Took the old girl down to the local rolling road for a check up and tune as it hadn't been running right for a while.

Have found that it won't rev to over 5000rpm without severe ignition retardation and hitting what feels like a rev limiter.

Have been advised it maybe the dizzy / ECU's, has anyone had a similar problem and a solution to this? All ideas welcomed...

 

What cam/springs does it have?

 

Check the cam for wear. And as suggested above also

 

As far as I'm aware it is a totally standard head. Plus, there are no noises from the top end and is one of the quietest CVH's I've heard which doesn't make me think it s the cam.

The guy at the R/R place said the ignition was retarding severely at the top end which gave him the impression it was an ignition / ECU problem.

 

It has been known for a quiet top end to have very bad wear.......

 

Cheers bud, the rocker cover gaskets leaking a little bit so I'll have a look whilst I've got it off to see how badly the lobes of the cams is worn.

Would this also cause the retardation on ignition if it can't physically get to the revs I'm trying to achieve?

P.s: - would you know how much my rare clear and smoked S1 rear lights would fetch as I may need to off load them to raise the cash to do any repairs? They are are as new, still have box and packaging.

Cheers for your replies,

Dave

 

Word of advice, you need to remove the lifters to even get a vague picture of how bad the wear is, however, im guessing at least (probably most) wont want to lift out, they will just pull up a few mm then get tight, if thats the case LEAVE THEM DON@T GRAUNCH THEM OUT.

And it also means your cam is FUCKED lol

Smoked and clear??????? Didn't know they even existed?

 

Checked cam today, not worn in the slightest and lifters came out nice and easily. The engine must have been serviced so regulary that there wasn't even a hint of black sludge build up under the rocker cover! Like new!

Told another Ford nut about my rolling road problems and he said he had a 1.3 CVH Fiesta with the same type dizzy which wouldn't rev over a certain limit but solved it by replacing the dizzy, so this could be the problem..... fingers crossed.

I ment red and smoked rear lights , not clear and smoked!

 

Nah that will never be the same dizzy, the early XR2's have the same dizzy as RS's.

I doubt its that to be fair, his 1.3 would of had a dizzy with mechanical advance on it........

 

Actually on second thoughts, im sure they never even fitted a 1.3 CVH to a Fiesta....

Only MK3 Escorts/MK1 Orions, and then it got superceeded with a 1.3 HCS.

 

have you got a boost gauge ? you sure your boost isnt tailing off at 5k

 

Deffo was a CVH, it was a Mk2 1.3 Ghia in Blue as I remember it well. These were commonplace years ago, as well as the 1.4 Sport which had the CVH as well but 100cc more. My friend described the dizzy down to a tee and said it was the nigh-on same as what was fitted to Rs Turbo's. He fitted a new / recon one to his and it solved his lack of revs problem.

LEE-RS: - Boost holds strong through rev range with no tail off.

 

Hi,

When it hits 5000rpm is the boost also dropped with the ignition timing
retarded if so check the ACT sensor in the crossover pipe, as if this is
faulty or the intake air temp is approx 65,deg, c, or more , the esc11,
(ecu) silver, will retard the timing and close the amal valve.


Dave R.

 

The wiring into the ACT sensor is hanging on by literally a couple of threads of rusty wire. When we tried disconnecting the ACT sensor it made no difference to the problem, so this could also beworth while looking into. Thank you for your info