High Mileage Escorts

[AzTumbleweed]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

The '88 Mazda 323 and Mercury Tracer (which was almost the same in body size/shape) were both assembled on the same line in Ford's Hermesillo (sp?) Mexico auto complex. Had the same motor and tranny. Not sure about any Escort model being similar.... don't think so.

I've heard the Mazda 323 and the Escort are the same car mechanically. My
'93 Escort was built in Wayne, Michigan.

[chrisanthony]

Originally Posted by AzTumbleweed

I've heard the Mazda 323 and the Escort are the same car mechanically. My
'93 Escort was built in Wayne, Michigan.

The same goes with the Mazda MX-3..

[pabst]

My escort has 268,500 miles. gets about 30 mpg, needs a tune up. Its on the original motor and 5 speed trans, runs like a champ. Drive it like ya stole it.

[FordMan59]

Need to add a 500K catagory. I should be hitting 1/2 milliion in about a month. Maybe I could be the first to post in that catagory.

[Intuit]

Sure you didn't convert it to diesel and attach a trailer to that thing ?

Congrats. What are the Winters like in N. Carolina ?

[FordMan59]

Originally Posted by Intuit

Sure you didn't convert it to diesel and attach a trailer to that thing ?

Congrats. What are the Winters like in N. Carolina ?

In the area where I am the winters aren't too bad. We usually get a couple small snows or an ice storm or two per winter, but other than that they are pretty mild with lows in the teens or single digits.

[donn268]

My 95 Wagon has just past 204,000 and has been doing great...in the past weeks 3 or 4 it has not wanted to idle very well...I have looked 28 pages deep into the tech area and will assume by all the post that its a vacuum leak. But I never see and post of what anyone found that was the actual cause. So I will do my best to check and or change all the lines.

Already installed new plugs, wires, air filter, pcv and still the same...vacuum lines are next.

[FordMan59]

Originally Posted by donn268

My 95 Wagon has just past 204,000 and has been doing great...in the past weeks 3 or 4 it has not wanted to idle very well...I have looked 28 pages deep into the tech area and will assume by all the post that its a vacuum leak. But I never see and post of what anyone found that was the actual cause. So I will do my best to check and or change all the lines.

Already installed new plugs, wires, air filter, pcv and still the same...vacuum lines are next.

Check the PVC line. I know lots of people have problems on the 2nd generations with rubber elbow in that line splitting causing a rough idle. If you don't find any vacuum leaks you might try removing the idle air control valve and cleaning it.

[Intuit]

My '94 1.9L - charcoal cannister vacuum hose dry-rotted at the charcoal cannister. (length was excessive causing it to sway & jiggle and eventually break) Simply cut the dry-rotted end + excessive length off. Cold engine spark knock under load, that was a problem through all last Fall & Winter is now gone in recent cool weather.

Idle problem that was an issue during the hottest weather, has seemed to disappear in this cool weather though. My running theory is that the PCV valve might've been leaking. (diaphragm could be weak) PCV Valve can be manually opened with a hand-operated vacuum pump. But I never took a chance to test that theory out. But at idle, whenever I allowed the engine to run for a really long time and heat up enough to run that fan for a short time, the idle problem would disappear for the time that the fan was running. Reduced exhaust temperatures may have reduced backpressures against that PCV diaphram and prevented it seeping exhaust back into the intake. I've been told that the PCV is not supposed to open except for at highway speeds. If open or leaking at idle, that extra, unmetered intake may cause rough idle or kill the engine. Problem was kind of intermittent and only occurred when the engine was warmed up. Oh, and the only other change I did beside the vacuum hose, was cleanup the battery terminals. (not dirty before, but worth mentioning anyway)

[donn268]

Thanks for the tips...I will try and work on it this weekend..

[shortcakegirl]

I have a '97 with over 150k that I totalled almost a year ago, still drive it every day. These cars are just about indestructible, I like them so much I bought another one, 3rd one I've owned. A few minor issues, but all in all, good, cheap, reliable tansportation that is just about bulletproof.

[FordMan59]

My '88 Pony just crossed the 500,000 mile barrier about a week and a half ago.

[donn268]

First, I want to thank you all for you tips and comments...they gave me great ideas were to look for the problem.

Well here is what the problem was....Intake gasket...leaking..I spent 10 bucks on a new set and couple of hours taking it apart and reinstalling and know that thing runs like a champ again...

So know I get to concentrate on the right front axle that is clicking....found it for 78 + tax and should have it installed either this or next weekend.

Thanks again!

[ThTrnsprtr]

1991 blue escort wagon 1.9L SOHC. bought at 180k, now at over 200k+ best 300 bucks i ever spent... period

[FordMan59]

Originally Posted by ThTrnsprtr

1991 blue escort wagon 1.9L SOHC. bought at 180k, now at over 200k+ best 300 bucks i ever spent... period

My '88 Pony is the best $500. automotive value I ever got. Bought it in '93 with 146K miles and now it has 501K and still going. I'm hoping the '88 GL that I bought for $800. back in the summer with 78K actual miles turns out to be as good of a value as the Pony has been. If it is I'll be driving an '88 Escort for many years to come. Too bad they don't have any collector value especially since the GL is near perfect inside and out. At this rate I won't live long enough to wear out my '97 LX wagon that currently has 28K miles and usually gets about 2K miles of driving per year since I usually only drive it on longer trips of 500 miles or more round trip. If I live to be 75-80 years old my son may inherit a one owner garage kept 35+ year old car with only 70-80K original miles on it if I can keep the two '88's up and running. Only one catch he'll have to learn how to drive a straight shift or do like I do and let it sit and look at it.