1988 Ford Escort Service and Repair Manual
This factory service and repair manual for the 1988 Ford Escort is a single-engine book: every car covered runs the 1.9-liter naturally aspirated SOHC inline-four on gasoline. Four trims are listed, GL, GT, LX and Pony, and the bodies are the two-door hatchback, the four-door wagon and the four-door hatchback. With only one powertrain to document, the coverage goes wide rather than deep on variants, with procedures, specifications, torque values, wiring diagrams and diagnostics for the engine, transmission, chassis, brakes, body and electrical system.
Engines covered
- 1.9L inline-four (116 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 2-door hatchback
- 4-door wagon
- 4-door hatchback
Trims covered
- GL
- GT
- LX
- Pony
Known issues on the 1988 Escort. Two recalls are on federal record here. One is the ignition switch, which could develop an internal short circuit and overheat, smoke or catch fire inside the steering column area. The other covers a spring-lock fuel line coupling that could disengage under pressure and vibration and spill fuel. Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA, and the electrical system dominates them, with engine and cooling and seat belts behind it. Steering column teardown, ignition switch replacement, fuel line service and the wiring diagrams for the ignition circuit are all included.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
Showing the 8 most recent of 25 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DIDN'T RESTRAIN THE PERSON SHE WAS INJURIED . TT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *
Showing the 2 most serious of 201 complaints filed with NHTSA.
