YACT: Starting problems

[Squisher]

My son has a 1996 Escort LX hatchback with the 1.9

He said he started it it shook hard and stalled then refused to start. I thought it was a timing belt, but I checked it and it is fine.

So, I started it and it ran fine, maybe a little rough. I turned it off and tried to start it again, no dice, it doesn't even sound like it's trying to fire.

What do you think?



EDIT: Well, I got it started by pumping the gas and holding the gas pedal half way down.

I don't understand why a fuel injected engine would start like this, but it did.

I let the car run for a minute this time and it seemed to restart ok. I'm thinking maybe it's something in the cold starting system.


UPDATE:

WOOT! it was the EGR pressure sensor. I drove it to autozone and wouldn't ya know the check engine light came on, on the way there. They hooked it up to fault reader and it came back with EGR, EGR pressure sensor, or carbon in the lines. Well Fords aren't known to carbon up and I vacuum tested the EGR before and it was OK, so I went with the $50 small piece of plastic behind door number two and...........winner winner chicken diner.

 

[funboy6942]

Sounds like an Ignition Module which is typical on them if the timming belt didt go which if it is staring running fine and then not at all it would it be the belt. So I say module or in need of a tune up badly. Check plugs, wire, and cap and rotor then go from there.

 

[Squisher]

I changed plugs a couple of weeks ago. No cap or rotor on this one.

I'll have to wait until someone comes home to see if I'm getting spark.

 

[radioouman]

 

[Squisher]

Well, I got it started by pumping the gas and holding the gas pedal half way down.

I don't understand why a fuel injected engine would start like this, but it did.

I let the car run for a minute this time and it seemed to restart ok. I'm thinking maybe it's something in the cold starting system.

 

[chairbornrangerx]

does any white or black smoke pour out of the exhaust?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Well, I got it started by pumping the gas and holding the gas pedal half way down.

I don't understand why a fuel injected engine would start like this, but it did.

I let the car run for a minute this time and it seemed to restart ok. I'm thinking maybe it's something in the cold starting system.

Ding Ding! I am not sure abotu the 1.9, but it either has a cold start injector, or the pulse width is increased to add more fuel. This sounds like a fuel issue on startup.

 

[fitzov]

see if you're getting a spark first

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: fitzov
see if you're getting a spark first

See edit, I got it started, so I have spark.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Squisher
Well, I got it started by pumping the gas and holding the gas pedal half way down.

I don't understand why a fuel injected engine would start like this, but it did.

I let the car run for a minute this time and it seemed to restart ok. I'm thinking maybe it's something in the cold starting system.

Ding Ding! I am not sure abotu the 1.9, but it either has a cold start injector, or the pulse width is increased to add more fuel. This sounds like a fuel issue on startup.

I don't think the fuel filter has ever been changed, I think I'll start there.

BTW - it's a mother to get to

 

[Journer]

possibly the cold start injectors are clogged? bad fuel lines could also be the culprit

 

[OrganizedChaos]

possibly a flakey fuel pump/FPR. may not be developing enough pressure to start. once its running the PCM can tweak the fuel trims to make up the difference.

 

[Squisher]

WOOT! it was the EGR pressure sensor. I drove it to autozone and wouldn't ya know the check engine light came on, on the way there. They hooked it up to fault reader and it came back with EGR, EGR pressure sensor, or carbon in the lines. Well Fords aren't known to carbon up and I vacuum tested the EGR before and it was OK, so I went with the $50 small piece of plastic behind door number two and...........winner winner chicken diner.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: Squisher
WOOT! it was the EGR pressure sensor. I drove it to autozone and wouldn't ya know the check engine light came on, on the way there. They hooked it up to fault reader and it came back with EGR, EGR pressure sensor, or carbon in the lines. Well Fords aren't known to carbon up and I vacuum tested the EGR before and it was OK, so I went with the $50 small piece of plastic behind door number two and...........winner winner chicken diner.

So, what exactly happens when the EGR sensor fails? Does the computer say, "Hell no you aint starting me!"?