2000 Ford Escape
Asked by GuruTLWQQ Jun 28, 2018 at 11:07 AM about the 2001 Ford Escape XLS FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
My Ford Escape shuts off when I am stopped or when I am idling. First my car
will idle really low and then shut the car off. Sometimes when I am turning the
steering wheel will get tight. Also my AC will not run when I am stopped and will
shake the whole car and shut the car off.
2 Answers
The AC and steering sound like symptoms caused by the engine lugging or dying. The real question is why is the engine lugging or dying? A tune-up may be in order, as well as cleaning the throttle body and all sensors. The PCV and EGR operation should be checked, as well as the idle air control valve/circuit. The shaking implies the motor is misfiring, if a tune-up doesn't remedy that then look into the timing and injectors, fuel pressure, compression loss, etc. Basically, you (or a mechanic) should go over the motor top to bottom.
If it runs smoothly with none of these issues when driving at anything above no throttle but only dies etc when at stop or no throttle its likely just the idle air control valve. Take it off and clean it first. If it gets better go ahead and get a new one to prevent any further stalling.
