Car question (long explanation)

Like a stereotypical girl, I don't know a LOT about cars. Unlike a stereotypical girl, I can tell when my car is making noises it shouldn't make. I drive a 1999 Ford Escort LX, with just under 40,000 miles. The oil gets changed religiously every 3 months or 3k miles.

I do not have the $$ this month to take my car in to get it looked at. Recently, the problems consist of Check engine soon light came on (code P1506 = Idle Airspeed Control, whatever the heck that means), a sound similar to a loose heat shield on the driver side (loose piece of metal vibrating and "tapping" against the car), under the car but only when stopped (foot on brake), and in drive, and there is a 90% possibility that my car needs the exhaust fixed.

The exhaust isn't a problem right now. It's not setting off car alarms as I drive by, so that can wait at least until next month. However, I'm not entirely familiar with 1) the purpose of a heat shield and how much it might cost if that is what's loose and 2) what the hell the Idle Airspeed Control is, what it would cost to fix and if it has anything to do with what I suspect #1 is causing.

Anyone have any suggestions/advice/well wishes/prayers? Just don't tell me it's going to cost an arm, leg and my first born child to fix. D

The heat shield covering the header can be ripped off, serves little or no purpose for your situation. Makes it look a lilttle nicer considering factory headers are butt ugly and yea makes the engine area look cleaner and does keep some heat away from your radiator, atleast on the way my engine is. But if this sound is on the driver side, i dont think were talking header. None the less, its a couple bolts and thats it usually. For the code, what does your car idle at... RPM wise?

Well the heat shield was loose on my 99 Ford Taurus and I got under there with some wire and rigged it up well enough to stop the tapping. Since then it was fixed when my car went in the shop after the accident, but I haven't had a chance to see if it was replaced or welded/other fix. As far as the Idle Airspeed Control (IAC hereafter), failure is pretty common in Fords but it should have nothing to do with the heat shield, it might just be your car struggling because of idle fluctuations. If its the IAC, which it very well could be...failure to have it fixed might eventually cause your car to stall when its idle (no longer be able to maintain idle). Good news is that as far as I know IAC is fairly easy to remove/replace, and shouldn't run you more than $150-200 (prices could be way off as parts vary greatly depending on the car they belong to). Good luck, sorry I couldn't be more of a help...and lastly don't quote me!! I'm not a mechanic!

Hey jadem,

also what engine is in your car 1.8,1.9 or 2.0? The IAC can be tested really easy if you have access to a Digital Volt Ohmmeter and will let u now if you have replace the valve or not. anyway, let me know, unless someone else chimes in with superior knowledge)

[quote68eae55f46="bols24"]The heat shield covering the header can be ripped off, serves little or no purpose for your situation. Makes it look a lilttle nicer considering factory headers are butt ugly and yea makes the engine area look cleaner and does keep some heat away from your radiator, atleast on the way my engine is. But if this sound is on the driver side, i dont think were talking header. None the less, its a couple bolts and thats it usually. For the code, what does your car idle at... RPM wise?[/quote68eae55f46]

Haha, there's no rpm dial thingie (yeah, real technical Jade!) on my car. It's a 4 cylinder engine.

[quote6c8da6477e="bols24"]Hey jadem,

also what engine is in your car 1.8,1.9 or 2.0? The IAC can be tested really easy if you have access to a Digital Volt Ohmmeter and will let u now if you have replace the valve or not. anyway, let me know, unless someone else chimes in with superior knowledge)[/quote6c8da6477e]

Ummm, I have no idea? I would have to look in the book that I bought for my car (it's at home, I'm at work). I personally don't have a Digital Volt Ohmmeter, but my dad might (or he might not!). He's not a mechanic, but he does know how to do basic fixes.

hah nice! So no tach, does it sound or feel like it idles high when you start it up cold?

[quote1ed9361333="bols24"]hah nice! So no tach, does it sound or feel like it idles high when you start it up cold?[/quote1ed9361333]

Yes, that it does. I noticed that it felt "rough", like, you could see the steering wheel shake a bit. I wasn't too concerned (being a typical girl when it comes to cars), but then again my Dad has driven it and he didn't say anything.

lishrugli I'm starting to think that the IAC problem is the cause for the sound I keep hearing, because it only makes it when it idles (stopped, in drive). But I mentioned heat shield because I know what THAT sounds like and if it's not the heat shield, then you have a darn good comparison.

Well after you know what liter your engine size is, i can tell ya how to test the IAC. pm me and we can talk over aim or something instead of just wasting space )

later

no thanks or even acknowledgement for my help (

[quoteaf20880d30="FreeOffersNow"]no thanks or even acknowledgement for my help ([/quoteaf20880d30]

I was getting to it! Sheesh, hold your horses. ;P

liahemliTHANK YOU OH SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! OMG, YOU ARE THE BEST HELP IN THE WORLD!

lol

damn right ;)