Rep Power: 291

Hi,

I've got a quick question about my GF's 1992 Escort (yes i know, she is a poor student) and hoping you can help me out.

We just replaced the radiator after it blew and spewed fluid and rust all over the engine bay this weekend. the fluid was orangy-yellow and not green. the problem now is, every time she accelerates or goes over 60 mph, the car starts to shake.

I'm going to replace the spark plugs for sure but i noticed that a lot of the radiator 'spew' went on and in the alternator. i was wondering if the water or rust from the blown radiator might have damaged the alternator.

or do you guys think its something totally un related like blown suspension/alignment or something. She did get towed twice in the last week so i'm thinking that might have thrown the alignment off.

thanks for all your feedback. i'll keep you posted.

 
Rep Power: 0

If it happens when you are over 60mph sound like wheels/tires are out of balance.

 
Rep Power: 291

yea it happens a bit but its way more noticeable when you accelerate from a standstill like at a light. it shakes a bit from - to 5 mph then it stops as the car gets it momemtum going

 
Rep Power: 0

That sounds like it b/c my car does that when the tires are out of balance. Do a little search on steering shake and u will see ton of posts describing wheel balance.

 
Rep Power: 291

im changing the spark plugs and putting in a new cap.

we'll see whats next.

 
Rep Power: 336

if the steering wheel is shaking after 50 or 60mph then it is the tires that are unbalanced or a little low on pressure. check that. i would be money its the balance of the tires. an alignment problem would not make your car shake it would wear the tires out faster on one side of the tire. if it was the spark plugs that car wouldn't go up to 50 or 60 anyway. if the engine is knocking then maybe its a plug. if its just shaking then get the tires balanced and forget the rest.

 
Rep Power: 334

if engine is knocking, try filling up with higher grade fuel?


does the radiator have an cap ?

if it happened right after the radiator fluid nutting on your engine bay, it could more likely relate to that issue. but in general, your issue would be an wheel/suspension problem. did she run into any major potholes, curbs, etc lately?

 
Rep Power: 291

well, she got towed twice in the last week so maybe the rear suspension is shot. come to think about it, the suspension was already on its last legs since the car has like 200K miles on it or something (its a 92 Escort 1.9L).

i changed the spark plugs and air filter and dist cap and the problem seems to have gone away. maybe there was humidity in the alternator and it dried up by today.