1999 Ford Escort ZX2 from North America - Comments

The instructions on how to change the alternator on a Ford escort 2xz is on www.autozone.com web page. Step by step instructions with pictures and all the tools you need for the job.

I have a 2000 escort and I have had a lot of problems with it as well, but I read one comment about the serpentine belt I had the same problem belt kept coming off and the mechanic tried to tell me to replace the water pump and the tensioner pulley, but I had already replaced the pump, but all I had to replace was the belt tensioner that holds the serpintine belt on there and the part was like $25.00 plus the labor. I also just noticed that water leaks in the trunk on the drivers side it has never done that and I have 145,000 miles on it. These cars aren't built to last long at all.I've rebuilt the transmission,2 fuel pumps O2 sensor, ac went out, etc.

I bought a 1999 zx2 a week ago. The car has a rough idle when first starting and then rough idle at stops. I replaced the spark plugs and wires and that did not help. From what I am reading on line this seems to be the way these cars operate. Is this true. The car has 86,000 miles on it, and other than the rough idle it is in very good shape. Any one have any more suggestions on how to get rid of the rough idle

i thank you for them.

I purchased a 1999 ZX2 in August of 1999. Two years later the Transmission needed to be replaced. January of 2007 I had to have the transmission rebuild. The rear seat belts continues to give me trouble. One side sticks constantly and others does not work at all. However, the car runs well and is in great condition. But it is a killer on transmission.

I own a 2002 ZX2 and have had no problems except for the rough idle issue. I don't consider that much of a problem. Just change the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles and don't try to make the car something that it is not.

I purchased a 1998 ford Escort ZX2 last summer (Aug. 2006). It had a "clanking" noise when placed in reverse, which the local Ford dealer informed me was a bad motor mount. $200.00 plus later - the car is still "clanking". In November of 2006 the transmission began acting up. It doesn't shift from 1st gear into second gear unless I rev it up to about 3 rpm's and then at exactly the right moment, let of the accelerator so the car will shift. (Anyone have any solutions??) The transmission had been totally rebuilt in February 2006 ($3318.62) by a Ford dealership. Upon a return visit to the dealership, I was told to bring the car in, they would take the transmission apart, find out what was wrong, if it was a part that had been previously replaced - no charge... for the part. Labour of course was not included in the "free of charge" warranty! Would I buy another Ford Escort/Focus...are you kidding! I can hardly wait to get rid of this junk pile and say "Hello Toyota"!

I have the same problem with my 2000 zx2 as someone mentioned a few comments ago, the shifter won't come out of park unless you remove the plug by the shifter and use a screwdriver to press on the manual release lever. Anyone know of a fix for this??

OK people I have a 1999 zx2 2.0 dohc I had the problem with the vibration sitting at red lights and all that I changed the thermostate and had the trans serviced and full tune up spark plugs, wires, filters, all fluids and had the computer reset no more heavy vibrations.

I bought a '99 Ford Escort about 4 months ago. It soon started stalling when I stop at a red light or go very slowly (when there is snow or ice). I can't really figure out a pattern, it just happens sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. The only tip I can give is to put the shift from D to N while you are waiting at the light. That keeps the idle stable.

My wife has a 2001 Ford Escort Sedan. Her transmission went out in February at roughly 90,000 miles. I was not about to fork out the exorbitant cost of a rebuild so we had a "junkyard" tranny installed. For the first 3 months, the car ran well. Now the transmission is starting to slip again as it did before it crapped out the last time. There is something with the transmissions from model years 97-02, I think. It doesn't help that the Escort was on its way out in the early 2000s. With any car, you can get a lemon, but I have seen far too many posts for this to be an isolated occurrence. I have a 1992 Honda Prelude Si with 200,000 miles on it and very little problems. Unfortunately, my wife bought this car before we got married or it wouldn't have happened! :)

1998 zx2 automatic. My wife says it will start bucking and the check engine light comes on. Dealer said its trans faults and replace trans. After market trans shop says its shifting alright and did a trans tune-up. Now it seems to be stalling, but does not stall out. Its the original trans (I think) with 120K. Car is perfect for her needs. Should we just keep driving it? Will it keep on trucking quirks and all. She only drives 1000 miles per year on the car.

For rough idling try a new idle control that's what I put on my escort.

OK, if your Ford Escort ZX2 has an idle problem, than check your vaccum holes I did and now it runs perfect.

I have added a K&N intake, APC exhaust, K&N fuel filter, and I'm about to add cam gears for more power and better gas mileage. So this car may have problems every now and then, but you have to think it's not the car it's the owner. If you don't take care of it, yeah it's gonna mess up on you.

Every 2-3 thousand miles you change your oil, air filter, and fuel filter. And 2 months a tune up on the whole car.

My car has 99,500 and runs great. It's been 51,000 miles since I had a problem. At 48000 I had it took in for a transmission defect, but it was free.

Yeah, I had the rough idle problem and my car wouldn't ever warm up. The thermostat was stuck open - luckily it wasn't stuck shut and over heated a lot - but I would have changed it either way.

I had a slipping trans - it started slipping after I had it flushed. The guy I bought the car from said he had the trans flushed, but he didn't. We flushed it, it was gonked up and stuff. The guy at the shop told me that my trans was going to go out now and it did! So if your trans starts slipping and it's never been flushed: Don't do it! (haha) Ford wants $2300 for a trans, the local shops all want $1500 and Pick A Pull was $125. I went with Pick A Pull and we will see what happens. Yeah, yeah, you get what you pay for, but I have $125 to spend, not $1500.

Transmission on my 2000 ZX2 is burned up...that's what my local shop told us today...est. cost for repair will be 1300 to 2300 green backs... I am out a car for 1 week now.. it has 96000 miles on it...it's a automatic and in mint condition until this week... it drives in 1st gear, but won't go into 2 or 3 gear.. and then all of a sudden it will shoot up into a higher gear.. really weird...Once its fixed, I will sell it in 12 months..

I had all the problems that has been well posted on the prior messages here... weak a/c...shaking when idling.. high tire wear... low mpg...and the shifter would not shift... i replace plugs/wire 1 month ago/ and new 4 tires.. overall not a bad car... until the tranny burned up...