My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have lost a 
lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive and 
although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. Some 
thoughts:

- It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
- As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
- It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
- The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or run 
roughly or lumpily.
- I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum 
pipes I can see

Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
 - Blocked fuel injector
 - Spark plugs
 - Fuel filter or pump (??)
 - Ignition timing

So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in mind 
the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come on quite 
suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:

1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
3. Oxygen sensor problems?
4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas

I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
Thanks
Steve

Steve W wrote:
> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have
> lost a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test
> drive and although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially
> uphill. Some thoughts:
>
> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire,
> or run roughly or lumpily.
> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the
> air/vacuum pipes I can see
>
> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
> - Blocked fuel injector
> - Spark plugs
> - Fuel filter or pump (??)
> - Ignition timing
>
> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in
> mind the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come
> on quite suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>
> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?
> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas
>
> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
> Thanks
> Steve

Air filter, blocked exhaust (broken cat is very common), cam timing slipped 
a tooth.  These would be the first things to check.

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:31:07 +0100, Steve W   
wrote:

> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have  
> lost a
> lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive and
> although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. Some
> thoughts:
>
> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or  
> run
> roughly or lumpily.
> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum
> pipes I can see
>
> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
>  - Blocked fuel injector
>  - Spark plugs
>  - Fuel filter or pump (??)
>  - Ignition timing
>
> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in mind
> the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come on quite
> suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>
> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

Very Unlikely.

> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator

Unlikely, & you'd normally get a fault code

> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?

Possibly , but you'd get a fault code

> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU

Cold start sensor/ Air temp sensor

> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found

You can play hunt with some wd40 easily

> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas


Cam belt's jumped, or exhaust/cat blocked as Mr Cheerful says, an air leak  
that only opens when the engine moves on its mounts.

>
> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
> Thanks
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>

"Steve W"  wrote in message 
news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have lost 
> a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive and 
> although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. Some 
> thoughts:
>
> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or 
> run roughly or lumpily.
> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum 
> pipes I can see
>


If it has EGR it might be worth checking the valve or even taking it off and 
cleaning it.
Or, depending how it operates, disable it temporarily to see if it's 
anything to do with the problem.

Mark W wrote:
> "Steve W"  wrote in message
> news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
>> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have
>> lost a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a
>> test drive and although it's drivable it certainly struggles,
>> especially uphill. Some thoughts:
>>
>> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
>> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
>> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
>> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge,
>> misfire, or run roughly or lumpily.
>> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the
>> air/vacuum pipes I can see
>>
>
>
> If it has EGR it might be worth checking the valve or even taking it
> off and cleaning it.
> Or, depending how it operates, disable it temporarily to see if it's
> anything to do with the problem.

usually egr fault is low speed problem, flat out there is no real 
difference.

years ago a friend had a Cortina that he used as a taxi, it burnt oil 
through the stem seals, eventually it built up so much crud on the back of 
the valves that power was well down, one day a valve's worth fell off, 
holding the valve open, that was when it got taken to bits and everything 
became clear.

CVH engines suffer from seal problems, so perhaps that is what is happening 
here?

"Steve W"  wrote in message 
news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have lost 
> a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive and 
> although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. Some 
> thoughts:
>
> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or 
> run roughly or lumpily.
> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum 
> pipes I can see
>
> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
> - Blocked fuel injector
> - Spark plugs
> - Fuel filter or pump (??)
> - Ignition timing
>
> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in mind 
> the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come on quite 
> suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>
> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?
> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas
>
> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
> Thanks
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>

I had a very similar problem with mine.    Turned out to be a blocked Cat.



Gareth.

"Gareth Magennis"  wrote in message 
news:68CdnXDowK6don7VnZ2dnUVZ8sbinZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Steve W"  wrote in message 
> news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
>> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have lost 
>> a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive 
>> and although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. 
>> Some thoughts:
>>
>> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
>> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
>> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
>> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or 
>> run roughly or lumpily.
>> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum 
>> pipes I can see
>>
>> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
>> - Blocked fuel injector
>> - Spark plugs
>> - Fuel filter or pump (??)
>> - Ignition timing
>>
>> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in mind 
>> the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come on quite 
>> suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>>
>> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
>> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
>> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?
>> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
>> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
>> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas
>>
>> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
>> Thanks
>> Steve
>>

>
> I had a very similar problem with mine.    Turned out to be a blocked Cat.
>
> Gareth.

Ditto ditto, my daughter's Mundano ... seemed quite happy idling, low revs, 
or small throttle openings, but had no pulling power and struggled on hills. 
Definitely worth a check, I'd say ...

