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95 Ford Escort hard to start
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help 911
New User
Mar 24, 2010, 9:36 AM
Post #1 of 7
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95 Ford Escort hard to start
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1995 Ford Escort 1.9L
The car is hard to start and back fires once or twice before it starts. Once running (while driving) the engine will sputter or be hesitant. I just checked the oil its dirty and low. The car has sat for about a year we just started back driving it. We had the serpentine belt replaced. The car ran fine for about 2 months now I am having this problem. Also there is a clicking/rattling sound coming from the top of the engine.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2010, 10:05 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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I'd sure be checking the timing belt and its tensioners, change the dang oil and hope for the best as it's been sitting a while and stuff will happen. Good new is this 1.9 is NOT listed as an interference engine but sounds like belt is jumped or not holding proper valve timing - more things will be needed too. Serpentine is not the same as this timing belt kit,
T
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help 911
New User
Mar 24, 2010, 10:33 AM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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Thanks for the info. Not sure how to deal with the timing belt. Is that something a novice should mess with or should i have a mechanic look at it for me.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2010, 1:13 PM
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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I'll say this is best left to higher end DIYers with plenty of tools. This may not be the upfront problem but if you are keeping this car and have no history on when last one was done it could be the issue and a great thing to know is done. It's generally a 60,000 +/- just do it item and on some cars when they break the damage can easily cost more than car is worth!
Start with slightly more than routine oil changes to clean it up a bit, tune-up items, filters especially fuel and use up all that old gas. Not usually a suggestion by me but I would use some of Chevron's Techron fuel additive periodically in any car but don't think you need to go nuts with stuff of the sort.
If it's a decent car basically it's worth a little investment. You have to decide on the overall car as to what it's worth to you. Book values are out the door at the age and type so it's based on how dependable you can make it without costing way too much. Any decent running little (to me it is) car should be worth something that runs well and can get a legit inspection.
Ask around on the price of the job. They'll want to use their parts no doubt and it is critical to dependability along with lots of things like all cars,
T
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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When the car is idling tap on the mass aif flow sensor with the handle of a screw driver. If tapping makes the engines buck or miss you could be looking at a bad MAF sensor.
You can try cleaning it with a can of MAF cleaner, see if that makes a difference.....
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help 911
New User
Mar 28, 2010, 8:32 PM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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Hey Tom,
Thanks for your advice. I checked the the air filter and that sensor like Sidom suggested. I ended up changing the air filter, fuel filter, NOW HERES THE PROBLEM started taking the plugs out one at a time. On the second plug moving from drivers side to passenger it was tough to get out as if it had seized I got it out looked at it & THE CENTER POINT of the plug is missing. I did not replace the plug moved on to the next one same thing tough to remove center point missing. The insides of both plugs at the breaks do not look fresh. Any suggestions.
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help 911
New User
Mar 28, 2010, 10:39 PM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: 95 Ford Escort hard to start
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 PROBLEM SOLVED
Went to Auto Zone, They advised me the problem started with the plugs. They said a Ford should not have Bosch plugs thats possibly why the center piece broke off. They said go ahead and install the new plugs since I have driven the car like this for about two months any fragments were broken up or to small to worry about tearing the engine apart to get them out. I installed the plugs, replaced air filter & fuel filter drove it and car runs like i remember when I first got her. Gonna change the oil and oil filter in the morning. Thanks for your advice.
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