Stops accelerating while driving – 2002 Ford Crown Victoria

ANSWER : Hello – your Fiesta has a transmission which Ford calls the DPS6 (or DCT – Dual-clutch transaxle). This 6-speed transmission has 2 clutches, controlled by a computer, which allows selection of multiple gears at once (say 1st and 2nd), and the clutches manage the gear change be releasing 1st gear with one clutch, and engaging 2nd gear with the second clutch. This transaxle has had LOTS of problems with "shuddering" between gears, lack of smooth take-off, and the list of Customer Satisfaction and Technical Service Bulletins for this and other models using this transaxle is rather long. Ford has been replacing the clutches, and updating the software on a regular basis, and there are several warranty extensions up to 10 years/150K miles on this transmission. But – don’t delay, get your car to a Ford dealer to have this corrected ASAP.

ANSWER : You may have a defective transmission valve body or the transaxle is bad internally. The manufacturer recommends replacing the valve body assembly first and then the complete transaxle if the problem is still happening.

I suggest having you transmission tested by a experienced transmission mechanic first and then move forward with the recommended repairs after being tested.

If you’d like a second opinion on this, contact a certified mechanic who can assess your acceleration issue firsthand and confirm my suspicions.

ANSWER : No, they are completely different. An Escape is a front wheel drive platform, an Explorer is a rear wheel drive platform. There are two options for a front wheel drive Escape. If your production date is before 11/18/01, and 11/19/01 and after for the 2002 model year. The only other compatible vehicle is the Mazda Tribute. A great resource I use is Car-Part.com. It has interchange information built in, and only displays parts that will work.

ANSWER : The Ford Crown Victoria has been around a long time and has been driven in the snow by many people. The police use the car cause it is reliable and one of last larger cars without going to a SUV. The police would have maybe ran it a little harder than someone that had it as a family car. The good thing would be you know the car was well maintained during its life by the police mechanic shop. They would have done all the maintenance it needed to maintain it to manufacture specifications. Now the negative side is why are they getting rid of it? Is it only due to mileage or years of in service or is their some major needed repairs that are needed. They should have to disclose that when they sell it. In the United States they have to disclose major problems. I would recommend having a mechanic like one from YourMechanic do a vehicle pre purchase inspection to help you check for any major problems the vehicle may have before you purchase it.

ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. The vehicle may be having many types of problems. With a lack of power and a ticking sound, we must look at the level of the oil and the drive belt. Both can cause similar symptoms and noises. If your oil is low, then you have a leak and you need to turn your attention to finding it. If the belt is broken, frayed, loose, or a pulley is bad, then you will need to replace the belt and take any further corrective action. If these components check out, then you should turn your attention to the charging system and make sure the battery and alternator are working correctly. If necessary you can then resort to testing for proper fuel pressure, spark power, and look into the air intake system. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.

ANSWER : Slow acceleration has a variety of causes. Fuel injectors can become clogged over time as the tiny passages become clogged. When an injector is clogged it can degrade the performance of the vehicle and the car may accelerate slowly or feel that it does not have enough power. Other symptoms include a rough idle, a vehicle that is hard to start and a decrease in fuel efficiency. A defective fuel pump will not supply enough fuel to the injectors. This can cause the vehicle to accelerate slowly, or even sputter and stall, especially at high speeds. A clogged fuel filter can also restrict the amount of fuel that reaches the injectors. A dirty airflow sensor can cause the wrong data to be be sent to the computer. A slow accelerating car is the result of this incorrect data. It may also trigger the Check Engine light. Other causes of poor acceleration are vacuum leaks, a defective throttle position sensor and a defective idle air control valve. To get the underlying cause of the problem resolved, you can request an engine diagnostic for slow acceleration. The responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello there. A few common faults will cause your cruise control to cut out with your 2009 Ford Explorer. The most common faults would be the cruise control module, throttle cable, throttle body, or a fuel pump. I recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your cruise control fault in person to ensure that the proper repairs are made.