Learn me about Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute

In the endless search for a winter rig the wife wants she's considering an Escape/tribute because it can be had with a 4cyl and a manual in 01-04.

I know these had transmission issues but I thought that was mostly the 3.0 auto combo? I do like the zetec in my zx2 a lot too which is a plus and manuals are just better anyway.

I've driven a 4cyl/manual. Hell i've driven most of the combos i guess. I'd prefer a later v6 to an early manual, honestly. But the manual makes the early 4 cyl version tolerable, and of course almost any manual trans will be more reliable than almost any auto. 

In reply to Vigo :

True, and I'm sure the auto 4cyl would be very slow and boring, not that this has to be fast but still

In reply to Antihero :

The rear strut towers rust through regularly, though there are repair panels available. 

Pete Gossett said:

In reply to Antihero :

The rear strut towers rust through regularly, though there are repair panels available. 

Yes, I’ve seen some supported by the carpet and/or plastic body cladding inside the car. 

There was a massive recall on this, so it should have been fixed, but look very closely. 

The Mazda isn't the greatest SUV in the world.  It just a...Tribute.

The 4cyl would be a Duratec, not a Zetec.

Out of all of the 4 cylinder Duratecs that I have worked on over the years, the only ones that jumped timing chains due to being run out of oil were in Escapes.  That should tell you the possible mentality of someone who drives a base model cute-ute and what you may expect in the used market.

But it's an easy fix, just pull the head and oil pan, replace all the valves, the timing set, and remove the pistons to unstick the rings and clear the carbon out of the oil returns in the pistons, and slap it back together.  Right as rain.  (Or, I dunno, get a $500 junkyard engine and check the oil more often than never)

Knurled. said:

The 4cyl would be a Duratec, not a Zetec.

 

Out of all of the 4 cylinder Duratecs that I have worked on over the years, the only ones that jumped timing chains due to being run out of oil were in Escapes.  That should tell you the possible mentality of someone who drives a base model cute-ute and what you may expect in the used market.

 

But it's an easy fix, just pull the head and oil pan, replace all the valves, the timing set, and remove the pistons to unstick the rings and clear the carbon out of the oil returns in the pistons, and slap it back together.  Right as rain.  (Or, I dunno, get a $500 junkyard engine and check the oil more often than never)

Actually the first years ,01-04 were the zetec, duratec was afterwards according to my research.

Good point on what to expect though

There’s a few people over at expedition portal that off-road them.  They’re very capable  vehicles apparently in stock trim yet retain daily driver practicality. 

Pete Gossett said:

In reply to Antihero :

The rear strut towers rust through regularly, though there are repair panels available. 

Good to know, thanks!

penultimeta said:

There’s a few people over at expedition portal that off-road them.  They’re very capable  vehicles apparently in stock trim yet retain daily driver practicality. 

That sounds good to me

The escape is the greatest car in the history of the world, the Mazda is not, it's merely a tribute. 

Daughter #1 drives a 2002 awd Tribute...wife just passed 2007 Escape down to Daughter #2, both v6's. I just did an alternator on the Escape, possibly the worst job I've ever done, and I've done a lot.

Let's just say that pulling the passenger half shaft was the easiest part of the job.

Great cars though, trouble free for 175 on the Mazda, and 156 on the Escape

Decent enough little trucklet rust and previous ownership seems to be the worst failings. As mentioned check the rockers and rear towers very carefully. Accessories are generally a pain to replace. Otherwise keep oil and water in it and go. 

In reply to Appleseed :

I missed your post, hat tip. 

The Mazda isn't the greatest vehicle ever, it's just a Tribute to the Ford.

Antihero said:

Pete Gossett said:

In reply to Antihero :

The rear strut towers rust through regularly, though there are repair panels available. 

Good to know, thanks!

What is weird is, I habe seen it but only on models with the subwoofer box thing in the right side.  And I have only seen the right side blow out.

Weird...

russde said:

Daughter #1 drives a 2002 awd Tribute...wife just passed 2007 Escape down to Daughter #2, both v6's. I just did an alternator on the Escape, possibly the worst job I've ever done, and I've done a lot.

Let's just say that pulling the passenger half shaft was the easiest part of the job.

Great cars though, trouble free for 175 on the Mazda, and 156 on the Escape

I had one for a work truck a few years ago and it needed an alternator. Got it back 2 weeks later.

I have done an engine replacement in a 3.0 Escape in a carport, and I dont even remember where the alternator was. Sliding scale something or other blah blah. 

Also, the Mazda isn't the greatest vehicle ever, it's just a Tribute to the Ford.

Hybrid Escapes are being purchased well used and put into service as taxis. To me that’s a pretty nice endorsement that they’re durable. 

The one we have is junk, every one I've ever seen has had way more negative camber in the front than any stock vehicle should have, so I can't keep tires on the front more than 4 or 5 months.  It's a 3.0/auto and I had to put a trans in it once and I've replace multiple coils.  Right now it's waiting on me to replace the driver's wheel bearing for the second time.  I've owned it for about 18 months at this point.  Granted I ended up with what would probably be a well used version, but the build quality seems low to me.

OHSCrifle said:

Hybrid Escapes are being purchased well used and put into service as taxis. To me that’s a pretty nice endorsement that they’re durable. 

The only reason they are only rated to tow 1000lb is because the CVT does not have a Reverse gear.  Reverse is electric-only, and part of the tow rating is what they can expect you to be able to back up a hill from a stop.

There's also something funky either with going up hill with a low battery or going down hill with a fully charged one, I forget.

They're pretty great aside from the few things others have already mentioned.

The 3.0/Auto combination is the iffy one, the CD4E automatic is pulled from the Contour and needs frequent fluid changes to avoid blowing up given the extra weight/power behind it. A trans cooler supposedly helps quite a bit.

Hmm....it seems the zetec/manual option only came in FWD and not AWD?