My old Escort has covered 52000 from new and is mainly used 10-12 times each month usually for short journeys, after about 12miles it developes an erratic misfire, also sometimes the engine races away without the throttle being touched plus frequently cuts out when the accelerator pedal is released. Various mechanics have looked at it, changed the plugs and leads etc, checked electrics, all to no avail.
It is now suggested that the ECU may be at fault and should be replaced, if this is done will the new unit require reprogramming to the car by a dealer, I am told that the coil unit will have to be replaced as well as part of the ECU system.
Recently the car has started to show the symptoms within a few minutes of driving from cold and is becoming dangerous to drive. I don't know whether the erratic running is caused by ignition or fuel problems
Can anyone help with any ideas which will be appreciated, otherwise I scrap the vehicle at the end of the month
{subject header made less vague by including a brief summary of the question being asked}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 11/07/2008 at 19:51
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wellman
If the ECU is at fault - and that's a big IF; then the new unit will need programming by the dealer. Along with a new coilpack, that's over £500. ECU repairs are possible on this model.
Most mechanics haven't got a clue when it comes to diagnosing engine management faults - they don't even know how they work.
The most common failure that will give you the symptoms described is a coilpack fault. It's so easy to find, that I'm surprised that hasn't already been checked?
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Hi I believe my earlier email to you may have failed so here is another one, you say that it is unlikely that the ECU will be at fault so I have not replaced it, you say that the most common failure is likely to be the coil pack. If this is replaced will it need programming to match the existing ECU and any other electrical car equipment. Will the ECU have to be matched to the new coil
Todate I have replaced the CC ventilation valve, ignition leads and plugs all to Ford specification to no avail.
Many thanks for your help
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The coilpack is the most likely for the misfire fault; it's function is easily checkable before replacement to make sure. They're plug-and-play; no programming/adaption needed.
The idle fault is probably a separate issue; not exactly unknown on Fords of that era - lots in the archive.
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Hi
Many thanks for your help and advice todate, I have now replaced the coil pack but still have the same problem. So I think I will now consider scrapping the car as because of its age I don't want to spend a lot of money on it, this will be a pity as it has only done 51K from new and is very comfortable
As already stated the problem only appears when the vehicle is hot, on a warm summer day it will start to play up after a mile or two, on a cold day it will go for 5-6 miles before it starts to jerk along and I don't know if the problem is electrical or fuel but it is obviously temperature related when heat builds up perhaps under the bonnet. It has been suggested that as all it's life the car has only been used for short trips of no more that 5 miles at a time the cat converter maybe blocked and reacting to hot gases. A mechanic did say sometims ago this might be a difficult problem to trace
Many thanks for yor help
Regards
sq
Edited by Pugugly on 10/08/2008 at 00:35
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Most common cause is the CVV ( crankcase ventalation valve ) Don't clean it, just buy a new one from fords. Make sure you state its a PTE engine as most mix it up with a CVH & the CVV's are different.
I have had in the past these where the tickover is unstable if they aren't fitted with ford plugs & leads. Champion plugs cause to much electrical noise under the bonnet.
My monies on the valve.
I Doc
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Hi Many thanks for your help and advise for my old Escort, I have replaced the CVV as you suggested with a new unit from Fords and the vehicle performance is greatly improved although it still runs erratically, however it is now drivable. It is fitted with a set of NGK BCPR6ES plugs as recommended by a Ford dealer which are now about a year old so I will replace them and see what happens.
Many thanks
snipquote
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 23/07/2008 at 01:12
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Change plugs to ford plugs & leads. Remove fuse for ecu when hot. Leave disconnected for 5 mins & refit fuse & leave to idle for 5 mins. Do not touch throttle during this re-learn period.
I Doc
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