95 ford escort surges while driving

1995 FORD ESCORT
FWD • MANUAL
Avatar
BRANTCOYLE
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
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?
Jun 25, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
MERLIN2021
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 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?
Jun 25, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Avatar
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.
Jun 25, 2011 at 11:47 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
MERLIN2021
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 17,250 POSTS
check the converter.
Jun 26, 2011 at 4:43 AM
Avatar
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.
Jun 26, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Avatar
RIVERMIKERAT
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 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.
Jun 28, 2011 at 11:19 PM