Hello - I am a newbie here, so maybe this has already been discussed. I am the original owner of my GT, and it currently has 125K on it. It is still in very good shape, fun to drive, and it has been a very reliable car. Lately, the engine has been running rough, hesitating and/or stalling, particularly if:<br><br>1 - It is a colder day<br>2 - It is running at lower RPM's (below 2K)<br><br>The check engine light will come on, and the hesitation disappears. But as soon as the light goes off, the hesitation/rough running will return.<br><br>Looking through my Chilton's, the symptoms seemed to indicate a faulty EGR valve. I replaced the old EGR with a new one this weekend (boy was it dirty in there), and to my surprise, the problem still occured, though it was somewhat reduced. Any other owners with this similar problem, and have you found any solutions? BTW, I also changed the PCV vlave, but that did not solve the problem either.<br><br>Thanks, John (Spokane, WA)

Hi John,<br>I'll bet you recently changed your air filter, or did some service beneath the air inlet. Here is a possibility for your problem, and it did happen on my 1991. Between the air flow measurement box and the engine is an "s" shaped black plastic duct with about 3" or 4" hose clamps holding on both ends. It is also corregated, implying that it is supposed to be flexible. It is not. The bellows portion of that 3" duct can become cracked and leak air into the duct that the air flow measurement box did not measure. When you step on the throttle the vacuum ABOVE the throttle plate increases and sucks even moer air into the engine. The rpm increases and more air then comes in THROUGH the air flow measurement box. The EMS gets confused and the next thing you know the engine rpm at low speed starts oscillating, engine dies, etc. So...look for a leak in that area.<br>Bill Smith

John, It could be a couple of things. First, check for vacuum leaks. Spray carb cleaner and around your vacuum lines, if your car runs rough or dies, you've found a leak. Second, take the air tube off, and check to see if your butterfly for the air intake is not gummed up. There sould be one or two little holes, top and bottom. If they are dirty, spray carb cleaner into the intake, to clean the butterfly and the holes. Third, check the idle vacuum sensor (I think that is what it's called) right above the intake hose. Take the two screws out and take it apart. Spray inside and make sure the plunger works freely (sometimes they stick causing the engine to run rough), then put it back together. Make sure your rubber air tube clamps are tight. Fourth, check your TPS (throttle positioning sensor) with a code checker, or just replace it all together. Also check your O2 (oxygen) sensor. Fifth, make sure the timming is correct (10 deg. stock to 16 deg. advanced), and make sure the timming plug thing (grey plug near distributer) is there & plugged in. Make sure plug wires are on tight as well. I just did all of this today on my '90 GT, so I know what your going through. Chris

The escorts specifically the 1.8 have a cronic distributor problem I suggest replacing it most specifically the shaft, coil, cap and rotor. Mind did the same thing twice in 3 years, mostly issues with the short shaft on the distributor. If you pill it you will notice right away that it dosen't look right on the end.