Hi
Just bought a 1.6 16v Escort Finesse on a W plate, 87000 miles. Not bad for year but it has one slight problem...it won't rev beyond 4000 revs, stops dead at 4000 in any gear. I had a quick look through the forum but didnt see anything which exactly matched (Apologies if I missed an obvious post)

So far I've done:

Changed the oil (5w30 Havoline) and filter
New spark plugs (correctly gapped with feeler gauges)
New air filter, breather hose also checked and is clear
(bottom of airbox is split about the size of a 2 p piece, but its before the filter though.)


Needs done:
Fuel filter - have new one just need to get the bolt loosened which is holding the old one on, too dark tonight so doing tomorrow.

Will also give the MAF a clean tomorrow (carb cleaner the right stuff to use?) and check its plugged in properly.

Just wondered if anyone has anymore things that I should check while I'm at it.

Already running a lot better than when I got it, just need to resolve this last issue, which is annoying me to bits.

 

MAF pretty sure mate!

 

partially blocked cat??

 

carl: Thanks, Confirmed my suspicions. Will check and clean the MAF tomorrow, hopefully doesn't need replaced, runs fine till approaching 4000 when it gets more and more reluctant to rev till it stops dead at 4K.

studabear: All I can say is....please no....my pockets are rather shallow at the moment.

Thanks to both of you!

 

unplug the maf see if it will rev past 4k if not drop the cat off smash the innerds out and drive away (until you need an mot)

 

I was more thinking along the lines of removing it and replacing it with a bolted in section of pipe till mot day

Good advice though mate thanks very much!!

 

disconnecting the MAF didnt solve the problem, took it for a quick spin with the MAF connector disconnected, still didnt want to go past 4K, pushed it back in at the side of the road...if pushing it made any diff it was minimal, as it still doesnt want to go past 4K
Like the engine is being braked, pulls like a train till just around 3800 rpm, then just stops revving properly, will go past 4K but not smoothly at all....limp home mode kicking in??

So looks like might be time to buy a piece of pipe and a pair of flanges and see what difference that makes till I can afford to buy a new cat online.
Any advantage of metal over ceramic cats?

 

just drop the downpipe/cat off and use a breaker bar to smash the substrate out of it... it'll be fine till you can afford another, your best bet is to just buy a second handone

 

just a thought if you "gapped" platinum spark plugs you've probably damaged the tips... but this probably isn't the issue, I'd say definately blocked cat

 

nah they are non platinum, old ones were platinum (think original sparkplugs from factory tbh)
Swapped for standard NGK plugs

 

mot due soon, so will leave till then, then deal with it, saw brand new online for about Ł40 + VAT

 

Cleaned the MAF today so not that

Have found out if I back off the throttle when it stops at 4 K and very very gently roll back on the throttle it will rev towards 5K, pushing the throttle pedal on the floor causes it to stop revving again though.

So seems cat smashing time tomorrow...unless the above changes the possibilities?

 

Nope defo the cat bud

It prob wont pass the mot without it, so best buy a new one

 

Cheers all
So smashing time tomorrow

New one is on the list to buy, I'll call for prices tomorrow, been quoted Ł60 from one place today, gonna call motor factors tomorrow (neither of them open on Sundays).

Timing belt is getting replaced this week (the last owner had no idea if it had been done or not) and then the cat is after that, mot not due till January so time yet to swap for new.

Everyone's help is much appreciated.

 

get down to your local breakers yard, or get one off ebay, the 1.6/1.8 ones are the same, if your cats just before the centre section after the sump its the most common type and another from any 16v escort from about 92-2000 will fit in its place so long as it looks the same

 

have you checked the airflow metre

 

So cleaned the Lambda sensor wiring connection (where it hooks to the loom) yesterday with some carb cleaner and WD40, took for a spin and seems to be an improvement...especially in 1st gear and neutral...will now rev out properly.

Other gears still stops at 4K but will respond to a roll off throttle and more forceful roll on, still no joy on full throttle though.

makes me wonder if the lambda is flaky, cheaper thing to swap out (Ł21) before swapping out the cat.

need to wait for pay day sadly before buying any more bits

Thanks for your help thus far

 

ive had many a problems with my escort m8 and it sounds like your maf to me i had very similar problem and changed the maf and booom works like new now

 

So cat is on my buying list with lambda sensor, then MAF

Just waiting to get it back from timing belt swap.

 

Once I get car back, a certain garage will be named and shamed if that's not against the rules?

Instead of phoning me to tell me that they couldnt get the waterpump loose, they smashed the waterpump and replaced it instead to get at the rollers and charged me another Ł80.

Their "boss" then got aggressive when I called to question the bill, "mechanic" my foot...knew I should have taken it elsewhere or done it myself.

Damn right I'll be asking to see the water pump and I'll be bad mouthing them everywhere I can.

 

Will possibly be the cat collapsed inside, as others have said as thats the most common cause.

Ł56.55 plus delivery (in stock)

 

juat to let u know pal ive had a new exhaust including the cat and omg the differance for a 1.6 is unbelievable

 

good to know, its on the order list, once I pay off some bills and such
Thanks

 

That sounds like either a blocked fuel filter or a knackered pump, mine was exactly the same would rev to 4000rpm then stop but back off and roll on the throttle very lightly and it'll got to 5kish. With a blocked cat it wont do that it'll just stop at 4k and not rev anymore no matter what you do.

Quick thing to check is rev it up at idle, mine would rev right through to 6k with no load but my cousins with a blocked cat was still strangled at 4k even with no load.

 

similar issues christophe, in neutral or first will rev out no problem pretty much, higher the gear, worse it gets.
Fuel filter is brand new which has helped a bit, the old one looked OE, seems to be getting better sometimes, but sometimes not....I think Ill check the wiring for the pump underneath the car as a lot of the connectors under bonnet were loose / dirty inside. Could be the pump isnt connecting properly and isn't getting the right voltage? Would explain why its near normal some days and other days its a pain to rev.

 

Yep definatley sounds like low fuel pressure then, when my cousins had a blocked cat it would stop at exactly the same revs whatever condition whatever load case etc. As this has got better with a new filter and is a bit variable it sounds like either the pump is knackered, the pre-pump filter is blocked or the voltage is low/fluctuating.

 

Did this get sorted please? Mine is now doing exactly the same, its a 1996 escort 1800 Si.
Over the past year I have changed plugs, leads, coil pack, EGR valve, fuel filter, PCV valve and hoses. The only sensors I have not changed are for the cam and crank. It has had two trips to and engine tuner to sort a lean error code, which turned out to be the EGR, and PCV were knackered. The DPFE sensor was changed due to a poor rev drop issue, which I did not like the feel of when driving.
During the second trip to the tuners this fault was discovered, and I did not know about it as I do not usually take the car that high in the revs. The fuel pressure was checked and deemed to be ok, and so were the hydrocarbons (in the emissions?). The tuner suggested may be the injectors. It had got him stumped.
So any help would be appreciated, as it is my daily driver. I have had the car from new, So I am attached to it.
Thanks.