95 Ford Escort surges while driving

BRANTCOYLE

MEMBER
1995 FORD ESCORT
FWD
MANUAL

My 95 ford escort has a rattling sound when I first start it. In gear it speeds up and slows down. Then engine sounds fine. What could it be?

Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 3:47 PM

5 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Rattling can be either the exhaust heat shields have a broken weld, or the catalytic converter broke up inside and is rattling. Surging may be due to the converter restricting the exhaust, or a vacuum leak, or bad MAF(mass air flow) sensor. Is the check engine light on?

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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 6:48 PM

BRANTCOYLE

MEMBER
29 POSTS

Nope no check engine light is on. The transmission was recently replaced. Its rought when you put the gas on and lacks power. The engine runs smooth though.

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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 11:47 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Check the converter.

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Sunday, June 26th, 2011 AT 4:43 AM

BRANTCOYLE

MEMBER
29 POSTS

Yeah, the guy came out and said it was the air conditioner though he didn't drive it around. It did seem a little rougher with the air conditioner on. He proclaimed it good enough for a crappy old car and didn't charge anything.

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Sunday, June 26th, 2011 AT 9:23 PM

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

Ford's have been notorious for breaking welds on catalytic converter heat shields. Every Ford I've owned has had the problem, including the 3 Escorts I've owned.