Ford Escort XR3 bits needed

[SambaS]

In fact all day I have been trying and it just wont go. It's parked on the road and needs bringing in as the MOT expired on Saturday.

Ever since it caught fire last December it has been problematic. (very minor, rocker cover paint a bit burned nothing much else luckily)

I put a new ignition module on which meant it would start.

Once it does go, and you turn if off it wont go again, I assume it is flooding.

The most I have got out of it today were some humongous bangs from the carburetor, I have checked for a spark,there is a spark at each plug.

Very little angers me as much as a car that LOGIC does not apply to.

[M'coli]

If it won't start and it needs bringing in off the road, stick a fully charged battery on it, take the plugs out, and wind it in on the starter.

[SambaS]

Sadly we're on a bit of a one way system so I'd have to go round the block. Sometimes I chance driving the 10 meters the wrong way if I'm in a hurry but I think on the starter that would be asking for trouble! Esp. with no MOT - double whammy for the lovely Police there.

[Junkman]

If it's firing into the carb then you do have spark alright. Question is when. You sure your ignition isn't out?

 

Also, do you still have to check and set the valve clearance on those?

[M'coli]

Hydralic lifters on the CVH engine.

[ShiteRider]

If it's firing into the carb then you do have spark alright. Question is when. You sure your ignition isn't out?

 

Also, do you still have to check and set the valve clearance on those?

Hydraulic tappets on a CVH if memory serves, so no.

[ShiteRider]

Hydralic lifters on the CVH engine.

Damn your quick on the draw!

[Junkman]

Could it be the camshaft?

[meggersdog]

Stale petrol ? Splash some fresh fuel down the carb and see if that helps.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Just because you're getting a spark at atmospheric pressure with the plugs removed doesn't mean you're getting a spark at cylinder compression with the plugs in situ. It's much harder for the spark to jump the gap at higher air pressure.

 

When I broke down in France a few months ago, there was a spark, and it would occasionally make some grumbly noises as if were trying to start - but it turned out to be a failed coil after all. Don't rule out a fundamental ignition problem like that just yet!

[trigger]

Knackered dizzy?

[SambaS]

Weak spark. My boss took dizzy cap off and cleaned up the contacts, then did the same to each plug and it went. Guess he made a better job because that's what I did! So she's in the yard out the way now. One less thing to stress over

[HillmanImp]

Weak spark. My boss took dizzy cap off and cleaned up the contacts, then did the same to each plug and it went. Guess he made a better job because that's what I did! So she's in the yard out the way now. One less thing to stress over

 

I am sure when you did it you did 90% of the work. Its like when my frail grandma manages to open the jar I have been struggling with for several hours on her first attempt.

[SambaS]

Have ordered it another new dizzy cap. The last one I ordered was wrong as they use 3 types of distributor. Mine is not a Motorcraft. I hope it is a Lucas! Can't make out any of the numbers. I guess some leads would be beneficial. Then see if the new Bosch Super plugs work with all the other new stuff. I took them back out and put the old ones back in after a similar (or the same) problem in April. The car has done about 20 miles in total this year.

[Pillock]

Ever since it caught fire last December it has been problematic.

 

Only on Autoshite would that statement not cause alarm.

[Morgan84]

Ever since it caught fire last December it has been problematic.

 

Only on Autoshite would that statement not cause alarm.

 

I guess it would cause a few problems http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/345 ... c98e56.jpg

[jonny69]

I'd keep my beady eye on those spark plugs as well. I've had no end of problems with Bosch plugs failing for seemingly no reason so I stick with NGK which seem to be trouble free. If it's not done many miles then do make sure all the contacts are nice and clean metal.

[SambaS]

I'll stick some NGKs in her!

 

Here are some pics of the offending vehicle. I love this car - it doesn't show does it

 

 

The Orion grill was there when I bought it.

 

 

I put the MK6 Escort wheels on because they were £40 with 4 good tyres, the alternative was me buying a single Pirelli to go on the cloverleafs for £60

 

 

The white dials and non-standard steering wheel were there when I bought it.

 

 

...as was the RS1600i interior

[Junkman]

I hope it is a Lucas!

 

This is the first time I ever read this sentence. Ever.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I hope it is bum cancer!

 

This is the first time I ever read this sentence. Ever.

 

EFA.

[SambaS]

What is wrong with Lucas?

[HMC]

bad connection on the earth strap?

[meggersdog]

Dizzy caps on Fords were different colours.My memory is not what it was but I seem to think Motorcraft caps were blue, Lucas ones were black and Bosch was a brown colour.

[Morgan84]

Motorcraft AGPR12CD plugs from memory went into CVH engines

[SambaS]

FUMING!!!!!

 

The Lucas dizzy cap is exactly the same as the Motorcraft one so I now have 3 useless dizzy caps!!

 

And STILL no Idea what mine is meant to be. It's smaller in circumference than the 2 I've bought, can anyone shed any light on this?

[Junkman]

I just remember...

 

I once heard, that if a MKIII is a bitch to start for no apparent reason, check the brake servo, or better, replace it straight away.

Sorry, I had all forgotten about it.

[red5]

Bosch on Xr3 LUA engines (from memory) was a smaller diameter dizzy. I'll look and see if I have any QR books left lying around.

AGPR22C for Carb - the 12 was for Injection.

[Des]

Wouldn't be an auto choke stuck on would it? Only other things I remember that used to stop Escorts running were ignition modules, (usually would work again briefly when cooled down) or cambelt snapping, other than that they were a very reliable car. And why do I keep seeing the CVH slagged off in these modern times? They were a damnable good engine.

[Morgan84]

Our Scimitar had sat for a while,and was a pig to start - combination of stale fuel and a auto choke mechanism a bit sticky - carb removed and new gaskets/ jets etc fitted,and some fettling later = starts first time

 

Took days to sort the sodding thing though !

[Pete-M]

If memory serves me right, when the ignition module packs in the normal sequence of events is for it to run fine for a few minutes initially and then just be an awkward bastard after that. It happened to me once on Christmas Day with a Mk2 Granada injection. I remember it'd produce a great spark if you turned the ignition on and off, and occasionally run well, but once the engine had any load at all it'd cut out. After a couple of minutes (on average) it'd start again, seem fine and then die as soon as I tried to pull away.

 

Also, that has RS1600i seats, it doesn't also have an RS1600i camshaft does it? They ran solid lifters, all the other ones were hydraulic.