93 escort wagon not shifting into 3rd, little pickup

[Dreday106]

I need help. My 93 escort has very little pickup when i take off. On top of that, I took it out on the highway and it didnt go into 3rd gear. I tried pushing the pedal down to the floor to go from 2nd to 3rd and the car started slowing down(which was very wierd). Can somebody, anybody help me?

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by Dreday106

I need help. My 93 escort has very little pickup when i take off. On top of that, I took it out on the highway and it didnt go into 3rd gear. I tried pushing the pedal down to the floor to go from 2nd to 3rd and the car started slowing down(which was very wierd). Can somebody, anybody help me?

Sounds like a possible fuel delivery problem....Fuel Filter needs changing, or low fuel pressure.

[Steindawg94]

First thing I would check is the transmission. These cars are notorious for having bad trannies. As for the pick-up, start with the fuel filter, then I might check the plugs and plug wires.

[panzees36]

Really?I have a 1993 Escort with almost 300K on original tranny.Also,my husband got almost 300K on his 1997 before tranny went.Guess each vehicle is different.Also,we never did on maintenance such as fluid and filter change(tranny).I know that's not good.

[panzees36]

I agree with Alvin.Sounds fuel related to me.

[Dreday106]

Originally Posted by panzees36

I agree with Alvin.Sounds fuel related to me.

I will buy a new fuel filter tomorrow. Will that maybe solve the problem with it not going into the 3rd gear? I will let you guys know what happens after the new fuel filter is installed. BTW, were could i get an escort spark plug wire diagram. I wanna make sure the wires are connected to the right parts.

[TheStang00]

i have a 90' escort, check the tranny fluid, the tranny might be fine but u could be low on fluid. yeah i blew that tranny out... if you maintain it and keep enough fluid in it the tranny wont go on it.

[Dreday106]

ok,..i will check tranny fluid tomorrow.

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by Dreday106

I will buy a new fuel filter tomorrow. I will let you guys know what happens after the new fuel filter is installed. .

"Will that maybe solve the problem with it not going into the 3rd gear? " Yes, if the engine is not developing enough power.
"BTW, were could i get an escort spark plug wire diagram. I wanna make sure the wires are connected to the right parts."
If you are changing sparkplug wires: Remove one wire at a time to prevent confusion starting with #1 (the one nearest to the rightend of the engine) Match the wire length with one from your new set of wires. If silicone grease is supplied with the new wires: put a small amount on the inside of the sparkplug boot only.

[Dreday106]

Originally Posted by A. Souphound

"Will that maybe solve the problem with it not going into the 3rd gear? " Yes, if the engine is not developing enough power.
"BTW, were could i get an escort spark plug wire diagram. I wanna make sure the wires are connected to the right parts."
If you are changing sparkplug wires: Remove one wire at a time to prevent confusion starting with #1 (the one nearest to the rightend of the engine) Match the wire length with one from your new set of wires. If silicone grease is supplied with the new wires: put a small amount on the inside of the sparkplug boot only.

Well check this out. I went out and got the fuel filter changed, new spark plugs/wires and i check the fluid. Fluid is fine. The car did not perform any different so we ran a dianogstic and it said ......... insufficient rpm change during dynamic response, brake on/off circuit failure, powertrain control module detected(coil primary circuit failure), and lack of heated oxygen sensor switch during koer indicates lean bank 2.
So after that I took the car to Car-X and explained to them about the how the car is not changing gears and such. They said it must be a tranny problem till i mentioned the control module. They feel its the module and said i should take it to the dealer (which i know will cost me an arm and leg). Car-X said the dealer will reset the car's computer. Is there something I can do without spending a ton of money?

[A. Souphound]

Dreday 106,
The scanner test performed by Car-X is suspect:
"....sensor switch during koer indictes lean bank 2"
"Bank 2" indicates the scanner was not set properly on a 4 cylinder engine. Engine 'bank' refers to V-type engines. Your engine IS a four isn't it?
The very first part of the test requires the number of cylinders to be verified by the scanner....and confirmed by the operator. If the number of cylinders is incorrectly read by the scanner, the test should be aborted and the cause determined. If my assumption is correct the results of the test are bogus.

[Dreday106]

I'll have the test ran again today.

[A. Souphound]

O.K.
Hope you are not having to pay for the tests....If you are, you may want to look at purchasing a hand held scanner. The scanner sell for about $30 at Advance Auto, Sears, etc.