Transaxle leaked, tightened gasket bolts after it was serviced by Transmission repair shop.
Water pump went bad at 69000 miles, replaced with new- 20 bucks.
A/C did not work when purchased, has since been removed.
Rear wheel bearings replaced at 63000.
Radio replaced with CD player at 64000.
Uses a slight amount of oil, mostly dripping from possibly the oil pan gasket.
Rear Springs sagging, using 'spring helpers' to raise rear end ride height.
Overall for a car 19 yrs old I can't complain. I'm the 3rd owner and I know both previous owners. I purchased the car for the sole purpose of reducing the miles I put on my other car. The $200 I spent to buy it was well worth it.
This is the 4th Escort that I have owned (the others were '84, '85 and '86). The only complaint is that it is an automatic, all my others were 4 or 5 speeds, and this transmission is a bit on the slow side. I can't complain at all, especially since it sat idle for over two years in the HOT southern/central Florida sun. I doesn't look like much, but it runs and that's all that matters.
I bought a 1987 Escort GL Wagon with manual 4-speed. It was problem free for 17 years and I spent very little on maintenance. I had to do the brakes twice in seventeen years and have the A.C. recharged once. That's it.
It was still running very well when I had to get rid of it after 17 years because a rear strut support was too corroded. That was my fault because I never maintained the poor thing. What a great little car it was. It took me from the east coast to the west and back across many moves and many jobs. It will be missed.
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