1999 reliability=??

[jamesmetairie]

what,s the most common mechanical problem, complaint ? is there a faulty brake problem that can be fixed?

[12Ounce]

I don't know how common it is, but many of the 2.0L engines have been plagued with the intake valve cylinder head insert (#4 cyl) coming loose ... and usually wipes out the piston and more.

I am currently making repairs on one of my daughter's cars for this defect. What kinda breaks your heart is the fact that the rest of the engine looks so good and clean inside ... with little wear on cyls #1 thru #3. The oil pan was one of the cleanest I've ever seen! 145 Kmiles.

Other than this, I know of no weakness. You might check with a local cyl head machine shop to see how prevalent this problem is. ... and what model years were impacted.

[AltecZX2]

yeah its so popular that i have been working w/ escorts since 2001 and never heared of it.

[12Ounce]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=162400

[AltecZX2]

96 is a totaly different car from 97-00 in MANY ways. they dont even look the same

[12Ounce]

True, '97 was a big change year. And I guess I should realize my daughters' cars are "''97's" ... they have the '97 shape, they have the 2.0.

I just don't understand one of them having a 4/96 build date, and being a '97. Model changes are usually around August. Ford must have made the model change extra early that year. ???

[AltecZX2]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

True, '97 was a big change year. And I guess I should realize my daughters' cars are "''97's" ... they have the '97 shape, they have the 2.0.

I just don't understand one of them having a 4/96 build date, and being a '97. Model changes are usually around August. Ford must have made the model change extra early that year. ???

that just means the motors was built ahead of time so they could just throw them in cars and go. there are Zx2's w/ 3/97 build dates on motors sold as 98's

[catnapped]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

I just don't understand one of them having a 4/96 build date, and being a '97. Model changes are usually around August. Ford must have made the model change extra early that year. ???

They did...I went to a local auto show that year (was in January 1996 I think) and have a sales brochure for the (then new) '97 Escort.

[derickw]

i own a 99 and i had one bent valve and now i might have another again, my car just died on Friday and just waiting to find out what it is but it sounded internal, other than that i haven't had any problems........

[12Ounce]

derickw
Sorry to hear of your problem. Do you know what cyl had the first bent valve?

[derickw]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

derickw
Sorry to hear of your problem. Do you know what cyl had the first bent valve?

from what i remember it was either 2 or 4. i guess for whatever reason the valve dropped and we all know how the rest of the story goes.....

well i just got word back from the mechanic.... blown motor... $1900 for a salvaged motor. this might be a bias opinion but stay away from these freak'n cars

[jeffescortlx]

Originally Posted by derickw

from what i remember it was either 2 or 4. i guess for whatever reason the valve dropped and we all know how the rest of the story goes.....

well i just got word back from the mechanic.... blown motor... $1900 for a salvaged motor. this might be a bias opinion but stay away from these freak'n cars

Quote seem's kinda high.
But these are non-interferance motor's, so it's physicly impossible for the valve to touch the piston even if the timing belt is removed and the crank spins.
A valve could drop if the stem is broken or the clip comes off, but that hardly ever happends.
Valve seat's are known to drop in these motor's, but allmost all the time it due to the head over heating. Some times it from a improper temp gauge reading, or the owner thinking it's ok to run it hot.
As long as you dont over heat the motor, and change the oil from time to time they will easly go over 200k.

[derickw]

I'm pretty mechanically inclined, and from what the first guy told me one of the clips broke or fell off? and caused the valve to drop, all it really took was a valve job and everything was supposed to be all set but the check engine light was on ever since that work was done. i checked for myself with a code reader and was told that one of the cylinders was running lean and it wasn't that big of a deal. i never had any problems with over heating or anything of the sorts and change my oil every 5K or so. I'm not even sure how the whole thing blew this time, i was just pulling up to a light from a stop, it slipped out of gear and made one of those noises that as a mechanic make you cringe. So i knew something internal went i just couldn't figure it out. the car never leaks oil, ran strong but just pooed out. i can't think of the probability of something like this happening but i'm gonna go out and play lotto

[jeffescortlx]

Originally Posted by derickw

i checked for myself with a code reader and was told that one of the cylinders was running lean and it wasn't that big of a deal.

You sure it was a lean code? There's only one O2 sensor that reads all 4 cylenders, it's impossible for it to know what cylender is lean unless it has a O2 sensor for each cylender. Was it maybe a misfire or knock code?

[derickw]

Originally Posted by jeffescortlx

You sure it was a lean code? There's only one O2 sensor that reads all 4 cylenders, it's impossible for it to know what cylender is lean unless it has a O2 sensor for each cylender. Was it maybe a misfire or knock code?

i want to say it was a lean code. the engine didn't have any problems running and all the sudden it just pooed out. i changed the O2 sensor and that didn't help.

i know it has something to do with the work done on it but i have no way to prove it and i don't think it would really matter because it's more than a year after the work was done. i do know of the lemon law around here that if you get your car fixed and the check engine light won't go off the garage is obligated to fix it. i think that endevore would be like getting blood from a stone.