89 1.4 Petrol Escort. Lying idle outside for nearly 2 years. Now unable to start it.
Battery charged up: ok
Spark plugs & distributor crudded up, cleaned: ok
Engine cranks over put doesn't catch. Can smell petrol so may have flooded?
What other things to check? Would the carb have got crudded up too? (petrol gauge low).
PS
Can't bump it because it looks as if handbrake is locked. How can I shift it?
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After 2 yrs left lying outside, chances are the petrol has "gone off". Plus if the tank is low of fuel (if the gauge is too be believed) then the tank could have got water in it due to condensation over the past couple of years. Best to try and syphon/drain the tank as much as you can and put some fresh petrol in it. Also probably worth stripping down the carb as what petrol had been left in it has probably crystalised and gummed up the float chamber and float.
First thing to try though is fresh petrol, then if still a non starter, tackle the carb.
As for the handbrake, jack up the car, secure on axle stands, and remove the rear wheels. Make sure the handbrake is off, and *gently* clout the rear brake drums with a piece of wood a few times to see if you can break the bond between the shoes/drums.
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Forgot to ask, I take it you've tested to see if you've got a spark from the plugs?
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You will probably find that the oil has drained from the bores and you therefore have no compression. Take plugs out, put two or three squirts of oil in each cylinder, turn over engine to get the oil onto the cylinder walls, re-insert clean plugs and then try to start. When it does go you may find that in two or three miles the probably rusty silencer will fall apart inside and block the exhaust gasses from coming out.
Best of luck
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Since you are probably taking the plugs out again, before you put them back, rub a bit of pencil lead across both of the centre electrodes.
Works a treat on my mower after the winter layup (together with fresh petrol).
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Good replies there guys.
Yes, there is a spark (well from at least one of the plugs).
I'm leaning towards low / condensation fuel but the oil / compression thing I'll try first.
>>When it does go you may find that in two or three miles the probably rusty silencer will fall apart inside and block the exhaust gasses from coming out.>>
No jesting? What will that do just blow a hole in the exhaust or worse?
The exhaust does really look rusty. I'd be surprised it doesn't fall off completey soon. Everytime I shut the bonnet I can here a piece of rusty metal rustling to the floor underneath.
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Squirt a bit of easy-start into the intake, if it has a spark that will get it to go, you may have to continue a few more short squirts whilst it warms up and draws through the fresh petrol you will have put into the tank.Be careful though Easy-start is very inflammable .
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Greaser
Think you meant FLAMMABLE there !
Incedentally, did you know that Easy-Start,or a similar product,
is marketed in Australia a "Start Ya b******" ? Wonderful straightforward people the Aussies !
Regard, Adam
Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble.
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Inflammable, flammable means the same ( strangely ) - check your dictionary, does this mean I'm noble ?
Like the "down-under" version !
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OK, I got it going.
The locked brakes I released by rocking forward and back.
The engine: I tried that easy start but also poured a bit of petrol in the carb chamber. Took a while but eventually it turned over.
Working fine now.
Cheers guys.
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Just make sure the car can stop.
You've a number of cylinders and calipers that haven't moved in 2 years.
A free ATS brake test may not be a bad idea - A couple of quid in their tea boat will usually keep the lads happy.
Good luck
If all else fails come down to Cornwall and buy one of my Xantias that I'm trying to sell. I'll even take the Escort in P Ex :)
Seriously, have you got a Haynes manual for it? See my ad in Classifieds.
Hugo
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