My 93' Ford Escort (automatic, 1.9 liter) vibrates rather violently when its idling. The problem only happens when the car is in gear, and goes away once I step on the gas or put it in neutral. The engine never seems like its going to die, it just vibrates heavily. Anyone know whats wrong?

Edit: I forgot to mention this before, but the check engine light comes on 3 or 4 times a day, for less than a minute at a time. So one of my sensors (I dont know which yet) it getting an abnormal reading. And the car passed its smog test a couple weeks ago. It was taken to a mechanic for a tune-up a month or two ago. The car had been sitting for 9-12 months without being started, my aunt insisted it be taken to the mechanic mechanic to get it road worthy. I wasn't there when this happened, so I dont actually know what the mechanic did, or what he replaced, besides the oil, oil filter and the air filter.

I sort of feel I have a vaccum leak of some sort, but, correct me if I'm wrong, wouldn't that cause a rough idle regardless of whether or not I was in gear?

Vaccum leaks more or less stall the car and to keep it running you have to rev it.. ATleast in my experiences... You may have a small leak...

Your idle speed could be set really low. Once you put it in gear, the rev's will drop and your engine will want to stall. That might explain why it's vibrating so much

Hmm that happened to my old Celica.

Just change the setting for 'idling' do u know how to do that? all u need is a screw twist 'till ur mirror or steering doesnt vibrate anymore.

This is a hint that ur transimission is wearing off.
You're prolly using more gas right? for example when u hit the gas the RPM goes all the way to 4000, and the speed doesnt really pick up.....

newayz look at amechanic!

This is a hint that ur transimission is wearing off.
You're prolly using more gas right? for example when u hit the gas the RPM goes all the way to 4000, and the speed doesnt really pick up.....

newayz look at amechanic!
No. If it were the trans it would have problems engagin gears which means the idle would not drop since it wouldnt put a load on the engine.

Check your vaccuum system. Find out where the PCV valve is and see if it needs to be replaced. If it rattles that means it is still good, if not it is clogged. Most common cause of bad idle on a fuel injection system is vaccum leaks, right next to bad gas and bad )2 sensors. My Thunderbird idled like crap when I broke the PCV system.

Anyway, grab a MAP Gas or Propane torch, turn it on (but don't light it). Start to car and point the (unlit) torch around in your engine bay near anywhere you see clean hoses. If your idle picks up then you have a vaccuum leak.

Could be that your clutch is out of adjustment, meaning it is just gripping a little. This would put load on your engine causing it to judder before slipping. It will also cause the clutch to wear so I would check it!

If it was a vacuum system I would expect it to idle badly in neutral aswell. My new Polo has a probelm with the vacuum controled idle boost valve, causing it to idle badly when warm whatever gear it's in.

Hope that helps!

EDIT: Aaaaand it won't, I've just re read that its an Auto. Teach me to read threads properly next time :p

I already checked the PCV, its fine. I did the propane test last night, and again this morning in better lighting in case I missed anything. I didn't notice any of a change.

Could a bad EGR system be the problem? From what I can tell, the EGR in the Escort is actuated by vacuum, but the vacuum is controlled by an EGR vacuum regulator. If the EGR is opening for some reason when I put it in gear at idle, that would like a vacuum leak, right?. I thought I heard the engine knocking a little bit yesterday (but it was hard to tell because of all the plastic crap that rattles in that car), couldn't that be caused by the EGR being closed at the wrong time?

And Shaningan, no, I'm not using anymore gas, and that doesnt happen.



Could be that your clutch is out of adjustment, meaning it is just gripping a little.

Good advice...but its an automatic ;)

so let me get this straight... the car idles perfectly normally when you are in neutral but vibrates excessively as soon as you put it into gear?
Does this not imply that it is a transmission problem as all you are changing is weather the selector is allowing the 'box to lock up or free wheel.
Do the same vibrations occur if you put it into reverse, D1 or D2?

No. If it were the trans it would have problems engagin gears which means the idle would not drop since it wouldnt put a load on the engine.

Check your vaccuum system. Find out where the PCV valve is and see if it needs to be replaced. If it rattles that means it is still good, if not it is clogged. Most common cause of bad idle on a fuel injection system is vaccum leaks, right next to bad gas and bad )2 sensors. My Thunderbird idled like crap when I broke the PCV system.

Anyway, grab a MAP Gas or Propane torch, turn it on (but don't light it). Start to car and point the (unlit) torch around in your engine bay near anywhere you see clean hoses. If your idle picks up then you have a vaccuum leak.

Dam u know alot about cars :)
My knowledge of car is very minimum, I just know what I've been told, but not real hands on experience.
newayz the person who posted, is in the same situiation as I was w/ my old Celica.
And that's what the mechanic told me :S oh wellz

I already checked the PCV, its fine. I did the propane test last night, and again this morning in better lighting in case I missed anything. I didn't notice any of a change.

Could a bad EGR system be the problem? From what I can tell, the EGR in the Escort is actuated by vacuum, but the vacuum is controlled by an EGR vacuum regulator. If the EGR is opening for some reason when I put it in gear at idle, that would like a vacuum leak, right?. I thought I heard the engine knocking a little bit yesterday (but it was hard to tell because of all the plastic crap that rattles in that car), couldn't that be caused by the EGR being closed at the wrong time?

And Shaningan, no, I'm not using anymore gas, and that doesnt happen.



Didn't think about EGR. If the gasket is leaking or the valve is clogged, that'll cause a poor idle as well. I just helped my friend clean out his EGR because the revs would drop under deceleration. Solved the problem by cleaning it with carb cleaner untill the gasket broke :(. If your EGR valve is vaccuum actuated and going bad, that'll definately cause a vaccuum leak which means rough idle.

Might as well check your plugs and wires while you're at it too.

Umm, if there is or was a check engine light there will be a code stored in the ECM.

The sad part is that there is a way on the old fords to pull codes with just a wire, so then you could get an idea about what's failing and actually go in some kind of direction.

EGR will make a misfire occur that is more noticeable at idle, but there is a very good chance that's not it IMO, I've got 2 ideas, but do a search on how to pull the codes.

Someone beat me to this already, but for the sensor, it could be wack. Your car isn't new, and it's most likely the original sensor that ford put in it during production.

Car could be running a bit learn, causing the engine to sputter. If its when you're in gear, take a look at your kickdown cable coming off the throttle body, or your Idle Air control Valve. Easiest way to tell would be to get that code checked out...