hi all.
ok, story of the problem, when I use to start it up, it was real lumpy, but after a min of letting it tick over or drove it under 3 k for not even a mile, it was smooth as you like and drove real nice, but if I turned it off, and started it again, it will be all lumpy and run as though its on 2 or 3, unless i left it and again it would be fine..
now, the other day, it did this as normal when I started up, and it didnt stop, I had to drive it, so did, thinking it would drive out of it, but it didnt, and then ran really bad, to the point of not revving over 1k, even with foot planted to floor, then cut out. had a play, and the week old spark plugs look shaged, so I changed them with some spares i had, it started up, but still had monster miss fire... I suspected a valve, but compression has come up with each a touch over 100, so thats not the issue, any one any ideas on what I can do to stop this, I know its not suppose to be lumpy on start up in first place, but never really caused a issue as I let all my turbo cars run for a moment before driving off, so, HELP

 

Have you tryed the leads

 

I havnt, but each one has a spark when checked with a spare plug
oh, its a Escort rs, that may help

 

Just because your getting a spark that dont mean they aint fucked they could be breaking down under load.

 

leads (or one of them) could be arcing to earth along its lenth-easy to spot use some dark sunglasses or if no glasses start engine and run your hand along the lentht (not if you have a pace maker though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-fatal!!

 

 

got new cap, new rotar arm, new leads and new plugs. still does it.
I drove it up the road, and it totaly cut out, no ignition or anything.
so after being told to check wires by the ignition switch, it looks as though this problem has happened before, as it had clearly being messed around with.
had a play and it started up, as I drove a bit more, I had a fiddle with the wires, and it got better, then went back to being shit
with all the new bits, and the situation with the ignition, I cant be bothered with it.
if anyone wants a cheap RS, be my guest

 

darthcrab
is it a series 1 or series 2 ill have it lol

 

its a series 2, resprayed in metalic blue, with samco, exhaust, and couple of polished bits, mot ran out at weekend, was getting this sorted to put it through, tax runs out end of month, but to save agro, ill put 6 months on it upon sale.
couple bit of rust bubbles on arch and by sunroof, but non round filler cap.
did run really well, but just this ignition prob, I give up..
oh, lowered and drilled discs

 

where abouts are you fella im defo interested

 

im in chatham in kent

 

still no joy fella pm me your number matey and ill give you a bell over the weekend for a quick veiwing cheers does it run at all mate or is it still lumpy

 

darthcrab
how much you want for it and have you any pics cheers

 

PM sent to both.
not started it since the problem the other day.. gonna go try now

 

hi if it was my car, id be lookin at the ecu next. had similer prob with my 3i, it was the ecu.

 

gonna get a ECU then by the looks of it, try that next.
if I get a chiped ECU, will I need to get it mapped, or will it be ok for the time being to see if the ecu is the prob? or, should I just get a standard one?
cheers

 

it will be alright for the time being as long as you dont run excess boost as your ignition timing and fueling will be out also you said that the wires under the dash look bad fix this first before you splash on bits you might not need them then give us a ring on 07841700530 ill try and explain in more detail what to check fella cheers

 

getting a standard ecu tommorow...
but a quick question.... again, the black plug thing in the dizzy, it wobbles around, is this a problem? someone toldme they put elastic band around theres and thats ok, but... it doesnt sound like the best thing to me, maybe its fine, but with the problems ive been having, I just want to be sure

 

some people put a cable tye around them or glue it back on
when the car starts to run rough wiggle ths plug to see if this helps

 

righhhhhtttt....
changed the distributor itself, with my new cap and arm.................

it fired straight up just need to get the timing spot on, but apart from that, she is alive...
just need a windscreen now to get through MOT, so, looking good