Hi all. I've got a P reg Escort with 1.6 Zetec engine in it. She's done 83,000 miles.

The rpoblem I'm having is misfire on cylinder 1 which is wobbling the whole damn car when idling. She's had new sparky's, ht leads and second hand injectors that a mechanic fitted for me. When he fitted the injecters he found that the problem was being caused by low compression in the cylinder 2-4 are all at 150 psi and 1 is at 50. It's got at least half a litre of the wrong grade oil but don't know what's underneath that.

He's suggested an engine flush and oil change along with filter but isn't too sure that it'll work but we're gonna try it. After that he reckons if it don't work it would be cheaper to stick a new engine in.

Another mechanic reckons cause no oil is being burned and no smoke etc it is probably an exhaust valve or head gasket needs changing.

The temp guage is constantly readin sky high and the coolin fan isn't kickin in.

I don't know one end of an engine to another and have ran out of money.

Can anyone suggest something that may have been missed by both mechanics?

 

Well, I wouldn't call them mechanics to begin with.
I would start by returning the second hand injectors (well at least 3), because that is not the cause of your problem. If the injector was the cause for the misfire in cylinder 1, you would only need 1 injector, not 4. If the injector is broken or giving not enough than I suspect a burned valve.
Next I would never return to these 2 guys.

There's a very easy test to find out if a valve is leaking, it's called a leak test which is done with compressed air. You can even tell which valve (intake or exhaust) is leaking because you can hear the air in the manifold.

Follow the wiring from the cooling fan. You will probably come to a sensor in the lower part of the radiator. This sensor should switch on your cooling fans.
Disconnect the connector from the sensor. Switch the ignition on, no need to start the engine. Now connect the 2 wires in the connector, your fans should start, If it's a 3-wire connector you have to search a little which 2 wires, but one is for low fan speed, the other for high fan speed.
Are the fans running now? Then either the switch is broken or there's no flow in your radiator and the switch stays cold - thermostat jammed, radiator blocked or faulty waterpump.
If the fans do not run when the wires are bridged, then check all your fuses.

 

50psi compression on one cylinder?


Henry the eighth time then!


Off with its head!!!

 

I take it you mean the cylinder head needs changing?

 

I mean that whatever the problem is, you are going to need to take the head off to accurately identify and then correct it.

Might be the rings gone, could be a big score on the bore, could be exhaust valve not sealing well, could be inlet valve not sealing well etc

either way, it needs its head off!


before you yank if off though, if you have a compressor then pump some air into cylinder 1 and have a listen to where its coming from, can be useful.

if you hear it at the dip stick its the rings/pistons/bores, if you hear it at the inlet its the inlet valve, if you hear it at the exhaust its the exhaust valve, but in all cases, you still need the head off to fix it.

 

As chip says, get it to a proper mechanic who got do a leak down test and give youa more accurate assesment of the problem.

 

That's the problem, I can't afford garage fees. I bought this pile of dog shite with the last bit of cash I had. It only attracted me cuz it had full MOT and 5 months tax

 

Well, it looks like you got unlucky in the cheap car lottery TBH mate.

Sorry to hear things are tight

 

Cheers Chip. Tight is an understatement lol, if things were any tighter I would implode

 

Quick update, bridged fan connector last night and it burst to life so that's working at least but don't have a compressor or know anyone with one so couldn't check any compression leakage. Got a mate who's a mechanic, did my cam belt a while back actually, he said he'll look at her for me tonight

 

Well she's fucked now. Overheated and dumped coolant, all of it! Could smell the plastic components cookin too

 

cheapest option now is a working secondhand engine mate.

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinkin. My mates dad might have a spare one funnily enough so that's an option

 

I've decided to scrap her. Goin to look at an 06 plate Focus tomorrow