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Ford Escort wagon sudden death


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francisco
Novice

Oct 17, 2005, 9:09 AM

Post #1 of 11 (6837 views)
Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

My 94 escort wagon ceased operation while going down the freeway. No loud noise, bump or anything. Just sudden and total loss of power. The check engine light came on and after coasting to a stop the fuel cut-out light came on. I checked the cut-out switch and it had not tripped. The fuel injection fuse was intact. I checked the fuel pump and there is a quiet hum and vibration just when the ignition key is turned. The engine cranks but no firing but it did backfire once. I had the beast towed home. What is the next move?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 17, 2005, 9:22 AM

Post #2 of 11 (6830 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Probably a fuel pump. Vibrations are NOT their thing, buzzing sounds are. A pressure check could help to verify the diagnosis. - T



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Oct 17, 2005, 10:09 AM

Post #3 of 11 (6828 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

As Tom said just because you can hear the pump doesn’t mean it’s producing the proper amount of pressure. You’ll need to install a pressure gauge to the system to confirm that you have at least 30psi.
But without spark the fuel pump will not (or should not) run continuously, by cycling the ignition on and off you should be able to produce enough pressure to be close to the spec.
At this point though I would be checking for a consistent spark coming from all of the ignition wires. Check one wire at a time leaving all others connected, if there is spark, then continue on and check for fuel pressure.
If there is no spark from the ignition system, check that the timing belt has not broken causing the camshaft to stop turning.
Let us know what you find and we’ll go from there.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"






francisco
Novice

Oct 18, 2005, 6:14 PM

Post #4 of 11 (6809 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Thank you Tom and DanD. I opened up the cover ovewr the fuel pump so I could hear it better, that and being away from the continuous highway noise. The pump runs for a second and shuts off each time the key is turned. I can hear the relay clucking under the dash. I checked for a spark on No. 3 cylinder (it was the easiest to get to) and there was a spark when it was cranked. This was before I read DanD's comment so I will have th check the others. I by-passed the pump relay so the pump ran continuously and cranked the engine... no go. I'm guessing some master computer is shutting the pump down. The injectors should be sucking off fuel so that the pump should re start after some cranking but this is not happening.. I under stand the timing (spark and injection) is taken directly off the crank so a busted camshaft belt should not shut down the pump, but would sure stop the motor. Anyway I will check that .. I certainly had not thought of it. Anyway thanks guys.


francisco
Novice

Oct 18, 2005, 6:42 PM

Post #5 of 11 (6806 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Bingo dudes! After I posted the last comment and shut down about 20 minutes ago I figured there was just time to check the timing belt.. Its dusk here I'm on the west coast. (Not far from Nanaimo Eh - Dan). There were just three bolts to pop the rocker cover and there is an under hood light. I got it loose but hoses and cables prevent removing it. I was able to slip my hand under and found I could insert my pinky between the timing belt and the camshaft pulley. La voila. Thanks Dan and thank you Tom for making this possible.


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
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Oct 19, 2005, 3:58 AM

Post #6 of 11 (6799 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Glad you found the problem and with this (I’m assuming) 1.9lt engine you’ve got a good chance that the valves didn’t get bent. Not like its predecessor the 1.6lt when its timing belt broke the valves would hit the pistons so hard it usually cracked the cylinder head, if not punch a hole in a piston.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 19, 2005, 7:08 AM

Post #7 of 11 (6796 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Dan is one of the sharpest knives in the drawer!! Glad you found your trouble. Funny I usually ask how old a timing belt is and didn't in this thread. There's only so much you can do with a keyboard but it does help a lot if folks.

Smile Dan is bringing his 200 foot yacht to Boston to take me out for a beer with all the millions we make here, Again - glad you are all set, T SmileSmile



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Oct 19, 2005, 9:41 AM

Post #8 of 11 (6778 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Well the yacht is more like a 16 foot Starcraft sport fisherman with a forty horse tiller on the back but we sure would look good trolling around the Boston’s waterways trying to catch our supper. LOL
Dan.


Canadian "EH"






Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 19, 2005, 10:10 AM

Post #9 of 11 (6770 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Boston is cool cruising. Lots of islands and fun places. Fishing is marginal. If you go way out there are Cod and what we call white fish. We have lobster here big time but you need a trap and bait and time for that. That's when you just pull up and order them at your favorite restaurant and don't worry about it. It's funny but when I spent countless hours out there (Boston Harbor) the radio would constantly shreak where are the fish? The reply was usually Stop & Shop (grocery chain here).

Nice boat. Enjoy in good health and happiness. - T



francisco
Novice

Oct 20, 2005, 6:58 PM

Post #10 of 11 (6728 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

The beast is all back to gether now and running better than before. I suspect that the belt had slipped a notch on its way to eventual failure. I changed the water pump while I had it apart, it was on the way out too.
I dont recall the fishing being so great in Boston Harbour, at least out round the islands . Not sure I would want anything near the wharves. Lots of small flounder, but hey the sun feels good, no one to bug you there's more to fishing than just fish.
I found your site with a google search for dying escorts.. a previous poster had an escort problem that it caught. But a co-incidence , I live in Canada but I'm an old Boston hand. I graduated from Arlington snr High but like Ben Afleck and Matt Damon I was an inmate at Cambridge Latin and Ringe Tech.... at least that's what They called it when I was there. And later I was at U Mass Boston. Anyway fella's enjoy the boating and the company (and the fishing).


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 20, 2005, 11:21 PM

Post #11 of 11 (6721 views)
Re: Ford Escort wagon sudden death Sign In

Come back and check it out if it's been a while. Bring mortgage papers for parking! I used to keep my boat at Constitution Marina (Charlstown) which was so cool as you could walk to the North End for all its Feasts of St. Somebody. An excuse for those parties not needed but they were named. Be well - T







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