1999 Ford Escort ZX2

Well looks like im buying a 1999 Escort ZX2. Needs a tranny most likely cause i will not shift all the time into 2 or 3...not sure. Needs some work and has 130XXX miles.

$300 bux

Automatic

So its a DD. what fun can i have with it?

As I understand it, these cars...especially the ones with automatic, are an EXCELLENT substitute for those "magic fingers" motel beds as they REALLY vibrate.

The ZX2 was a parts bin special in the biggest way so parts from Escorts, Focuses, and Proteges will somewhat interchange. Try some of the Focus websites for details on what fits from each model.

Yep, it's true. My girlfriend's sister had one. Super low miles, all new engine/transmission mounts, and vibrated like crazy anyway.

magic fingers huh....that will be good for the morning commute.

Lots of interchange you say? wasnt this one of the dirty dozen cars?

great candidate for boost and for a manual swap

Manual swap, fo' sho'. Same auto trans as my '00 Focus, same problems--won't shift. I hear they can be fun--the Zetec is a decent engine. Check focaljet.com forums, and get ye a good FSM--the Haynes/Chilton crap is worthless on a Ford, since, even though you're in school, a Ford service manual is the one thing you'll be reading the most, rather than textbooks.

Or you can just go to ZX2 and get specific information.

Auto to Manual isn't exactly easy, but it can be done.

You got a better deal than I did. I paid $800 for one with 135,000 and front end damage, ended up needing a clutch.

no manual swap. this needs to be DD and nothing too fancy or complicated

It's a shame this thing is a slushbox. I'm crazy but I'd pass on this thing and wait for one that doesn't need a new tranny and is a manual. You can find cheap ones out there. When you do find one, get the s/r Eibachs and s/r strut kit and also put a rear swaybar on from either an Escort GT or a wagon to replace the puny stock one.

The automatic cars are prone to vibrate at idle in drive, they are fine after that. There is/was a TSB, rather complicated, that was supposed to help the problem. In general, the ZX2 is an economical, fun to drive car. With my ZX2/SR I recently bested a well driven Miata at an autocross on a go-kart track. I have been running it at track days, hill climbs etc. plus iceracing . It is also a DD. The only thing I have had to replace is both tie rod ends.

so who has a zx2 tranny for sale?

Many people install an aux. cooler since heat seems to be a gremlin.

is there a common tranny problem with these? it misses a gear, and has no over drive.... brought it home tonight. 60 MPH at 5000+ RPM...ugh

what?! you put the car back in my back yard?! so i hear it as the 'sport shift' tranny in it that lets you rev it uber high before shifting eh?

the sport shift just revs the crap out of it. drove next to paul and went WOT on him. the car has some get up...well until it wont shift in the next gear. haha what did i get myself into...

Why not put a manual in it? Sounds like the auto sucks and I doubt the manual is a hard swap.

i dunno about the manual swap.

prob needs tranny, pedal assembly, ecu, mounts, clutch and hdwr, maybe axles? sounds more expensive then just dumping in another auto

I doubt you need new axles. It might be a little more expensive but do you really want a daily driver you hate driving?

ehhh its kinda just a point a point b car...i think

i hate automatics. i have had many an arguement with friends about manuals obvious superiority. that being said, its 300 dollers! do neutral slams until it breaks, then swap in the manual. as for fixing it, i have no clue. i hate those things(transmission, not the escort), so i would suggest just checking the fluid levels in the tranny. drain it, put the old stuff where you can use it agian, then put new fluid in. if it makes it worse then put the old gunk back in. replace the filter. if that doesnt work, try to revmatch your shifts, its annoyingly fun.

The transmissions are electronically controlled. Solenoids do all the shifting. Often problems are caused by an electrical component. Does it show a MIL ? Sure you had the shift lever in OD position ?

I drive a 5 spd myself.

My parents have had/still have several Tauruses over the years. My 87 year old father does NOT abuse his cars, unfortunately the trannys on 2 of the 3 Tauruses have gone bad prematurely. The one in his '03 died with only 60,000+ miles on it, the one in his '98 "hangs up" going from 1st to 2nd occasionally, while the one in his '97 managed 120,000+ miles....before he traded it.

Yes, I realize we are talking about a ZX2 here, but just saying, Ford's autos are pretty crappy. Something to think about before swapping a used automatic into this car. Get a good guarantee, and as someone else posted....ADD A TRANS COOLER.

See, makes that auto to manual swap sound more attractive...don't it?

Car Kid,

Have you seen this in Cleveland?

1999 Escort ZX2 Engine / Transmission Assembly - $300 (Berea OH) http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/876801833.html

Kinda high miles...more then what ive got right now in fact. Found a 22K mile tranny for $650....

iceracer wrote: The transmissions are electronically controlled. Solenoids do all the shifting. Often problems are caused by an electrical component. Does it show a MIL ? Sure you had the shift lever in OD position ? I drive a 5 spd myself.

My dad's 91 wouldn't shift. I took it to my friend's shop where he pulled the pan off the side and gave everything in there a good cleaning and it's racked up another 50,000 mi so far.

"magic fingers huh....that will be good for the morning commute."

Or not, though in it's defense, when I thought I was going to drive it home, it did still crank