Having problems with my Escort van again (1999 1.8 Endura DE non turbo)
Some mornings it just wont start. Heater plugs come on, stereo works etc, but absolutely nothing happens when i turn the key.
I've changed the starter motor and checked all connections to and from the alternator, battery etc. The battery is 2 months old too
Wierdly it'll start later on in the day and has ran fine all weekend. Its as if it doesn't like going to work in the morning!

Any suggestions?

 

factory imobilizer ? Have u a different key for it to try ?

 

Thought that but the immobiliser light goes out as normal. Only have the 1 key too

 

Will it bump start ? Have you checked the switched feed to the starter goes live when the key is turned ?
Cheers Ally

 

Everytime i come to do the above it starts, as when it plays up i have to quickly find a lift to work. Just been out now and it started first time.

Was thinking about the ignition switch as the likely cause. Theres not an awful lot of electrics on the van for it to be something overly complicated

 

yeah does smack a bit of it being ig switch , easy enough to replace and rule it out , i have a new ford ign switch that iv'e acquired over the years i'll send it to you if its of any use , not a clue what it's off though it's from a tibby , dunno if it's any different with bein for a derv

 

My brothers van has been doing this.

He told me it was the ignition coil fuse that was dirty or something and it works fine now

 

It's a Derv so won't apply to this , Cheers Ally

 

Cheers for the offer dude, just got one off ebay for Ł3 though

 

Seen it before, last year in fact this van had a new alt/starter/battery, but would do nothing or clunk like a flat battery even though it wasn't.
I found the problem on this one to be a high resistance on the solenoid feed wire, specifically the terminal on the end that bolts to the solenoid, I cut this off and resoldered another one(gold plated) on, it then started when covered in snow after being left weeks and weeks, the oe crimp is crap on the ford terminal, the solenoid draws momentarily 10 amps when in engagement.
Might be worth a look.
tabetha

 

Going through it my self got a mk 6 van 55 1.8 d new starter battery ect ect starts some times then the red light flashes by the clock and wont fire up until you jump it with another car strange just cant work it out.

 

fella look at the loom that runs above the radiator to the pump they chafe through on the top of the radiator and cause this

 

Thank you il take a look at them wires along the top of the rad ran ok yesterday..... Then today got to argos wouldent start jumped it and started first time strange turns and turns but wont fire until you connect it to another car????????

 

looked at them wires all looks well cant seem to see the anti tamper bolts to take the cover off the diesel pump any ideas?????????