morg65

Hi all,
I have almost given up...I have a 1992 MK5 Escort Cabriolet 1.8 Zetec 16 valve...I was sold it as a 130 but as I figured over time its actually a 105 ps.
Some muppet simply put the 130 sticker on the air intake..
When I bought her she had a loud Scorpion pipe with a 4 inch tail which was too noisy at my age.So I dropped down to a standard one.
Ever since I cant get her to run well when she has reached normal temp..Seems fine when cold.
I have a mechanic over here who has worked on Fords since the 80's and really knows his stuff but we are tearing our hair out now.
To date he has replaced the MAF Sensor ( New Original Ford ), Oxygen Sensor ( New Bosch), New Oil Seperator and PCV Valve, Engine Management Temp Sensor, New ECU.. We also checked fuel pressure, did a smoke test for leaks.. Even after all of this she wont run well when warm I now suspect a dodgy or incorrect ECU..Or maybe the ECU was mapped to run the Scorpion.?
Need help before I push her off a cliff..Which would be a pity cos she is in mint order body wise..
Thanks all.
Morg.

haz87

What are the symptoms of "not running well"? Could be ISCV, speed sensor or all manner of things. Hell it could be plugs and leads as you dont mention those.

morg65

thanks for the reply..
New plugs and leads.. Ruled out the coil pack.. Dont think its speed sensors as this happens when the car isnt moving. IAC valve checked and fine...Basically she starts up fine and warms up..Once warm she hesitates and jerks on acceleration and is deffo down on power..Lately she dies on idle.. Only when warm..
I am now thinking as we went thru the sensors one by one that perhaps the ECU is faulty..I hear they are delicate.. Or maybe its not correct for the car..So many ECUs lol..

haz87

Speed sensor is relevant at both idle and when moving.
The ECU's are interchangeable for the most part and usually only give issues higher up in the rev range (using a 1.6 Zetec ecu on 2.0 would likely cause lean afr high rpm for example). Idle and general cruise shouldnt pose an issue.

morg65

Thanks Haz..
We got our hands on the old diagnostics tool and managed to get a reading but as the system is kinda primitive back in 1992 it could only narrow it down to an air issue.

stu20004x4

these are prone to leaking right above the ECU, had the same exact issues with my rs2000 powered van. she flew on a cold engine, ran lumpy and jerky within minutes!

morg65

Thanks for that Stu..So how did you go about solving it.?
Thats if you did..

morg65

Gang,
Can anybody else row in on this.? Stu suggests he had similar issues due to water ingress on the ECU.
Just wondering if this could be my problem and if so what to do.?
Thanks a mill...
Morg.

curt randerson

Try spraying easy start or similar around air hoses see if you have a vacuum leak

big_wasa

Last time I played with one of these it was hard work getting a good seal around the fuel rail as the injector seals where rock hard and leaking air.

Again easy to find with easy start around the fuel rail.

stu20004x4

I solved it by selling the fucker!