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I have a prob with this ford escort. It will not start. It gives a couple of kicks as if it is going to but then dies again. It will only do this under full throttle and after cranking the engine for a while. I do not get anything from it with the throttle in idle. changed the fuel filter and re gapped plugs. the car has not been serviced for a few years (5). where should i start. Also before this happened i was geting poor mpg and the car was lacking power ( wont do over 65 on the mw) thanks for any help.
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That is a very bad Escort skreech. Mine has never been that bad. Even at its worst it has always started from cold and idled properly without any need to press the acclerator. Once or twice it has been immobilised by the fuel pump relay shaking loose from its socket over speed bumps and potholes. It is worth lowering the fuse tray to get at the relays and pressing them all down on their pins.
If it hasn't been serviced for five years it will certainly need new plugs - supposed to be changed (not just gapped) every 20,000 miles - were yours marked with soot or yellow deposits by any chance? - but the first thing I would look at with a neglected car suffering breathing problems is the air filter. If the element is black and filthy it needs changing. Another problem in my recent experience could be internal disintegration of some part of the exhaust system causing excessive back pressure (I suspected the cat, but it was the back silencer box). But I have to say it sounds worse than that. Could be a fuelling problem whose origin might be mechanical or electrical (filter, fuel pump) or electronic (ECU, injection system).
If the car still seems fundamentally sound, and you can afford it, run it past an expert. If you are lucky you may find a good independent one.
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5 years and never been serviced lud can you imagine it?
the special oil they run on will be like wrights coal tar soap (my favourite)
the plugs will have rolled over and self destructed internally due to lack of love
and as for the air filter i reckon it will now be inhabited with a roden tor two that have made the reasonator box their comfy little home and blocked the air intake off
im not even going to think about the brakes as i dread to think what they are like after 5 years of not being touched,maybe stevie wonder is the night shift mot tester
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By servici the OP probably means an oil change. My dad ran his Lada for 6 years this way. Never saw an oil change but the plugs were changed as they failed so badly it caused it to not to start. Oh and when air filter got blocked it was just removed who needs 'em :D
Amazingly the bodywork failed before the engine.
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bell boy....ever the optimist
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It is worth lowering the fuse tray to get at the relays and pressing them all down on their pins. - were yours marked with soot or yellow deposits by any chance? - be internal disintegration of some part of the exhaust system causing excessive back pressure
ok thanks. i suspect it may be bad. the fuel pump is running. it is audible when the ign is switched on. the plugs were sooted and the gap had increaded to about 2-3mm. removed air filter, it was not to bad. exhaust was apparently changed a year ago..although not the cat. The plugs were taken out after cranking the engine for a long time and they were completely dry. should they not have been wet from petrol if the inj system was ok. i'm just trying to help out a friend. i service my own car reg. cheers.
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I have just noticed that there is no ecu/ engine managment light on in the dash even after just turning on the ignition. This must be the prob i hope, I take it that this car does have an ecu light that should light up when the ignition is switced on. may be a blown fuse or somthing. any ideas?
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I have been thinking ECU (the dry plugs). If one of the main lights doesn't come on, do check the fuse if there is one. Haynes may help.
Electronics as such are after my hands-on time, but there are many here who cope with them. I believe an Escort ECU needn't cost the earth either if the worst comes to the worst. Might be a good idea to jiggle some of the contacts too. Surprising how that can sometimes restore contact.
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lud if the non engine servicing is anything to go by then the tyres are probably non existant and its probably on the rims,if this is the case then it might have tripped the fuel cut off switch or on this age of escort the fuse box has rolled over and died
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i will give the fuses and connections a good look over tommorrow. thanks. By not being serviced i mean the usual basics plugs filters oil ect. apart from that the car is ok. It will be going in for a major service if i can get it running again.
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Prob solved. Turned out to be a collapsed cat. Removed oxy sensor in down pipe. car started. Thanks to all who helped.
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