Revival of the '94 Escort...

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I used to do regular pan drops for filter changes. There were no separate ports for the differential. It's actually a Mazda transmission.
 
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I used to do regular pan drops for filter changes. There were no separate ports for the differential. It's actually a Mazda transmission.


Thank you for the reassurance

We're talking automatic, right?

So the fluid I lost when I pulled the inner CV was just ATF, and topping off the ATF and checking the level with the one dipstick would be appropriate?

I used Mercon V, I read Ford updated the spec and it would be appropriate?

What if I wanted to change the fluid?

Pull the flat hex headed nut I see on the bottom of the case and drain?
 
Automatic, yes, correct. I used M1 synthetic in mine. It's not a Ford transmission and doesn't use Mercon, but I doubt a top off quantity will make much difference.
 
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If you want to change the fluid it looks like Mercon is OK. Something like Valvoline MaxLife or Mobil 1 synthetic ought to be fine. I do not recall there being a drain plug on this car's transmission pan so you would need to loosen the pan bolts and remove the pan for draining. I don't recall seeing the hex bolt you are talking about, but mine was a 893 Escort purchased new in June of 92 and they may have made changes.
 
I mean a 1993 Escort. I am having a sketchy memory of the flat hex head thing you are talking about. I do not believe that it is a drain plug for the transmission.
 
Great thread. I loved my 92' Escort i had form 97-99 that was sadly T-bonned & totalled. Humble but solid little car, inexpensive to operate and surprisingly comfortable driver seat for my then-6ft 245lb frame, everything easily within reach and no crowding from massive center consoles or protrusive door trim which has no place in small cars.

The the famous Ford CC Delam is just a convenient excuse to dip the car. I'm thinking Cyan, Teal or Orange with gold metalizer...
 
Mine was white and the paint was in great shape. I traded the car in 2001 when purchasing a used Honda Odyssey. My wife wanted more space once the second child came along. I put 140,000 miles on the car in nine years. It was very reliable and reasonably comfortable, but the vibration at idle while sitting in traffic or at lights was awful. I replaced the motor and transmission mounts which didn't help a bit. Out of desperation I took it to the Ford dealer who said it needed a new harmonic balancer because mine was "broken." I did not get it at the time, but maybe they were right.
 
I still drive my 1995 Escort LX. At 237K miles, it still has it's original automatic transmission. I use and recommend this transmission fluid:
febb6d74-c68c-4f74-af69-95597ef76ac2_1.c3dc67ff48139041714b7cd8fdddc5f6.jpeg


Except I sometimes use the high mileage version on mine. Anyway, with that low mileage you probably need to do nothing to it, but once you get more mileage I recommend applying this TSB:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/
Which will boost transmission oil pressure at low RPM's (which will make a difference on cold starts in the winter).

And if you haven't already visited http://www.feoa.net please do so. Lots of Escort drivers are there.
 
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It was very reliable and reasonably comfortable, but the vibration at idle while sitting in traffic or at lights was awful. I replaced the motor and transmission mounts which didn't help a bit. Out of desperation I took it to the Ford dealer who said it needed a new harmonic balancer because mine was "broken." I did not get it at the time, but maybe they were right.

Might have been some sort of damage doen by previous owner. Did you ever just try higher octane gas?
 
Originally Posted By: Darris
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It was very reliable and reasonably comfortable, but the vibration at idle while sitting in traffic or at lights was awful. I replaced the motor and transmission mounts which didn't help a bit. Out of desperation I took it to the Ford dealer who said it needed a new harmonic balancer because mine was "broken." I did not get it at the time, but maybe they were right.

Might have been some sort of damage doen by previous owner. Did you ever just try higher octane gas?


There was no previous owner. I bought the car new. I have seen lots of Escorts of that vintage with the telltale shaking tailpipe at intersections. (major vibration of the drivetrain) The engine idled just fine in park or neutral. The issue presented itself when stopped with the transmission in drive. I often thought it was a poor mating of the Ford engine with Mazda transmission.

Doesn't matter now. The car and I parted ways in 2001.
 
