1997 Ford Escort LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

There is a fault with the automatic gearbox on Escorts of this year, so much so that they are no longer made. The car creeps forward in 'drive', and revs itself when you are not touching the pedal, this is not classed as dangerous by Ford, just a 'known fault'. This fault can be temporarily rectified at a cost of almost £1200 to the owner, although in the end, Ford did eventually pay half, they also stated that this problem will 'probably re-occur'. When I bought the car in March no-one knew anything about this fault, but now that I am trying to sell the whole world seems to know, and no-one will touch it with a barge pole.

BEWARE - DO NOT BUY A LATE REGISTERED FORD ESCORT WITH AN AUTOMATIC GEARBOX.

Umm, automatics are supposed to creep forward. The engine idles at around 500-1000 rpm and this puts "just" enough force on the torque converter to make the car very slowly creep forward unless you put the brakes on lightly. Have you never driven an automatic before or what?

As for the revving, are you sure it isn't a sticky throttle cable? Or a dirty fuel filter. Surging (revving) can happen just as easily in any other car with any other engine.

I have just purchased a 1997 auto escort. The coment about creeping forward in drive is under stated. In my escort when you select drive if your lucky enough for the engine not to stall, the pull forward is that much that the handbrake has a job to hold it back.

I found these comments whilst trying to resolve the problem, but it looks like a manual conversion will be easier.

What? An auto that doesn't creep does not exist. As far as engine revving is concerned it sounds more like the car is not set up properly. Surely the guy got a second, independent, opinion before parting with his money. Especially given the cock and bull story he seems to have been given.

I've driven loads of automatics and they all suffer from creep to some extent.

We currently have 2. A 2001 Espace auto and a 1997 Escort 1.6 cabriolet auto. Both work fine.

The problem with automatics is usually with the person driving the car. They are usually used to driving one of those old fashioned "Manual" cars that still, for some reason, still exist.

I have a 97 escort 1600 auto, i have driven lots of auto and love them.my problem is mine only creeps when cold,once warm it will roll back if standing on slight hill even though its in drive and vice versa, and now when you rev it in netural it gets to 4000 revs and revs rise and drop not going above 4000 with throttle held down. any ideas what is causing this I would appriciate advise.

This box has a problem with a valve block which can be replaced for about £200 - this leads to the jerk when putting into drive.

Hope this helps.

I have a ford escort serenade 1996 and I find that when the car is cold it will stall when put into drive any ideas what this problem is a an estimate on cost... also it can idle around 1000 but rises above and drops below???

Never buy a Ford with an automatic gearbox. Ford auto-boxes turn otherwise reliable, pleasant cars into temperamental, expensive to maintain dogs.

To the guy with the Escort Serenade. The reason it is hard selecting gears in cold is you have dirt inside the Transmission Housing. I would suggest removing your Transmission Pan and spraying Carburettor Cleaner all the way inside the Transmission. I used 4 Spray Cans on my 1997 Escort LX. I then replaced the Fluid and the Filter, a very simple Job. I have not had a problem since, I hope this helps you out mate. Your name is not Kenny Reid by any chance? I had a friend years ago who had a 1996 Serenade.

It's normal for an automatic car to roll forwards slightly, somehow I feel your car has an CVT gearbox, is that right? "Constant variable transmission" - they're not made anymore as they're considered too risky, in terms of the fact they may fail after not too high a mileage. Nissan do N-CVT, which I have had from 1995 to this day, and it's given no problems, but they're japanese and don't mess things up unlike other car brands! It also doesn't creep forward at all, as it's been properly made. Don't buy an Escort CVT, terrible idea!

I have 1996 1.6 Lx Automatic when I start up the car from cold and put it into drive it stalls, I have to leave the engine running for a bit to worm up

Its fine when I put it in reverse and once the car has been used for a bit its fine unless its left to stand for some time can any one help please.

I have a manual car and when I put it in 1st gear it moves forward - can anyone help...

Ah, you try to make fun of 3:56. You are a year to late though. That person now has another car or got the idle control fixed.

Sometimes cars will move forwards a bit when engaging first gear. They shouldn't continue to move forwards with the clutch depressed though.

You put it in first gear and it moves forward?

Isn't that what it is supposed to do?