to start. It was completely dead.

Triple A, takes it to the Firestone shop off the next exit. At the end of the day they call and say they can't figure out what was wrong with it. Now I guess I am left to taking it to a ford dealership and seeing if they can figure it out.

The car is still sitting at the Firestone shop but it's closed now. I don't recall any particular sounds when trying to start the car. Though it was really loud considering I was on the freeway shoulder next to the fast lane. What should I do?

I've been searching on the internet about the problem and I'm starting to think it's some kind of internal engine failure. If that is the case I guess I am looking at buying a new car. I know Firestone doesn't work on problems like that, so I'll be waiting for their call and will have to decide to take it to an engine shop or just do away with the car all together.

It sounds like you may have blown a head gasket. I have a 1997 ford escort, and we've had to replace the head gasket on it twice. Did you notice if the car's temperature gauge was higher than normal?

Best guess is to have firestone check the compression of the cylinders and that will tell you if the head gasket needs to be replaced or not.

I was told that blowing head gaskets was a common problem with ford escorts.