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I have a friend who has an '02 escape 4cyl manual trans. When he releases the clutch in either 1st or 2nd gear, there is an unusual shudder that only lasts a second, maybe 1.5 sec. Dealer says they can't find any problems. Its not his driving, since he regularly drives a stick shift without any problems. Any help or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hopefully the dealer has checked engine mounts, axles etc for problems.
I worked on one the other day that had a bad shudder that you could feel in the floor and console, just a few seconds after you took off. You got a knocking feeling in the console. It turned out that it had a seized U-joint on the rear driveshaft.
Of course if your friend's Escape is a 4x2 then it wont have that problem but if it's a 4x4 it would ge a good thing to check. I had to remove the driveshaft to check the U-joints. They felt good with the shaft in place.
I have the same exact problem on an '01 tribute with 5sp/4cyl (non-4wd) that is yet undiagnosed.
Took the car to have it checked out a year or so ago, to multiple dealers but they could not solve the problem (though they could replicate the symptoms).
Unfortunatly the tribute is out of warranty now, but the problem has not gotten any better.
I would like to go in with a suggested solution instead of having to pay out-the-nose for diagnostics that didnt reveal anything last time (fortunatly they were free under warranty then).
Any standard tranny car i've ever owned that shudders on take off usually comes down to needing a new clutch or the flywheel needs resurfacing or both.
When i had my Z-28 clutch redone the guy did not install a new throw out bearing, that inexpensive mistake on his part made the car shudder like is was going to fall apart, especially when reversing. Once i got a new throw out bearing installed the problem went away
my wifes 2.0 5 speed is doing the same thing - it is over due on manual transmission fluid and needs to be replaced. If the proper manual transmission fluid does not do the trick then i will go in to see the cluth man !
hats off to Rogero for the clutch thought....
Sadly, many people have reported chatter on the 5-speed. Anywhere from 30k - 70k miles. The clutch design for the 2.0 (not sure if it's any different for the 2.3) could have been better.
Well, you'd of course want to include a new throw-out bearing and pilot bushing/bearing in the process. I don't think chasing after any freeze plugs while in there would be worthwhile on a vehicle that new.