1. Since 5 months my CEL was on and mechanic ruled, it's common don't worry.
2. My escort is 99 model and done 125,000 miles on it with no major problems.
3. 6 weeks ago, I first noticed escort giving erratic jumps (sometimes only) when ACCELERATING (feels as if drive chain slipped off the ratchet of bicycle and immediately falls back in position). Everyone in the car, feels that jerk and asks me - Is everything OK. Still this unwanted feature continues...
4. 2 weeks ago, when driving back from Giant food store noticed head lamps are going dimmer and my Escort died as soon I parked at home. Thanks to the poor thing it DIDN'T leave me in middle of the road wondering what next? Problem was with alternator and I promptly got a new alternator fixed. The CEL disappeared for few hours before it HELLoed back again.
5. Since last week on every first drive during morning - my Escort keeps jumping abruptly. This Ballet performance happens for about 150 yards of that first drive leaving the traffic behind me puzzled.
6. My Escort wants to take its own time to cover this initial 150 yards distance and hesitates to respond with usual speeds to acceleration pedal. Escort picks up slowly and hesitatingly with less than 15 miles an hour speed. I can only press the acceleration to a point where car starts to fall back on speed and repeating the same feat over and again. Escort starts responding back to acceleration progressively and almost completely normal after a full 2 mile drive.
7. Please note, the CEL never completely vanished since it first appeared 5 months ago. Now, with every jerk the CEL surprisingly BLINKS and my Escort intuitively suggests something to this novice. I request the 'Game Players' to help me figure out and translate what my Escort's saying to me.
8. My recent exploration suggests CEL is indeed P0401. I got my Escort back to life with new alternator 2 weeks ago. But with my Escort's history, I look forward to do the right investment for the repairs.
Thanks in advance to the Escort GURUS, --- Preach me the MANTRA to eN'Route HOLY GRAIL to save my ESCORT from JERKS & JUMPS and cranks and P0401.
Fred...
