Ford Repair: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, many different reasons, escort zx2

Question
My car's engine light has come on for the 4th time in the past 5 months. I
have a '00 Escort ZX2 and the first time the light came on, my dealership
told me it was the battery and I had to get it replaced. The light was off for
2 months when it came back on. The second time I was told it was
something to do with the transmission. I think it was was the transmission
fluid detector. I got it replaced and the light was off for 2 weeks. The 3rd
time I took my car to the shop and the light magically came off. My
mechanic wasn't able to determine the cause of the light. He guessed it
might have been the car's computer and said the next time it comes on, he
would just assume that was the problem and I would have to get it
replaced. The light came on two weeks later. Today the car wouldn't go
above 35mph and won't switch gears . I'm not sure what to do. I'm a college
student and I can't afford to keep paying to fix the problem, just to have it
reoccur. Please help! Any ideas?

Answer
Hello Dalia, The check engine lite comes on for many different reasons. If your vehicle transmission will not shift properly and it will not go over 35 mph , It sounds like you have a trans related issue. With the lite on there will be a code stored. If you get it checked ask what the codes are and let me know what they are. Thanks Tony