Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998

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Wed 7 Feb 2007 15:47
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - tallboy
After having trouble with the engine hunting the fault was diagnosed as a faulty mass air flow sensor, which was replaced, now the engine keeps racing until it has warmed up. The car will travel at 30mph with no acceleration used at all.
The mechanic and my local garage can't find what the problem is.
Anyone got any idea what the problem could be?
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Thu 8 Feb 2007 01:07
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - DP
Sticking idle valve? I know this is a very common problem on the smaller (Zetec-SE) engines, but I guess it could also apply to the Zetec-E or any modern engine come to that. I had this on a Peugeot 306 with the exact same symptoms as you describe. Hunting, idle at anything from 3,000 to 5,000 RPM, accelerating by itself, and also intermittent stalling particularly as the engine returned to idle such as pulling up at a junction or set of lights.

This did not put the EM light on, or leave fault codes in the ECU. It took the dealer eleven attempts before they traced the fault and fixed it, and it was a different car afterwards.

Might be worth suggesting it to your mechanic if he hasn't checked it out already.

Cheers
DP

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Thu 8 Feb 2007 08:25
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - jc2
Does sound like a sticking ISC/ABV-(same thing just a different name).They can be cleaned but a new one is better.Idle speed control/air by-pass valve.
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Thu 8 Feb 2007 09:49
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - tallboy
Thanks jc2,
see reply to DP.
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Thu 8 Feb 2007 09:47
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - tallboy
Thanks DP, Could be this but I'm sure the garage said they tried a new valve but I will check with them.

Thanks again
tallboy
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Thu 8 Feb 2007 10:19
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - sine
I assume the car doesn't have a rev gauge, but isn't something around 1400 rpm for a couple of minutes after cold start quite common with some Fords?
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Thu 8 Feb 2007 14:40
Ford Escort CL (Zetec E) 1998 - tallboy
No rev gauge, but the high revs run for about ten to fifteen minutes. but even after this the tickover is still higher than usual.
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