Escort 99 keeps jumping on first drive of day for about 150 Yards (CEL 0401)

[MyEscort99]

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...

[ctwright]

Try this and see if it does the same thing. Let the car warm up a couple minutes. Hold the brake. Move the selector to reverse, let it set to you feel it catch, then down to neutral, then down to drive, let it set, so on and so on, then back up, let it set, all the way up to park, then go back to reverse. Take off, then go in drive and see if it does it after that.

[denisond3]

I would not think a problem with the EGR control would cause misfiring or erratic running - unless something else was marginal. How many miles are on the spark plugs, and how many years old are the ignition wires? The plugs and wires and inexpensive, not too hard to replace, and will not last forever.
Along with changing the spark plugs you look at the old ones. Good plugs should be a very light brown in color. If there is a lot of misfiring when the engine is cold, it will make the plugs darker.
I am assuming your car is an automatic transmission. I wonder if the jerking could be related to the transmission shifting, or trying to. Have you checked the transmission fluid recently? It needs to be done with the engine warmed up and idling. I would say weird things will happen if the transmission fluid is low - really low.
....But...Yours is a 3rd generation Escort, and mine are 2nd generation. Slightly different engine controls.

[AzTumbleweed]

I just want to mention that the CEL went out when you got a new alternator because the battery was unhooked. I agree sounds like a tranny and the CEL is something else entirely.

[MyEscort99]

Originally Posted by denisond3

I would not think a problem with the EGR control would cause misfiring or erratic running - unless something else was marginal. How many miles are on the spark plugs, and how many years old are the ignition wires? The plugs and wires and inexpensive, not too hard to replace, and will not last forever.
Along with changing the spark plugs you look at the old ones. Good plugs should be a very light brown in color. If there is a lot of misfiring when the engine is cold, it will make the plugs darker.
I am assuming your car is an automatic transmission. I wonder if the jerking could be related to the transmission shifting, or trying to. Have you checked the transmission fluid recently? It needs to be done with the engine warmed up and idling. I would say weird things will happen if the transmission fluid is low - really low.
....But...Yours is a 3rd generation Escort, and mine are 2nd generation. Slightly different engine controls.

Relieved... Got my Escort99 back and is now full of life. Thanks to the Elixir passed on to my Escort buddy (denisond3). It worked miracles. I just replaced spark plugs and spark plug wires and my Escort is just thriving with power. It now proportionally responds to level of thrust/ acceleration provided. Now, I am in control of my Escort as I push my gas pedal. Bye Bye to jumps and all that ballet on road.

Do's and Dont's: Always replace spark plug and it's wires as a set. Have right tools, particularly have tool extender for at least 12" or above while removing the spark plug.

Thanks
Fred