1999 Ford Escort Zx2 manual transmission twin cam bucks when shifting into second...

  • Thread starter Thread starter weenisublime
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weenisublime

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...gear, then dies.? My 1999 ford escort zx2 bucks really hard and then dies when i shift into second gear. i restarted it and tried again, and it died in second gear, almost as soon as i let up off the clutch. i let the car sit for about two hours and it started up with no problem and i made it to third gear with out a fuss, the car was only a block away from my home so i have not tried it in higher gears than third since the problem first occured. this just happened today. what could be the problem? i dont speed shift or dog my vehicle but it is a used vehicle... and i have driven nothing but manual transmissions my whole life, and drove cars for an auto auction, so please do not ask me if i know how to drive a 5 speed manual, any such answers will receive a bad vote.
 
weeniesublime,

I'd be happy to assist. I also own the same model year of your car and have dealt with these cars for a long time but have a few questions:

- Has the clutch been slipping at all?
- Is there any noise involved?
- When you say bucking, do you mean the car lunges and lurches forward and backwards as you go into gear?
- Does it engage into gear okay and then have issues only after the clutch has been released?
- How does it react going into gears at a dead stop?

(tech) is also correct it could be an engine mount. The rear motormounts on these zetec motors are VERY prone to tearing over time. I actually just replaced one on mine.
 
Check the air boot from the air filter box to the throttle body for breaks.

Here is what happens: The computer relies on the reading from the Mass Air Flow sensor near the air filter to determine how much fuel to give the engine. When there are tears in the boot, the engine movement while shifting opens up the tears and allows unmeasured air in to the engine, and the computer doesn't feed enough fuel. The problem is usually caused by a broken engine mount that allows too much engine movement. You will have to fix both the mount and the boot.
 
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