I have an N reg Ford Escort 1.8 si.
It been running with reduced power for a little while - for which i could not find the cause.
Suddenly it lost more power and started hissing from under the bonnet. I managed to limp home not being able to get beyond 2nd gear.
The engine was very hot when i opened it and since then I have been unable to start it.
Can anyone help me please
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Have you checked the coolant level?
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Adam
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When you say that it won't start do you mean that the engine turns but won't run or the starter won't turn it at all? It sounds as though the coolant has got low and what is left has overheated and boiled off. What did the temperature gauge show and did the oil pressure warning light come on or flicker at all? Whatever, it sounds serious/expensive.
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Thanks for that. The coolant level is fine. As is oil. No lights came on whilst driving.Electrics are ok.It did restart after i got home but doesnt now.
The noise was originally a hiss - but then became more "throaty"
Hope this helps
Roda
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Just to add to the above, there seems to be no compression.The engine turns over but does not fire.
Please help!
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no compression could be a timing belt problem,but a hissing and lack of power could be a blocked exhaust system which can cause a non start condition.
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Or a blown head gasket? I there water in the oil or oil in the water, so far as you can tell?
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Thanks.
There seems to be no leakage of any fluids - no water in oil.Is it possible for head gaskets to blow and this not happen?
Timing belt - about to go and check. Exhaust seems ok.
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Wouldn't a belt snap stop the car dead?
What happens when it jumps a tooth?
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Adam
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I'm guessing it's a blocked exhaust. Could the hissing be the exhaust gasses blowing past the inlet valves as they open? i.e. compressed exhaust gas in cylinders?
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Mike Farrow
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Thanks. I shall have a good look tomorrow and let you know.
but so far I have drawn a blank.
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Me again!
Have had a good look at the car ( as far as an amateur can go!) and still cannot find the reason for all this.
Any other ideas would be a great help. If i could get it to start i could get it to a garage! ....
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roda,
From the description you have given, I think Mike Farrow's suggestion of a blocked exhaust to be a good one.
Try disconnecting the exhaust near to the engine and then try to start the car.
If that is not possible, get someone to turn the car over, with the throttle wide open. You should be able to feel the pulses of air coming out the back of the exhaust (and smell some fuel!).
For a four stroke engine to run, it needs to satisfy the four stroke cycle.
The engine needs to draw in air and fuel.
It needs to squash it up.
It needs to ignite it.
It needs to blow the spent gas out of the back.
number_cruncher
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Presumably same engine as mondeo which can have problems with idling etc due to vacuum pipes on inlet manifold leaking. So the hiss could be caused by a bad air leak on the inlet manifold, could even be where the vacuum take off for the brake servo is. We had a Fiesta, where the vacuum servo pipe fell out of the manifold, it was very difficult to start.
Has the cat. broken up and completely blocked the exhaust?
Please let us know when you have a cure. Good luck.
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I assume you have had the engine compession tested to know it has no compression,is it down on all cylinders or two adjacent ones?When the gasket gradually blows between two adjacent cylinders you get a drop in power before it goes completely,less likely to get the classic oil/water mix too.A blocked exhaust would not result in no compression and a cambelt would have to jump a lot of teeth to have a valve open on the compression stroke,plus a piston would hit it.
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Definately a blocked exhaust, most likely the cat has broken up and a piece of the monolith has plugged the pipe. Removing the lambda sensor will allow the car to be driven (noisily) to a repair shop.
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
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