OT: 97 Escort Problem

[Danny in CO]

I have a 97 Escort that has been running fine until last week. It was 11 degrees out and when I started it, it was missing and the Check Engine light was flashing. After about 2 minutes it stopped missing and the Check Engine light stopped flashing but stayed on. I had an auto parts store read the codes and they are P0302 & P0303 which are cylinders 2 & 3 misfiring. Yesterday morning it was about 15 degrees and the car would not start. Yesterday evening it was in the upper 30 and it started and ran fine, no missing. I suspected the coil pack was going bad. I had a spare coil that I put on last night. This morning it was in the 20s and it started but was missing again and the light was flashing. I let it run for several minutes but it kept missing. I tried to drive it and it died and then would not start. In checking online, the error code could mean:

Faulty spark plug or wire
Faulty coil (pack)
Faulty oxygen sensor(s)
Faulty fuel injector
Burned exhaust valve
Faulty catalytic converter(s)
Running out of fuel
Poor compression
Defective computer

I am fairly sure it not the plugs, wires or coil. If it was a burned exhaust value or poor compression, I don't think it would straighten out in warm weather. I am suspecting the catalytic converter or computer.

Does anyone have any ideas? I am thinking about cutting out the converter and replacing with a pipe. Would this cause any problems other than when I go for emmission testing?

Sorry for the long post and thank in advance for your ideas,
Danny

 

[Dell (WA)]

Danny......it aint'chur cat, ittz'chur COMPUTER. Enny other bad parts named would cause LUMPY running. Electronic stuff is susceptible to COLD screwing up the electrons. Sometimes warming-up will "temporarily" fix the computer but it ain't reliable as you've found out. .......Dell

 

[Bob - MI]

Make sure your timing belt isn't slipping. That is common on those engines and it can create all sorts of issues. The best case is that they break and you are forced to fix it.

We owned an Escort for a number of years and I was glad to see it go. Not that I am anti-Fords mind you but the Escort wasn't one of their "better ideas".

 

[BillM (OH)]

You can likely test the catalytic converter by removing the 02 sensor and venting it out through the hole, but I would bet it's the computer. Plugged converter would cause loss of power across the board - doesn't sound like that. I went through both on my old Bronco at different times, so am familiar with both failure symptoms.

 

[weaveman01]

I would try a little heet to dry out the fuel lines first. Dump a bottle in and let it sit overnight. Always try the cheap fixes first.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Danny,I own a Dodge Neon 1998 with exactly the same problem, the Service Engine Soon warning flashed and stayed on and the error code is P0302 or misfire on cylinder 2 after OBDII scan tool. No clue as yet. Working on that now. Oger

 

[OT: 2000 Mitsubishi Eclip]

It started this afternoon but was running rough. I found a used computer at a salvage yard and replaced it. It was still running rough. I pulled the timing belt cover and checked timing. The belt was loose and had jumped about 2 teeth. I'll get a belt and tensioner pulley tomorrow and replace.

I think the computer was going and was causing the no start in cold weather. The belt was replaced about 30K miles ago and still looks good, but I'm still going to replace since I'm this far in.

Thanks for all of your advice!

I'll update tomorrow after I replace the belt.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[Danny in CO]

Why is my name coming up that way? Oh well, the update was from me.

Danny

 

[Hobo,NC]

it may not be as EZ as replacing the belt,,, depends on the engine ,,DOHC you will need the special tools to line yer cams and crank up,,, I think I went thru this with Dunk...

WARNING :shock: all I know I read on the Internet,,, do it enuff and you can become a guru also,,, not responsible for damages,,, I read it and just pass it along,,, proceed with caution

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 23:08:24 01/05/10)
it may not be as EZ as replacing the belt,,, depends on the engine ,,DOHC you will need the special tools to line yer cams and crank up,,, I think I went thru this with Dunk...

WARNING :shock: all I know I read on the Internet,,, do it enuff and you can become a guru also,,, not responsible for damages,,, I read it and just pass it along,,, proceed with caution

We are assuming DOHC.

Yep, I home made, the special tool, and it still took me a couple of times with the belt. I made the tool out of a piece of angle iron that I had laying around. A flat piece of metal the right thickness should work.

That wasn't all of my problems though, there was an idiot that tried to work on it before I got it, that had messed up where the plug wires went, and also broken a tab off of one of the cams that the cam position sensor tracked.

I got it fixed though, I JB Quicked the tab back on the cam.

 

[Danny in CO]

Hobo,

Single overhead cam, not DOHC.

Danny

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 00:43:05 01/06/10) Hobo,

Single overhead cam, not DOHC.

Danny

That is probably a good thing.