2000 Escort ZX2 Power loss

[WhammyJunk]

My car recently has lost almost all power it had, though not all the time. I essentially have to put it to the mat just to get it going from a stop, and even that takes quite a few seconds to get up to city speed limit(60KM). Unless I've got good momentum going before hitting a hill, it's nearly a crawl going up, even if I floor it while going up. I have zero knowledge of vehicles, so any suggestions as to what it would be? Also, the brake light comes on quite frequently, I've had the brakes checked twice this month when I got new tires put on, and an oil change, both times they said my brakes were perfectly fine.

[Davescort97]

The power loss could be from a plugged fuel filter. There is a separate sub-forum for ZX2. You might have better results by going to that separate sub-forum. The brake light comes on whenever the parking brake is applied or when the fluid is down in the master cylinder.

[AlaskanWrench]

check for fuel pressure spark and compression if ur fuel presure is over 30lbs and you have good spark on every plug and the compression is over 150lbs then i would check ur egr valve so see if its sticking... aswell as a back pressure test

[bmenzing]

I had similar issues with power, though maybe not as bad. Turned out to be a "collapsed" muffler, which created back pressure and kept the exhaust from exiting the vehicle. After a replacement was installed, the car ran great. The muffler, for whatever reason, rusted internally and the baffles etc. collapsed and almost totally blocked exhaust flow. When I would accelerate (with the windows open), a hissing sound could be heard coming from the rear of the car.