Does it have an aftermarket PCV valve? The Motorcraft one really does work better and makes it idle better. Go to FEOA.net to look up some of the common problems.
 
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Does it have an aftermarket PCV valve? The Motorcraft one really does work better and makes it idle better. Go to FEOA.net to look up some of the common problems.


You're surely not replying to my post, right? The one in which I stated that I sold the car fifteen years ago?
 
Well, I promised pictures, and I forgot...

Here is the almost finished product

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The kids don't know what to do with this...
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Or this...

Believe it or not, that's original milage, backed up by the service history and CarFax

It's hit the road, I've put about 100 miles on it

Burned all the stale winter blend gas out of it (Vapor Locked so bad on it)

Screwed 4 new plugs into it

It needs a balance and rotation, and an alignment after I do both outer tie rod ends, and steering rack bushings

I've got the missing piece of bumper, I might stitch it on with some zipties

Other than that, it lives to die another day

I'd call it a station car, but it's slightly better than that

Ice cold factory '94 134A A/C, and hot heat thanks to the new core



That concludes the revival of the '94 Escort LX



But it'll be back...

They always come back
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That's actually pretty clean for a mid-90's car from the northeast, despite the accident damage and clearcoat.

As said above www.feoa.net will be your friend lol. They've saved my butt many, many times with my '97 Tracer.
 
Originally Posted By: copcarguy
That's actually pretty clean for a mid-90's car from the northeast, despite the accident damage and clearcoat.


I probably should have mentioned that yes the clearcoat is not good on these cars. The black ones didn't have it from the factory. Got in a wreck with mine in 1998, and the body shop clearcoated it. That 1996 clearcoat is coming off.
 
Fond memory, I inherit one from my inlaw that was poorly maintained, with non working AC and bad struts. End up junking it for "save the air" deal that gave me $1k.

It is actually fun to drive in the winter, but in the summer with no AC, I'd rather take the bus.
 
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Originally Posted By: Darris
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It was very reliable and reasonably comfortable, but the vibration at idle while sitting in traffic or at lights was awful. I replaced the motor and transmission mounts which didn't help a bit. Out of desperation I took it to the Ford dealer who said it needed a new harmonic balancer because mine was "broken." I did not get it at the time, but maybe they were right.

Might have been some sort of damage doen by previous owner. Did you ever just try higher octane gas?


There was no previous owner. I bought the car new. I have seen lots of Escorts of that vintage with the telltale shaking tailpipe at intersections. (major vibration of the drivetrain) The engine idled just fine in park or neutral. The issue presented itself when stopped with the transmission in drive. I often thought it was a poor mating of the Ford engine with Mazda transmission.

Doesn't matter now. The car and I parted ways in 2001.


Friend's wife had a Topaz that did that...the shop quoted her $600 to "fix" it. Fortunately, she didn't have her checkbook with her at the time, because the problem turned out to be...a vacuum leak!
 
Eh, an update for the fun of it

People over at FEOA have had the patience of a saint with me, and been uber helpful

Got the wheels balanced at Costco ($23 for a rotate, balance, and Nitrogen conversion isn't a bad deal)

It got it's poly steering bushings and OEM outer tie rod ends to tighten it up

New sway bar links to kill the clunking

Serviced the Clinton era Transmission fluid, only snapped two pan bolts in the process

Put the pump valve kit in it, now it's shifting right

New thermostat and radiator cap kept it not overheating (gotta do the cooling fan relay mod)

By some miracle I didn't snap the 3 bolts that hold the thermostat housing onto the cylinder head (CVH owners know what I'm talking about)

The more I drove it, the better it got, couple of tanks with a couple of bottles of B12 Chemtool cleaned it out, and I cleaned the TB and MAF

Solved the unintended acceleration with a NOS Motorcraft IAC and TPS (It craves those luscious OEM parts)

Still needs an alignment, and probably shocks/struts, and it's got a bent rim (still balanced out though)

It was returned to it's owners, who tool around town with it, and are quite pleased

It needs to come back for a check up, but soon we can get to the fun projects we originally planned for this car

Power locks/keyless/remote start

Maybe Plastidipping it flat black

Who knows...

It will forever be known as Project Escort
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