Ford: 2003 Escape - won't accelerate properly

[This followup was posted to alt.autos.ford and a copy was sent to the
cited author.]

In article <net>, net
says... 

Have somebody move the gas pedal through it's full motion. Open the hood
and watch the throttle body. When the pedal is all the way down, can you
manually move the throttle a bit more? Compare the two cars. If they are
the same, then it's something else wrong. If they are different, then the
one not getting full travel may have something else wrong.

Most cars today have electronically controlled transmissions. Everything
is set by programming and the throttle position sensor. The TPS could be
incorrect or bad on the one car, or there is a difference in the
programming. I am assuming the two have the same engine and are the same
year! Look at the label, usually on the driver's door, to find out when it
was built. They could be built at different times, which might be showing
a mid-year change.

It may also have an adapative learning program on the transmission. Over
time, it tends to learn how you drive and adjusts shift points, shift
smoothness, and many other things. That could also be affecting things. At
worst, you could try disconnecting the battery for an hour or so to force
the computers to reset.

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On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 00:43:18 -0400, Nathan Jordan
<net> wrote:
 

Buy a Toyota next time?


Scott in Florida

Are you simply comparing performance based on the position of the
accelerator pedal relative to the floor? It sounds like that is what you are
doing. THis is meaningless and does not indicate a problem. You need to pull
the inlet hose off the throttle body. With the engine off, have someone
press the accelerator pedal to the floor while you are looking at the
throttle plate. If it opens all the way, then there is nothing wrong with
the throttle / accelerator pedal system. If it doesn't open all the way, you
probably have a stretched throttle cable or a bent bracket. This is
something Ford service can correct. The transmission shifts based on
commands from the PCM. If the throttle is opening all the way, then
everything should be OK. It is possible you have a bad throttle position
sensor (TPS), but this is unlikely on such a new vehicle. Are the vehicle
typically driven by different people? If so, it is also possible the PCM has
learned different shift patterns based on the driving styles of the
different drivers.

Regards,

Ed White

Nathan Jordan wrote:
 

Scott, he didn't look under the hood yet. One is a 4 cy the
other is a V6 LOL


mike hunt



Scott in Fla wrote: 

Nathan Jordan wrote: 

Go here. http://www.blueovalnews.com/

Actually, they are both V6, and there is only one V6 motor for this model. So
they definitely have the same motor. Also, both are 2003 models. The only
difference is that the one with the problem has speed control. Ford Service
says the speed control isn't a factor.

I can now describe the problem a little more precisely (from a driver's
viewpoint - I'm not much of a mechanic). I have observed that the Escape has
two distinct levels of passing gear (or downshift) depending on how far the
pedal is depressed. There is a lower rev passing gear that engages when the
pedal is rapidly depressed a _little_ (sorry, I can't think of a better way
to describe it). The higher rev passing gear engages when the pedal is
rapidly depressed even further. Both of my Escapes hit the lower rev passing
gear fine. But one of them has trouble hitting the high rev passing gear
consistently because the pedal hits the floor before it has moved far enough
to engage the high rev passing gear.

Hope this makes sense. I know it is not a blatant problem, but it really bugs
me. I'm thinking about having it evaluated by an independent repair shop to
see if _they_ think it has a problem, since the Ford Service center thinks the
motor is fine.

And many thanks to everyone who has provided input.


com wrote: