I'm planning on attempting to sort this problem over the weekend but
would like a bit of advice on likely places to look.

Basically my escort (1.6 16v zetec) is getting increasingly difficult
to start.  In the mornings it's taking a little longer than it used to
but ti's being a real pig if it's run for a while then turned off maybe
20 minutes or more, when you try to start it again it splutters and
farts before giving up, it does this maybe four or five times before it
will start succesfully.

It feels like it's being starved of fuel but i'm not really sure why it
would be.  I had to reaplce the fuel filter and fuel pump earlier this
year but it has only started doing this in the last couple of months.
It also always seems worse when the weather is hot.

I'm planning on changing the oil and filter this weekend as they're
long overdue, could this be the problem?

Lastly, I quite often notice a faint petrol smell when the windows are
down coming from the front, it's not there all the time i jsut get
wafts of it now and again.  The smell is never there when i've had the
bonnest up and the engine running only when the car is moving.  I've
lloked high and low for a leak as have a couple of other people i know
and none of us have ever been able to find anything.  Suggestions?

Kris

tollermccallum  wrote:


> I'm planning on attempting to sort this problem over the weekend but
> would like a bit of advice on likely places to look.
> 
> Basically my escort (1.6 16v zetec) is getting increasingly difficult
> to start.  In the mornings it's taking a little longer than it used to
> but ti's being a real pig if it's run for a while then turned off maybe
> 20 minutes or more, when you try to start it again it splutters and
> farts before giving up, it does this maybe four or five times before it
> will start succesfully.


Heh. Nice to see Ford didn't make any progress over the MkIII, then ;-)
-- 
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE -  COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"tollermccallum"  wrote in message
news:1127491397.782592.307430@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> I'm planning on attempting to sort this problem over the weekend but
> would like a bit of advice on likely places to look.
>
> Basically my escort (1.6 16v zetec) is getting increasingly difficult
> to start.  In the mornings it's taking a little longer than it used to
> but ti's being a real pig if it's run for a while then turned off maybe
> 20 minutes or more, when you try to start it again it splutters and
> farts before giving up, it does this maybe four or five times before it
> will start succesfully.
>
> It feels like it's being starved of fuel but i'm not really sure why it
> would be.  I had to reaplce the fuel filter and fuel pump earlier this
> year but it has only started doing this in the last couple of months.
> It also always seems worse when the weather is hot.
>
> I'm planning on changing the oil and filter this weekend as they're
> long overdue, could this be the problem?
>
> Lastly, I quite often notice a faint petrol smell when the windows are
> down coming from the front, it's not there all the time i jsut get
> wafts of it now and again.  The smell is never there when i've had the
> bonnest up and the engine running only when the car is moving.  I've
> lloked high and low for a leak as have a couple of other people i know
> and none of us have ever been able to find anything.  Suggestions?
>
> Kris
>


If the problem was only from a cold start, I would say that the oil & filter
change would make a difference, as this engine suffers from sticky valves, I
have the same engine & it runs like crap for the first minute or two from
cold (smelling of petrol from the exhaust), a flush, oil change & lifter
treatment tends to help but not completely cure. Always ensure you ONLY USE
a 5/30 oil, & do regular changes, this helps keep the oil pressure low &
helps the hydraulic lifters to snap shut, preventing this problem. Even if
this isn't your problem, it's worth bearing in mind.

Not been able to do the oil change as i've lost my bank card and so
can't get any money for the next week :(  I have however just takn the
throttle body off which was fairly well coated in thick sticky oil on
the inside and also the fuel injectors.  Given both a proper clean up
so i'll have to wait and see if that makes any difference.