My dads bought a cheap old escort today, very good condition. Its a 1600 ghia, i think its a MK3 but i don't now me fords very well. Its a 1983 Y plate, and is Rio brown in colour.
But he needs a bit of help with it. Firstly how does it go into reverse, it won't seem to go in, and he ain't got the manual or nothing with the car. Do you ave to press the lever down or something.
2/The dial lights are very dim, hard to see the speedo at night, well don't expect them to be great 22 years old. Can the bulbs be replaced easily.
3/As soon as you start the car the rev counter goes up to 6000rpm, and stays there all the time, but the engine ticks over fine and is obviously not at 6k rpm. I think the wire has corroded or summit and is earthing somewhere. Ain't sure though.
4/Any information of the spec of the ghia model?

Thanks, it really is a nice tidy car, no rust anywhere, spotlamps on the front,lol.

 

u push down the gear stick to get in reverse, the dash lights are poor,
i have one that i am selling, dont know about the rev counter,
mine is not a ghia, just a 1.3 L

 

recerse is down and next to first on the mk3 aint it?
There are little blue plastic covers that go over the bulbs in the dash remove the clocks and dissasemble, then remove the blue covers and the clear bulbs and replace with nice green 5W side light bulbs (Prism do em as coloured interior bulbs) part number SPW501G
or check see if the dash dimmer is turned down or knackerd

 

Right, my dad has had the car a few weeks now. Its been fine, yeah reverse is across to the right then down, to the right of 4th gear.
But the rev counter is still crazy, putting the heaters on alters the rev counter, and it points always to 6Krpm, whether driving or not.
Its a good car though.