1998 Escort GTI

[NigelGFord]

Hi guys, my escort splutters as if no fuel getting through, replaced cat downpipe, and cat, regularly serviced, runs fine then after about 15 miles driven just struggles to get power, no misfires, engine has done 93000 miles, really struggling to find the cause, driven for 24hrs today no probs, then it's back again, if you turn ignition off then back on it's fine, any ideas please

[underwhelmist]

Only guessing, but:

(1) Is there a vacuum building up in the in fuel tank? Could it be a blocked vent causing fuel starvation?

(2) Are the coils OK (don't know if there's just one coil or one per cylinder).

[njw1]

underwhelmist said:

......Are the coils OK (don't know if there's just one coil or one per cylinder).

Single coil pack on the Zetec, and it's very common for it to break down under load once the engine's warmed up

[aaron_2000]

Fuel pump, coil pack, injectors, vacuum leak would be my port of call.

[underwhelmist]

Come on then NigelGFord, have you fixed it? What was the problem?

[NigelGFord]

Hasn't happened for 2 days now, touch wood, will keep you posted

[hman]

amazed that any of those survived the scrappage scheme!

[Zad]

Next time it happens, listen to see if you can hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on. I just replaced a fuel pump on a 98 Mondeo, and that was intermittent with occasional fails that blew the fuse.

[Penelope Stopit]

This type of fusebox



is nothing but trouble

amongst several faults caused by cracked soldered joints within the box is the loss of the fuel pump supply

The thing is, the car would cut out if the joint failed but there is the possibility that the soldered joint is making and breaking

The box is easy to remove and disconnect. Once the box is out of the car, remove all fuses, relays and relay jumpers, split the box by un-clipping the top from the bottom and inspect the joints with a magnifying glass

If you're keeping the car, it's worthwhile splitting the fuse-box and re-soldering any bad joints