Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

Escort cossie wont turn off

im buying/bought a 1993 escort cossie, standard spec. its a nice car but has one major problem.

it wont turn off!

you can even take the key right out and ignition, lights etc all go off and it still runs, only way to turn it off is to stall it!

I thought it was the small metal sensor held in buy a plate and two screws to the right of the inlet mainfold, which i think is some sort of fuel,air mix sensor. i was told as the car was standing for over a year there valves sometimes need cleaning out, as they stick open and the engine runs on buy sucking fuel in?

this has been cleaned out througherly but the problem still remains!?

all i can think now is the actual ignition barrel is faulty. i also notice there was a clifford alarm fitted in the past, but its has only just developed this problem so dont think its anythin to do with this being removed.

Anyone else experience this or got any ideas, i can live with it for now but its going to bugger my clutch before long?

thanks in advance.

Spotmatic

Have you tried to let it run for a while? Lots of petrol turbocharged cars have an aftermarket turbotimer fitted. This device keeps the engine running for a while to cool the engine/ turbo after turning the ignition off.

sailorbob

If it isn't a turbo timer causing this then I wouldn't trust the wiring. It could be someone has bodged the wiring as a result of stripping out the alarm or there is an electrical short somewhere. Get it looked into before using the car any more as you don't want risk a loom fire setting the rest of the car alight.

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

dont think theres a turbo timer. the cars standard, as far as i know. tho it does feel fooking quick for 227 bhp!?

i'll try that out on the off chance but i doubt it has one.

i suppose it could be a short somewhere, could i use a ford diagnostic tool to find that?

any more ideas?

Dave Henshall

sticking main ignition relay...?

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

is that under the dash on the drivers side, like the old series one's?

Dave Henshall

it is, you have to remove the scuttle panel that has the dash light dimmer first to get to the fusebox, then check the black relay top left IIRC by pulling it out to see if the car stops .....

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

will try that m8, will update with progress. thanks

PROMETHEUS

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like when the immobiliser was removed, somebody has fastened the wire for the EFi relay (correct Ford term before I get jumped on !!!) straight to earth to get it to run.ECU pin 10.

Where are you???

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

ok, is that easy to check then, is there a cover on the ecu, i take it its on the bulkhead?

One thing to, your reason does make sence and this is the sort of thing i thing it may be, but would it explain a perhaps intermitant fault? because it only started doing it yesterday!

angel24

Lee, I just spoke with Dean, he said to check for water ingress in the fuse box, or the wrong brake light bulb can even cause this!

PHONE HIM! He wont bite.
x

cozzfather

iTrader: (1)

i once had a 93 k reg escort that would start itself, the car had been stolen/recovered
and the disc you put a screwdriver into to start it became worn and it would slip when
trying to start it correctly, i just changed the wiring+disc behind the ignition barrel.
its scary when you are looking into a escort engine bay with the bonnet up
and the fooker starts up on its own with no one in the car

Dave Henshall

cozzfarther, most people would start off

i once had a 93 k reg escort that wouldn't start...

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

you wernt ment to read this, i was gna pick you up tommrow in it as a suprise. anyway it has issues alright, just overcooked its self after standing running for 10mins. think its the water pump as one rad pipe is cold and the other hot???

ive tried your house, ur mobile, his mobile. am i gna have to push the bloody car to your house. right im calling now you better answer.

ive just entered cossie ownership and its as unpredictable as it thought it would be.


hum saying that, a new rear side light had to be replaced for the mot, it only started playing up since that!!

MATCOS

iTrader: (1)

Is this the low miles bargain buy Escos????

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

im not in the mood for - i told you so's.

MATCOS

iTrader: (1)

Don't worry one wasn't coming
I am still amazed that you picked this car up so cheap, unless this problem costs you 5 grand to fix you have still got yourself some-what of a bargain

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

well i still think its a bargin.

i took it out at 5am this morning and came back at 7;15.

for 2 hours it ran perfectly. oil temp remained at 70c wether i was driving through my village at 30 or on the dual doing 60, even when i was giving it some on the twisty b roads. it ran like a new car.

it was only at 7am when i hit traffic, and after sitting for 2mins i could see the temps rising. then as soon as i pulled out they droped back to 70.

so my conclusion is the cooling fans are not coming on. I think i will check the thermostat to be safe, but as it only seems to be traffic which causes it, i think its safe to say its the fans.

this would make sence, as last night when it all exploded, i was driving for over 30 mins, and it was only when i left it running stationary for 10 mins runnins that it boiled up!!

Also this morning when i returned and rolled into my workshop, the ignition switched of as normal? i havnt done anything to it though!

was talking to my best friend and she made me see sence last night. the car was sitting for over a year, so its bound to have a few things jamed up.

So over all the cars still looking like a great investment.
all thats gone wrong is an 'intermitant' ignition problem, which is now ok
and my cooling fans not cutting in.

I have no concerns over headgasket. the oil, caps and dipstick, and even inside the rockercover looks like its all still brand new. which you would expect for 35k miles. the white smoke from the exhaust was me been paraniod, wanting to fear the worst. especially after seeing everyone leaving the homes this morning with foggy fumes from the cold, i realised it was me also!!

oh heres a pic, sorry not a good one