Help with an Escort SI Please

Help with an Escort SI Please

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speedchick

Original Poster:

5,196 posts

229 months

Monday 12th February 2007
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Ok bear with me on this one, (I am not the most mechanically minded) but am hoping that someone can point us in the right direction.

Mother in Law has an R reg Escort SI, manual and petrol.

Last week it started misfiring while driving (doesn't do it on idle), and the engine died at one point, they managed to get it going again and the local grease monkey said that it had something to do with the air intake (changed this but it did the same), if we disconnect the air intake thingy then it runs okish.

Been through the check list in the Hayes manual and that is pointing towards it being either something to do with the fuel filter, the spark plugs and one or two other items.

Other half wonders if it has something to do with the cat (that is currently about 5 years old), he says that he doesn't think that it is deteriorating, but wonders if there is a whay of checking to see if it is clogged. (apparently when the cat is dying it makes a different noise, or at least it did last time he had one die)

Going to phone the tame mechanic when he opens later, but just wondered if there is anything that the great PH community can throw in as a potential.

The car was doing a lot of coughing and spluttering yesterday on the M66/M60 so if you were behind us then we apologise!

Thanks in advance

ChristianZS

2,640 posts

220 months

Friday 16th February 2007
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Idle Air Control Valve? IACV?

Maybe a possible coil pack on its way out. My fiesta used to cough and splutter when giving it beans but after a service it cleared up

C.

speedchick

Original Poster:

5,196 posts

229 months

Friday 16th February 2007
quotequote all
The car was serviced in November.

She went in to allow a mechanic to look at here yesterday, they changed the sparks and HT leads, and now she sounds worse than ever. They didn't look at the oil filter, but are going to do that next week when she goes back.

Was told to take her for a diagnostic, left the garage, went round the corner to the diagnostic guy, he was closed, so other half turning back to go home, clipped a curb and poppped the bloomin tyre! So bacl to original place to borrow their jack to put the spare on!

We have been told that the cat is ok, everyone keeps asking if the managment system light is on.... er no! if it had then that would have been the first place to start.

The guy yesterday did say that the sparks look like they had been oiled before they were put in (that's a worrying thought)

It's got to a point now that the other half is looking at prices for a 'new' (used!) engine!

motorwise

401 posts

214 months

Friday 16th February 2007
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sounds like a coil fault - change loads on these very common failure point

r1ot

733 posts

215 months

Friday 16th February 2007
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agreed, coil pack. they can fail and cause all kinds of weird misfires. Be prepared to say goodbye to 65 quid though