iv now owned my rs for a year and in that time it has never run!!
i bought it cheap as a non runner on the basis that it needed the metering head adjusting/replacing!!!
iv since found that was a massive lie!! and have spend the last few months rebuilding it as it was a complete state!!
iv just gone for a standard-ish rebuild to get it running but now the engine is back in and it wont start
when i turn the key i just get a click.(relay click)??
i thought it was the starter so have replaced that -still no joy
i get ignition-handbrake light headlights etc but when i go to crank it just clicks!!
timing is ok and turns over by hand,
starter and alt are both being fed
fuel pump is buzzing ....

where do i start??what else can i check??
any help greatfully received as its driving me mad just sitting there! i want to see want it drives like!ready for summer!!
thanks mike

 

sounds like a dodgy relay??

 

are the earth leads fitted and clean where they make contact at each end of lead?

 

Are all the ht leads in the right place ? clean all the earths

 

As above check the earths.

Theres 2 behind the clocks to the left bolted to a bracket off the bulkhead, and theres 2 just under the dash above the drivers footwell speaker. theres one on the drivers side B pillar and also a few further back from that for fuel pump and rear lights.

But check the three i mentioned above first.

 

ht leads are all correct.

iv removed, cleanned and tapped all the relays in the box under the bonnet by the wiper motor and still nothing.
regaurds the earths how hany should ther be?where are they?
i might try earthing out the enginewith some jump leads to see if that works!
could it be one of the sensors/wiring to/friom the metering unit?
this is my first old ford so have never touched there wiring/sensors before.

 

do the jump lead test, if the engines not turning over theres only a few things it can be,

lack of a 12v+supply, lack of earth, ne feed to solenoid, if its clicking that sounds fine, knackered starter, you've ruled this out

 

earths are ok and iv made an earth with jump leads. still just click

im guessing it cant be the fuel relay as the pump runs when ignition is switched on sooo what else can i check??

 

Not being funny but have you tried a few batteries? it takes alot to turn and cold engine over and the fuel pump would still prime if it had abit of juice left in it. A really flat battery woujld cause it to click like that.

dont assume a new battery is a good one either, i've had a few brand new duff ones.
if you can, see if will bump start.

 

Does the engine turn freely by hand since the rebuild?

 

In addition to the above.... you have got the really big fat red live that goes from the battery to the starter itself connected?

 

have tried afew batterys even a monster off a van at work.still no joy

iv run a massive earth lead to the engine and a massive poss lead to the starter. still nothing

yea the engine turns over fine by hand comp is good on all cylinders, timimng is spot on.

when im turning the key its not even trying to turn the engine.its just clicking!!its like a kill switch has tripped but as far as i no rs's dont have a kill switch do they??
does anyone have any wiring diagrams i could borrow to look over or any other things i should be looking at????

 

Start charge system is pretty simple mate, big red lead from battery to starter and daisy chained to alternator. Both of them earth through the block/bellhousing so make sure you've got a good earth lead somewhere. Mine is held to the bellhousing by one of the starter bolts. Only other wire is on the alternator that gives you the red battery light on the dash.

 

push it down the road and see if it will bump start.

If not take off the steering wheel cowling and check the condition of the wires that go the the ignition barrel.

have you cut out any old alarms?

 

iv been under the car with a new battery which iv tested and is good. 14v and 840amps.
iv made up to small leads about half a foot one straight to the starter and one straight to earth.
still just click
iv removed the new starter from the car and bench tested it = its fine

iv removed the steering cowling and checked the barrel = all is fine!!

its driving me mad or it would be if it started im close to
i cant bump it down the road coz its up on my ramp
any other ideas???

 

i know this sounds silly but has it ever had an immoboliser on it thats bin disconnectted badly, also have ya checked all the relays are fine and that the loom and ecu is ok, also have ya checked the black plug behind the ignition barrel as on second click it may be fucked

 

you said the starter is ok have ya tried wiring a battery straight to it just to turn it over nothing else

 

yea starter is fine its new and iv tested it off the car.
not sure if its had an immob-iv had a look and cant see any signs of one but il check again.
all relays and fuses are ok iv checked the connections and they seem ok.

next step is to remove the comp by the bulkhead and see if any water has got in there??

 

solonoid sounds dead to me, where are you earthing it too, has it ever turned over is it a cvh bottom end, fly wheel ok, when ya test the starter does it spring out ok, where abouts are ya, have ya had anyone else come round to have a look at it

 

really weird this, could just be a bad earth is the shell solid as it could have a break in the earth? this it beyond me??????

 

the whole car is earthed fine i have made new temp earths all over the place iv got good earths where ever i go to with my multimeter also everything else is working ok eg lights , radio etc. starter is firing flywheel teeth are good(brand new flywhhel+gear)
its not getting to the stage of cranking tho!!
the clicking sounds like its coming from the back of the engine??behind the inlet manifold eg fifth injector/oil filter area???anyone know of anything around there that may cause this??
as i said it sounds like a relay click but i dont know of any relays other than the ones by the wiper motor.

