Hey all, I got this 08 escape for free from a friend who decided it wasn't worth the money to fix. Decent shape for the age and miles. She's been driving it with a whining rear diff and starting it with the remote start because her key would only work sometimes if she jiggled it a bunch. She took it to a well known trusted local garage and they told her how much for the rear and she gave up. They couldn't get it started when she dropped it off. I winched it on my trailer last night and brought it home. Put my jump pack on it, wiggled the key a bunch and it fired right up! List of problems in order of concern: 1. Intermittent starting -- Possibly fixed 1A. Apparently the power steering is iffy. 2. Whining rear diff 3. Leaking sunroof (likely the root of half of my issues) -- Fixed unless I find out otherwise 4. Need to get her cds out, it says "CD ERROR" 5. Get a new spare key made -- Added after more looking into #1 @jwalterus has given me a few ideas, as has google. Anyone else have input? I'll update this as I work on it but it's a back burner project until I get a couple other things done. Pictures to follow. EDIT: Power steering worked fine first test drive and not 30min later when my wife got home. Car was running the whole time. That could be a problem.
Shouldn't that be the top of the problem. Probably jammed or something. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Appears to not be a problem. Quite possibly the computer lost programming for the key she had been using. After letting it run for an hour or so yesterday, today when I got home it started right up with the extra key... Weird? I was pressing in on the key though so possibly still a bad ignition switch module. Apparently VERY common. Called the local dealer and IF it's ONLY the computer lost programming it's $100 to reprogram it, In other words, 1hr labor plus tax. Extra key is $40, Extra key with built in fob is $150. I'm too cheap to go with that lol! If I had two good keys I could reprogram it myself but... I don't. Apparently the first thing to check is the battery in the other key. Definitely worth a shot. Pretty sure I figured this one out and seems like a STUPID simple fix. I ran a string trimmer line through the drain on the drivers side, got about 3 feet or so down and it stopped. Tried the other side and got about 6 feet in.... Thought I heard a weird sound. Sure enough, I heard the line spooling up under the roof. Passenger side (worst side) drain tube was not only plugged but COMPLETELY UNHOOKED! Pulled it off and cleaned it out. Hooked it back up and it passes the water bottle test so I'm calling it FIXED until I find otherwise. Pulled the driver's side off while I had the headliner lowered. Blew it out manually without a compressor and it's clear so we should be all set there. Tried pulling the radio fuses with the radio on as I had read on a few forums with no luck. I'm thinking I'll be pulling the radio out for this one. Seems like this is the new list then. Adding 5. Get a new key made. Father in law's car is next on my list (head gaskets in a Nissan... fun) Then it goes in the garage to get the rear pulled out.
Quite possibly but it's a 6 disk changer and there's no noticeable jam. I'll likely have to tear it apart to find the problem.
Well after 5 days of sitting it started up for me. Had to press into the ignition so I'll be planning on replacing it. It has been raining for about an hour and the headliner still appears to be dry. I'm not calling it fixed for sure yet but it looks promising!
Well... can you ever call a ford "fixed?" Lol I don't like the escapes. The newer generation aren't much better, but at least there's a turbo version. Aka complicates things even more. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Of course you can! Until the next thing breaks! Lol! Truthfully I was saying I'm calling the sunroof fixed though is all. I don't have any love for it really (except the extra comforts of 2008 vs 1990s) but free is free. 22-28mpg beats 15 in the IDI and 10 in the suburban so whatever lol my commute to work is about 18 miles one way. It adds up fast. If I can spend $20/wk instead of $60/wk it's worth it!
Neat score! There should be a manual pop out button you stick a pick in for the 6 disc changer for jammed discs (if it is the cartridge kind separate from the radio) Key programming software is affordable for private shops and locksmiths now. I'd call around for a better price. Even home depot does it for very select few keys. You can also cheat and use a signal ring around the ignition switch while out and then any unprogrammed key will work (as you will put a programmed key in the box for the signal ring). Sent from my VS835 using Tapatalk
I doubt the cd changer will be that simple but I hope it is. It's the factory unit, I believe it's probably behind the radio in the dash but I haven'tlooked into it closely yet. I should call around, I don't know yet. I'm really considering the whole key under the dash unprogrammed key idea honestly. I'd still like it to work "right" so idk yet. That's a possibility I hadn't considered. She was told by a garage it was the rear end but I've seen my fair share of false diagnosis too. Plan is to open it up and look. If the gears look ok I'll try fresh fluid first, simplest, cheapest option. I thought it was odd that it didn't whine going around the parking lot here. I doubt it is, but I'm hoping fresh oil fixes it lol. This whole project has been delayed temporarily. My father in laws car came in for head gaskets just before I got sick so that still has to get back together. Sadly, it needs more than just head gaskets too so it'll be a little bit before it can leave. Plus now my wheel seals are leaking on my truck lol!
Jeep grand cherokee's are known for alleged rearend whine, and it comes from the cv's on the front driveshaft. Seals fail and cv gets dry and loose.
Other than a tiny bit of rust "coverup" she's been on the back burner for a while. The old owner asked about her cds today and I had completely forgotten so that became todays project. Got the headunit ripped apart and found 2-3 of the cds jammed in the changer in different ways. After some finagling I got all the cds out fine. One has a decent scratch but the rest look fine. Popped the part number into ebay and found a new assembly for $27 with free shipping! I wasn't going to wait around to price shop at that rate lol! Depending on the year Grand and regular Cherokee's are known for many problems lol! Thanks, I'll look at the driveline close when i get to that problem.
