I just bought a 2001 ZX2 with 48,000 miles. My 3rd Escort, plus I've owned a Mazda GLC and 323. All had vibration when stopped in Drive at idle. This car is the absolute worse as far as the level of vibration: very disconcerting. Thanks Mateo for the TSB. I will buy the parts and do it myself. The salesman was right up front about the vibration. Based on my past experience, I was comfortable that a new set of NAPA engine mounts would do the trick. Let's see how it works.
Rich (rrozansk@yahoo.com)
I have an '02 that yes, vibrates like an automatic massage chair. It only does it in drive (or reverse) at idle. If I put it in park the idle bumps up and it evens out. The car has 62000 on it right now. The rough idle has gotten worse through the years (I bought the car new). I will say however, that recently I started using Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas, and the idle has improved GREATLY. I recommend giving it a shot if you own one of these cars. It's cheap, and a three dollar bottle lasts for several tanks - you only use four ounces for ever ten gallons.
Other than the idle, the car is fine. Little things break or fall apart here and there, but that's normal I guess. The weatherstripping around the upper side windows have developed a horrible looking corrosion though. Also had a wheel bearing go out.
I have a 2002 ford zx2. If its stopped in any drive gear it vibrates like its off time. It was totaled before I got it so it had all new front body parts and drivers side door and wheel assembly (hit a guardrail at 75, the little buggers fly don't they!) Since I've had it I've gotten rear ended and rear ended someone. I thought it was because of this car having mix-n-match parts on it and getting the crap beat out of it, but it appears now that it's the drive train design on it.
My advice:
It's nice, but get rid of it while its still worth something!
They'll eventually rattle themselves apart!
I agree with all of you. We bought a 2003 Ford Escort brand new only 53 miles on it. Just a couple months later the vibration started. I took it into the dealership and they just said "that's the way these cars are" They sure don't tell you that when you are buying it. It's been 5 years now that we have had it and the vibration in horrible!!! My steering wheel shakes bad and makes my hood shake and it's loud. NEVER again would I buy another one. I agree there should be something they should have to do to fix it. I think it would be some type of defect.
I have a 2003 ZX2,and it has vibrated since day one. I bought the car brand new and it is terrible. I recently had a problem with the transmission and the Ford dealer put some part in it and claimed they fixed it. It is now worse than ever, and the Ford dealer claims there is nothing wrong with it. I only have 50,000 miles on it. Anyone else have problems with this?
I have a 2002 Ford Escort & it shakes like nobody's business!! A friend of mine is a mechanic and there is a plate that can be inserted so it idle's better, thus will not shake so much!!
Last commenter mentioned a plate. I figure he is referring to something you can stick by the idle screw to adjust the idle up some. Perhaps you can use a longer idle adjuster screw? I just slide a little piece of wood in that area.
Also on "auto forums.com" and on some Escort forums I've read many solutions to try. A lot of owners say it was a 'vacuum leak". Also the motor mount solution was mentioned.
BTW the car I'm talking about is the "4 door sedan" type escort. I'm surprised the ZX2 is doing it also.
e-mail= jamesmetairie@yahoo.com if any one finds a solution that works. Thanks.
I recently bought an 02 Ford Escort, with 90,000 miles on it. The first thing I noticed after driving, is the vibration of the car - I got really concerned about it. The transmission also hesitates to shift into first and second gear. My garage said the tranny had too much fluid in it, and took two quarts out, and the tranny still hesitates. I hate the vibration of the car, and I honestly thought that it needed a tune up, but I could be wrong on that one. Does someone have any ideas about the hesitation in the tranny?
The vibration on the automatic transmission ZX-2 is a well known problem that is only partially solved by replacement of the transmission/engine mounts with ones of a revised design.
The hesitation on shifting is usually due to not enough transmission fluid, not too much. You should take it somewhere else for another opinion.
I have a 2002 ZX2 and today my serpentine belt came off for the second time in about 8 months. We replaced it before with a new belt and we are going to replace this one as well. I just wondered if anyone else was able to get a car book for this vehicle. Autozone sold me a very expensive subscription to a CD/software type thing and it's ridiculously horrible. It doesn't have any of the things we need and hardly contains any information whatsoever. Don't buy it! Has anyone had any luck finding an actual book? The auto parts store I went to today was nice enough to print me off a diagram of the belt and how it should go on, but I'd like a book to give to the next person who has to fix my car...
My dad has bought a book, I'm not sure where, but it was for an older version of the Ford ZX2. BTW my sister's belt had fallen off only when she turns in a puddle of water fast. That may be your problem.
I just got a 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 and it shakes a little. The salesman states that it shakes because it is a little car. My ex-husband states that the car probably needs motor or engine mounts. Does anyone have an explanation? Any Ford guys out there?
For those of you with vibration issues, here is a link to the Ford Technical Service Bulletin with a "solution."
http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/fad/tsb/031515.pdf
I am currently in the process of taking care of this but it may be tomorrow before I do it.
I changed out my front engine mount and then I noticed the vibration was horrible.
If any of you have any questions, feel free to email me at pk_ranger@hotmail.com
I have a 2002 ZX2 automatic. 95,000 miles.
When I got the car, whenever I started the car up the engine sounded like it was running really rough, and when I drove it, it seemed like sometimes when I pressed the accelerator down it felt like the engine hesitated to accel or wouldn't respond to me pressing it. Then during the winter I started it up and it ran rough as usual, I pulled out of the driveway and it died as soon as I shifted to drive. It hasn't started since then, and every time I tried starting it, it just sounded like it wasn't turning over at all.
My mechanic followed the steps described in:
http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/fad/tsb/031515.pdf
and it made very little difference. Still vibrates like crazy when idle.