 

theres 4 under the dash in the drivers footwell but i dont think they'd cause your problems.

i'd have a good look for an old alarm. not turning over is a really basic problem. usually its everything else on rst's
airleaks, no spark, not idling etc etc.

try hotwiring the starter motor. see if you get it cranking then. at least you'll know which side of the starter to look then if it turns over. Otherwise you could unplug sensors and keep trying to see if it cranks. then you'll know if you have a short circuit and know where to look.

 

iv been under the car with a battery and 2 leads and jumped the starter and it turns over fine!
i dont wana do it too much because of the lack of oil pressure and the engine being new i dont wana cause any damage to cam/shells etc!!(cost me too much)!!!!

this is a stupid problem to have !! what the hell is stoping it from starting??
im gona have another look tomorrow when i finish work!
worrying that i build/fix cars for a living but cant get mine going!!hahaha

 

it has to be an igniton problem then.

 

i would still say its pointing to some sort of alarm/imoboliser cut of, have ya got any fuse holders in the engine bay or under the dash that the fuse has bin removed

 

Had the same problem...
my old man took jump cables, earth on the bolt where starter holds on to.
and + one right on the starter and it went good.
dirty or no good contact on the wires

 

If the trigger wire is damaged is it all or nothing? or could it be this that damaged and not sending enough power to the solonoid?

 

im back again!!!!!!!!!
escort still not starting!!
iv removed all of the alarm/imob.
iv checked everything and i think its a problem with the black switch on the back of the ignition barrel.
it has four wires going to it :two black - earths??
one red - live in ??
one yellow - ignition??
i forgot my mutimeter so need to check these wires tomorrow but can someone tell me where these wires come from go to please
and also if i can bypass/hotwire the switch from the back?
stupid questions again i no!but im getting very desperate!!
many thanks

 

Hello mate, sorry if this has been said/asked... where does the 'clicking' noise come from? if you jump under the car and give the smaller positive terminal on the starter 12v what happens?

Rob,

 

starter is fine.
i can feed and earth it and it runs-turns over the engine
i know the earths are all good and the feed to the starter is good.
however when i try and start it i think the switch on the back of the barrel is the problem.
does anyone have a wiring diagram for these wires??
i need to know where these wires go to / come from!
i think its the yellow relay in the box next to the wiper motor-which is good.

 

You can put a multi meter across the back of the barrel on each terminal whilst you 'work' the key... it should be very easy to work out what and where things are.... sorry buddy no wiring diagram.

Rob,

 

im back again!!!
and the escort is still not starting

so im starting back at the begining :

brand new battery
brand new starter motor (which iv checked works)
good earths all over the car/ engine
ignition switch seems to be working?!
starter motor relay good
iv got 12volts at the starter
iv got 12volts at the ignition switch

if i jump 12volts across the starter motor it fires and turns the engine over but for some unknown reason its not doing it from the key!!
seeing as the feeds and earths are good can someone point me in the direction of the other wires?the after ignition wires??

 

The wire between the barrel and the starter then mate, think its blue?

Including the wire from the barrel to the relay and the wire from the relay to the starter.

With some one operating the key have a listen by the relay and see if you can hear it switching.

Rob,

 

wayhay!!iv got some new bits to test!!thanks mate il check those wires as soon as i can!
i know the relay is good but havnt checked the wires!
also a stupid question but how many wires should i have at the starter?its been sooooooo long since i stripped it!!think im going mad!!

im really wana try and get it running so as i can drive a ford to classic ford for the first time in about 4 years!!!

 

Ahhh good to hear they haven't been tested,

when you tested the relay did you test it in the car or out? Can you hear it operating when it is fitted?

There should be two wires going to the started, small one and a big one

You could run a separate wire from the relay to the starter as a temporary test.

Rob,

 

rob you are an absolute legend

it cranks


iv found that the little blue wire was being strained where it was in the fuse/relay box and was loosing voltage!!!

now i can get on with the other 4 million problems before i attempt to mot it!!!!

 

No worries mate, best of luck with it

 

another day another problem

thanks to loads of help from the site my engine now cranks
however it now wont run
its got new fuel in it
the fuel pump runs
got fuel in cylinders
its got new plugs
iv got a spark on all four cylinders
iv got good compression on all cylinders
ht leads are in the right place
timing marks all line up and seem ok

i think i have too much fuel?i have disconnected the cold start injector

this is the first car i have had that has a metering unit so could this be at fault?or one of the sensors on it?how can i check it?

im beginning to give up
and am thinking of selling as spares/repairs but i would love to sort it and keep it as i always wanted an rs

can anyone help???

 

Where abouts are you mate?

 

im near guildford, surrey. so a fair way away!
i might see if anyone has a metering head for sale at classicford!so i can rule that out