Ford Escort

Anonymous-0 · Sep 10, 2012

Anybody know? My daughter just bought her first car, 1998 Escort. Question - is there supposed to be a light in the shifter console? I have searched on-line the owners manual and it doesn't indicate that it is lighted. This is the basic model - not the sporty one.

DownSouth · Sep 10, 2012

Automatic? My wife had a 94 wagon and as I recall it had a red glowing pointer when in drive, but I'm not 100%. After all, she totaled it out in '01. It was a pretty darn good little car, very little problems with it the whole time we had it (bought it new). She made a big boo boo and pulled in front of a guy, he was traveling about 60. She may have been up to 20 when he hit her. She shot into a concrete based light pole knocking it over. The car wasn't 8 feet long after that and she got out and was walking around. Badly bruised but no broken bones, that year only had a drivers side air bag and she was alone on her way to work. Replaced it with an 01 Focus, another good car so far....yea still have it. Put 2 alternators in it, a real pain but what isn't with a sideways 4 cylinder!
Your daughter will figure out what gear it's in within a day or so, light or no light!

Anonymous-0 · Sep 10, 2012

"Your daughter will figure out what gear it's in within a day or so, light or no light!" - one would think so, but....
It is an automatic and I have showed her how to "feel" the position but......
I always got a huge laugh out of Donjr postings on his "Blondie" becuz it is sooo real here too! I think I'll start with the fuse box and see of there is anything there. I haven't done that yet becuz I have been waiting to do it together and try to teach.

old · Sep 10, 2012

You know why t is called a ford escort don't you?? You will have to escort it home when it is found on the road dead. LOL Yep I do not like fords and sorry to say she would be better off with a Toyota at least it is made or should I say assembled in the U.S.

WvaJim · Sep 10, 2012

It shows a bulb, don"t have a way to post the diagram.

ShadetreeRet · Sep 10, 2012

I don't remember ever seeing a vehicle that did not have lights in the console from the factory. "Course when they burned out, most folks were so familiar with the "feel" of the shifter that few bothered to or spent the money to have it replaced. I know when I worked at the local dealership, the little Escorts, especially the last series made, were good little cars. One of the techs had one and bought another for his daughter. Sorry, though, I can't tell you how to replace the bulb.

oldtanker · Sep 10, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:30:45 09/10/12) You know why t is called a ford escort don't you?? You will have to escort it home when it is found on the road dead. LOL Yep I do not like fords and sorry to say she would be better off with a Toyota at least it is made or should I say assembled in the U.S.

You can look the info up on you computer but I doubt you will Old. American brand cars, starting about 1990 have the same or longer life than your Toyota. Sure there are some exceptions but most fall into that catagory. 25-30 years ago I would have told you to buy a Toyota too.

Rick..... with a 98 SUburban with 270K showing on the clock, one tranny at 258K, fuel pump about 256K, altrnator about 220K. Now tell me about your toyota.

old · Sep 10, 2012

Well guess that is why I have 2 Toyota Corollas one is a 1990 and the other a 1991 and both get 35 plus per gal and have less then $1700 in the pair of them. As for a Ford never have had a bit of luck with them other then the tractors and the real old stuff like the 1965 1 ton I have but can not find brake parts to fix it and my ford tractors

Old Roy · Sep 11, 2012

something like
this ?

robgIN · Sep 11, 2012

screw your Toyotas, I have had several Escorts, one of the most dependable cars ever. I had 198,000 miles on my 97, sold it and got a 98 with 111K,guy was thrilled to get my old one. I have owned several over the years and never had anything major with any of them. In answer to the question, yes there is a bulb for shifter, if you take the top trim panel off of shifter you will see socket it just twists in the hole to illuminate the PRNDL

bill mart · Sep 11, 2012

amazing what you can find on the net,bill

RLA · Sep 11, 2012

Escort will make a good car, many many keep on
running along. I'd rather push the Ford than
drive the Toyota's. I want to keep what money I
do spend in America or a Company thats is Still
in America. BTW a 194 of a 161 Bulb oughta work
in the shifter....

bill mart · Sep 11, 2012

amazing what you can find on the net,bill

Blackhole49 · Sep 11, 2012

Yea, but you also owned a 150mph Alpha Romaeo.

dhermesc · Sep 11, 2012

You know what is sad - you can't get that out of a new Corrolla.

