Help!

The car is a 1.6 Zetec Mk6 Escort

The other weekend I changed plugs and air filter, still ran perfectly.

Yesterday I got my cambelt changed, turns out that before it was running 1 tooth out on the cam timing!

Now it is deffo 100% right, the car hesitates and misses quite a bit, when you floor it in most gears, and when the car is say rolling in 2nd at low revs in slow moving traffic, then you accelerate off again (it would usually manage this fine!)

I'm just wondering now, that the plugs must have been gapped right for when the belt was 1 tooth out? And now its right the plug gaps wrong? The plugs I put in were the same I took out, and I gapped them the same as the set before.

It's the only idea I have...!

What is the plug gap meant to be?

Not sure if its missing or if its just hesitation its really hard to describe

Cheers

 

 

Zetec engines are notoriously fussy with plugs from my experience.
Also a brand new set of plugs is no guarantee they are working especially
if they are champions.

Zetecs seem to run better on genuine Ford plugs and other makes even
when gapped correctly are not as good.

Does seem strange though that your problems started when the cam belt
was touched.

Check the plugs first as they are the cheapest thing to check.

Also, are the leads fitted correctly and firmly

 

I know what you mean about the leads, right pain in the arse to "click" back in right

The gap is meant to be 1.3mm so I will check that at lunch

Leads are fine AFAIK.

If its not plugs the mechanic will be getting it back

 

my guess would be the maf sensor in front of the thottle. this is common on this engine and causes the missing etc you describe

this failed 2 times on our old fiesta si (it couldnt cope with the induction kit)

get an old one from a breakers for any 1.6 zetec (90 ps)

95% sure it could be that.

 

Problem Found - No. 4 Spark plug. All of the white ceramic coating stuff at the top of the plug is cracked! :O Its only 2 weeks old!!

I shall be writing a letter to Mr. NGK!

Thanks for all your help