Intrigued about my ZX2

I have recently bought a shiny 2000 Ford Escort ZX2, OMG this car rocks! I do have a few questions though. Please dont get all techy on me without a few explanations pls. I've been driving around in her for the past couple of weeks and she just recently put up her service engine light. I havent had a car in forever so... I'm not sure where I need to go with this. I've checked oil, tires, air-filter, hoses good, and everything else seems tip top. I am not sure but it mentioned something in the manual about fuel. I've only been using reg unlead. Should I use a couple tanks of Premium to see if this fixes problem. As well as I would like to know where I can get ahold of a cruise control kit. She didnt have one when I got her.

Mitrian and I thank you for all your assistance.

I'm not sure if this applies to your problem, but oftentimes car manufacturers will put "dummy" lights on your display panel to remind you to do things such as changing the oil every X000 miles. To turn these types of indicators off you need to push a button (usually located somewhere beneath the steering wheel) to reset it. If you change the oil, but do not reset the indicator, the light will show up on schedule. This could be what it is but not necessarily. Just a thought.


P.S. pushing the button without changing the oil does not mean that you no longer need an oil change!

umm zx2's arnt that equiped(never seen any ford with that), it is most likely the car is running to lean or rich, or the VCT is acting funny. take it to a place like pepboys or advanced autoparts to do a code scan on it it will give you an idea of the problem

umm zx2's arnt that equiped(never seen any ford with that), it is most likely the car is running to lean or rich, or the VCT is acting funny. take it to a place like pepboys or advanced autoparts to do a code scan on it it will give you an idea of the problem

i went to an Advanced Auto place they did a diagnostic on it and came up with

Dtc (codes)
P0705
Trans Range Sensor

WHAT in the hell is that?
and more importantly is it xpensive. please anyone with any info I think I'm gonna need help/

do you have a manual or an automatic?

It's an Automatic..... wish she was a stick though.

it sounds like a sensor inb the tranny then

Ford's always tend to throw up lights for no reason. My t-bird hit over 100,000 running strong, without even a hiccup. Then all of a sudden, once it actually hit 100,000, the check engine light came on. The code AutoZone gave me was a manufacturer code, and they couldn't tell me what it was. As far as I'm concerned, Ford purposely causes their cars to have problems to help keep making money.

that just means it was a fored specific problem, maybe to ford 100,000mi is a maitnence point and at that high milage they think it would be smart to have it looked over

fords do to have oil change lights look in newer explorers and freestars almost all luxury for vehicles have them

Trans Range sensor fault is a rather uncommon fault, not to say it doesnt happen but its not the most common.

The sensor is there to inform the ECU on what gear the tranny is in. If it fails the ECU has no clue what the tranny gear is. Odds are its a short or a minor fault otherwise it would have gone into a limp home mode. It would have lost power and only gave you 2 gears to choose from (1/3, or 2/4, and rev). This sensor can go out do to dirty fluid, or over time, sometimes it can go out do to someone tinkering with the transaxle and not putting it back together right.

I suggest running a carfax on your car find out whats been done to it, and take it to a trans shop that knows what they are doing, I would suggest Ford, but they would most likely replace the sensor and hope that fixed it.

I know I am Ford Trained.