oldtanker · Sep 11, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:21:59 09/10/12) Well guess that is why I have 2 Toyota Corollas one is a 1990 and the other a 1991 and both get 35 plus per gal and have less then $1700 in the pair of them. As for a Ford never have had a bit of luck with them other then the tractors and the real old stuff like the 1965 1 ton I have but can not find brake parts to fix it and my ford tractors

LOL that mileage thing. I really don't care much about mileage. I'm 6'5" with knee and back problems. I'm more concerned with ease of getting in and out and comfort. I had a 86 LTD, sold it running on the original power train at 235K, got about 26 MPG. An 88 Town Car, 245K running when sold, about 24 MPG. The Suburban gets right at 20. I'm OK with that.

Your 1 ton isn't the only truck that parts are NLA for. I did look it up on NAPA on line. They show everything for a 65 Ford 1 ton brake system except the rear drums and shoes. Hope that may help.

Rick

old · Sep 11, 2012

What is really sad you can not get 35-40mpg out of much of any car other then maybe a minicooper and not sure they get that. I think it is funny how they say they can get 30-35MPG out of a car and I have 2 Toyota Corolla's the get 35-40 all day long

old · Sep 11, 2012

I have looked ordered and returned so many part for this 1 ton it isn't funny. The problem is it was a fleet truck as in ordered by the state of Missouri for the conservation dept so it is not the standard truck I have tried NAPA O'Reilly's rock auto etc etc. The wheel cylinder yes is easy but when you have to pay $125 per side for a king pin and well the master cylinder is a no long sold part so

Buckeye Oliver collector · Sep 11, 2012

Going off topic but I have to disagree. I do not think I will own another Ford vehicle unless its given to me. Car I had (Taurus SE) seemed to be a transmission, engine and four tires. Ford sure as heck did not build them with driver comfort in mind. Seats were too low, steering wheel was HUGE (cannot see guages over it or through it), seatbelt is a horrible design, shifted rough and didn't handle very good for a car (you felt EVERY bump) and the whole interior felt very cheaply put together. Also wasn't good on fuel at all. I can get nearly as good of mileage with a Grand Caravan and a lot more cargo. About the only thing they got right was headroom and legroom which I thought was decent for a car and a wicked radio. Now an Escort is a totally different car (I think) so I don't know about them. If I ever get another car it will be a Chrysler 200 or 300 or a Honda (Accord) or maybe a Toyota Camry. I bet at least the Toyota is more American built than a Ford and maybe the Honda too.

wisbaker · Sep 11, 2012

First of all I was raised with Fords but I will probably NEVER buy another new Ford and I am able to buy under the Ford X plan (discount)It is not a reflection on Ford but the Ford dealers that really don't give a a rat's behind about you or customer satisfaction, I have even told Edsel Ford II this when I met him a few years ago. Our last new vehicle was a Dodge Grand Caravan, it has had the worst service history of any new vehicle I have had (and that includes a 1980 Renault LeCar) But it was easier to get 2 steering boxes changed, a rear evaporator replaced a multi function switch changed and a leaking intake gasket fixed on the Dodge than it was say to get a seat belt recall done on my Ford

RLA · Sep 11, 2012

Did Just hear the Wind Blow? Naa Just BS

oldtanker · Sep 11, 2012

(quoted from post at 08:51:52 09/11/12) Going off topic but I have to disagree. I do not think I will own another Ford vehicle unless its given to me. Car I had (Taurus SE) seemed to be a transmission, engine and four tires. Ford sure as heck did not build them with driver comfort in mind. Seats were too low, steering wheel was HUGE (cannot see guages over it or through it), seatbelt is a horrible design, shifted rough and didn't handle very good for a car (you felt EVERY bump) and the whole interior felt very cheaply put together. Also wasn't good on fuel at all. I can get nearly as good of mileage with a Grand Caravan and a lot more cargo. About the only thing they got right was headroom and legroom which I thought was decent for a car and a wicked radio. Now an Escort is a totally different car (I think) so I don't know about them. If I ever get another car it will be a Chrysler 200 or 300 or a Honda (Accord) or maybe a Toyota Camry. I bet at least the Toyota is more American built than a Ford and maybe the Honda too.

The original Tarus was a joke. I think they finally got it right arounf 03 or 04. Not an impressive car at all. Here out Ford dealers are good. but there is a fair amount of competition.

Rick

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