Hello,

I've spent many years restoring a escort rs turbo'88 to now have it 95% complete. I'm trying to get the engine on and running happily... I wonder if anybody can help!? Until now I've never needed to post on this forum as thankfully I've always found my question already answered on here!

In a nutshell, she starts everytime, sounds smooth, begins to automatically settle into idle and dies. Sometimes i'll get 2 seconds out of her, sometimes 10. Playing with the throttle doesn't affect it cutting out (i can't keep it on by trying to rev it)

I've googled starting issues to death and have a complete second engine I've been swapping pieces from one bit at a time to eliminate pieces from the puzzle! Nothing has changed it yet. Some of the things I've been through and done the following...

- New fuel lines, fuel tank out cleaned & refitted
- Spark plugs/leads/dissy etc aren't new, but have a few sets and swapping between hasn't affected it
- Air hoses checked and checked again for airleaks, also swapped with spares
- Swapped each sensor out & metering head sensors with spares & cleaned - no change
- cold start valve unplugged stops car from starting cold - so I'm guessing this is working
- and there's probably some other stuff 'cos I've been trying to get her working for ages!
- just today found my spare engine had a coolant sensor (grey) fitted under inlet, but one in the car didnt have this - so I've installed this & plugged into empty plug on wiring loom, but hasn't made anydifference

Engine is standard, with a pace intercooler, and aftermarket cams (engine was running when I took it out of a doner vehicle some 4 years ago) In my rebuild I havent rebuilt engine (yet) and used the same wiring loom/metering head/engine/gearbox that all came from this once running car, really hoping it'd plug & play! But I'm beginning to get a bit stumped now

One sympton I've noticed is sometimes I get a bit of popping and bangs coming up through metering head... enough to once blow off a loosely placed cone filter - maybe this is a clue? I'm not sure what this means

Any help apprechiated chaps - thankyou!