Zx2 Problems ..please advise

[lilmizzc]

Hello Peoples,
I have a few questions about the ZX2.
I had a 89 honda accord but just got the ZX2 so im a little shaky on how this car works..bare with me....
History: Just got the car last november,
1999 Ford ZX2, 5 speed, right now it is 57,000

1) When i go over 60 mph and try to brake my car really shakes and I try to slow down. Could this be the struts or rods. My brother in law said maybe the car needs to be aligned or brake is hitting the rim.

2) when i went to go get an oil change, the dude was like my transmission oil was the darkest he has ever seen and my power steering fluid need to be flushed? I have never ever flushed my power steering fluid, just keep refilling it..am i wrong? what about the transmission fluid?

3)When my car stops or i shut it off there is this winding noise and then it shuts off. Kinda embarrassing to hear. its a cross between a high pitched scream and the winding.

4) lol when i roll down or up my windows (power windows) man its like they need oil because it has such a screeching sound. Can you put oil on them?
Even though i am a girl i feel like such a girl when it comes to this car because I have no clue...

[pre98zetec]

the shaking to me, is what my contour does. the front rotors are warped.


You should get your tranny fluid flushed every once in a while. I've never flushed my power steering fluid.

Screeching noise- I have no idea on that. Try having someone shut of your car while you are under the hood listening to where the noise is coming from.

The windows, yes you can put a little "all-in-one" oil on them

[Xtra_X]

1) I'm not too sure

2) Lube centers are bad for this. Did you see the fluid? First off our trans doen't have a dipstick so he needed to change it to see it. Power steering flush? sounds like he would have given you a headlight fluid flush is he could have. They will take advantage of women if they can. Learn to do it yourself it'll save you money in the long run.

3) The whining noise could be your fan. Since it isn't run off your accesory belt but electrically it'll run until the temp drops. Mine fan is noise too I think it's the bearings.

4) I'm again not too sure about the power windows mine are crank.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2035240

[lilmizzc]

Ok thans everyone, I did get the brakes fixed but through Pep Boys, big mistake, but thats another story...

But the whining noise they told me was my waterpump... I dont think its that since I'm not over heatings... I read a thread that i need a crankcase breather filter but when i went to go buy one, (Autozone) they said the ZX2 doesnt need one... is this right?

[zx2srdotnet]

well teh crank case has not really a breather its just got a small tude that sucks air from teh intake and puts it into the crank case so ths not really something that can normally get clogged, its a round rubber think between your valve cover and your intake its i think 1.5in across? its kinda hard to miss.

[Xtra_X]

What your refering to is the PCV Valve. It' shouldn't be replaced with a filter. They may be refering to a Valve cover breather. which is on the driver side rear of the valve cover. It connects to a long tube which runs down to the air box. Regardless neither of these should cause a whine. At the most just a rought Idle. Whines usually come from the accesories like the water pump/ac/ alternator as well as anything the serpintine belt turns including the idler.
hope that helps

[lilmizzc]

What is a crankcase breather and where exactly is it? A picture would be nice....

[AltecZX2]

its teh black bulb lookin thing on teh back of thevalve cover, there is a tube that somes off the intake and leads right to it.