1998 FORD ESCORT 150,000 MILES A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF YOU COULD HELP THANKS I HAVE A SHKING PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS ON GEAR THE CAR TENDS TO SHAKE I PUT IT ON PARK OR NEUTRAL AND IT STOPS SHAKING .....SECOND WHE N START DRIVING AWAY I CAN FEEL MY FIRST GEAR THEN MY SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS TO GIVE ONE MORE BECAUSE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE ITS FORCEING ITS SELF........THIRD I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I TRIED TO GO FASTER AND IT WOULDNT GO PAST 30 MILES AN HOUR LIKE IT WAS LOOSING POWER BUT IT DIDNT STOP OR NOTHING THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 4 YEARSPLEASE HELP THANKS

 

Welcome to the forum, Los Angeles! There's a number of things that can cause your problem. I don't know your car's maintenance history,so let's first start with the basics:
[ol][*]When was the last time the spark plugs and plug wires were replaced?[*]When was the last time the air filter was replaced?[*]When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced?[*]When was the last time the car passed an emission inspection?[/ol]
Any other maintenance history on your car would help. Also, if I knewyour level of mechanical experience,how long you've owned the car and how many miles it had on it when you bought it, that would help too.

 

I agree with Malibu, probably an ignition misfire preventing the power necessary to move at the speeds you desire.