"Steve W"  wrote in message 
news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have lost 
> a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a test drive and 
> although it's drivable it certainly struggles, especially uphill. Some 
> thoughts:
>
> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge, misfire, or 
> run roughly or lumpily.
> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the air/vacuum 
> pipes I can see
>
> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
> - Blocked fuel injector
> - Spark plugs
> - Fuel filter or pump (??)
> - Ignition timing
>
> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in mind 
> the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come on quite 
> suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>
> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?
> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas
>
> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
> Thanks
> Steve
>

Original Poster here.  Thanks to all for replying with your ideas.  There's 
one other bit of info I should have posted earlier.  A couple of days before 
my daughter reported the problem, I had changed the exhaust system seal 
(ring joint) which was just upstream of the Cat.  It was blowing noisily and 
when I opened the joint, the seal was clearly breaking up quite badly.  I 
pulled out the joint, which had some missing bits, and replaced with a new 
sealing ring.  I had assumed that any fragments from the seal would have 
blown out of the system.  But now I'm starting to wonder if something had 
got to the Cat.

Anyway, I need to look more closely at the Cat.  How do check it out without 
special tools?  I assume I could check the pressure before the Cat, or the 
pressure drop across it?  And would I need to measure the temperature 
upstream and downstream of the Cat?

Can I clean a cat, once I've got it out of the car?  How?

I see I can get a replacement cat for around £50.  Is that likely to be the 
best solution if I have any doubts about the condition of the existing Cat?

Steve

Steve W wrote:
> "Steve W"  wrote in message
> news:tvSdnSJw2P0AB3_VRVnyggA@giganews.com...
>> My daughter's 1997 Ford Escort 1.4 with fuel injection seems to have
>> lost a lot of power over a fairly short period of time.  I did a
>> test drive and although it's drivable it certainly struggles,
>> especially uphill. Some thoughts:
>>
>> - It starts OK and idles reasonably well, without hunting.
>> - As the engine speed is increased, the power just isn't there.
>> - It is not the clutch slipping or the brakes binding.
>> - The engine still runs fairly smoothly - it does not surge,
>> misfire, or run roughly or lumpily.
>> - I can't hear an obvious air leak, and have wiggled all the
>> air/vacuum pipes I can see
>>
>> Because of the above, I'm guessing it's NOT:
>> - Blocked fuel injector
>> - Spark plugs
>> - Fuel filter or pump (??)
>> - Ignition timing
>>
>> So.....what are your theories, in priority order, please, bearing in
>> mind the above observations and the fact that it seems to have come
>> on quite suddenly?  Here's my speculative list for starters:
>>
>> 1. Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
>> 2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
>> 3. Oxygen sensor problems?
>> 4. Some other sensor (eg. temperature) that feeds the ECU
>> 5. Vaccum leak that I haven't found
>> 6. ...er, that's it. I've run out of ideas
>>
>> I ( and my daughter) would appreciate any help you can give.
>> Thanks
>> Steve
>>
>
> Original Poster here.  Thanks to all for replying with your ideas. There's 
> one other bit of info I should have posted earlier.  A couple
> of days before my daughter reported the problem, I had changed the
> exhaust system seal (ring joint) which was just upstream of the Cat. It 
> was blowing noisily and when I opened the joint, the seal was
> clearly breaking up quite badly.  I pulled out the joint, which had
> some missing bits, and replaced with a new sealing ring.  I had
> assumed that any fragments from the seal would have blown out of the
> system.  But now I'm starting to wonder if something had got to the
> Cat.
> Anyway, I need to look more closely at the Cat.  How do check it out
> without special tools?  I assume I could check the pressure before
> the Cat, or the pressure drop across it?  And would I need to measure
> the temperature upstream and downstream of the Cat?
>
> Can I clean a cat, once I've got it out of the car?  How?
>
> I see I can get a replacement cat for around £50.  Is that likely to
> be the best solution if I have any doubts about the condition of the
> existing Cat?
> Steve

The blow eould have been letting enough gases through, fixing it has made 
everything go through the rest of the exhaust, if it is blocked then it 
can't run right.  There is a way of testing with back pressure in the pipe. 
Taking the cat off and blowing through it 'may' confirm it, rattling bits is 
definite.  50 quid is cheap.  If you dare run and drive it  it with the 
exhaust off then the blocked cat diagnosis is easier !!

Mrcheerful

"Mrcheerful"  wrote in message 
news:Aw_Ek.65492$E41.63351@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> > The blow eould have been letting enough gases through, fixing it has 
> > made
> everything go through the rest of the exhaust, if it is blocked then it 
> can't run right.  There is a way of testing with back pressure in the 
> pipe. Taking the cat off and blowing through it 'may' confirm it, rattling 
> bits is definite.  50 quid is cheap.  If you dare run and drive it  it 
> with the exhaust off then the blocked cat diagnosis is easier !!
>
> Mrcheerful
OK, if you are within 50 miles of Darlington you may hear a couple of test
runs on Saturday morning!.  I'm near the airport so will try to coincide my
tests with take-offs.

On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:13:36 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

> The blow eould have been letting enough gases through, fixing it has
> made everything go through the rest of the exhaust, if it is blocked
> then it can't run right.  There is a way of testing with back pressure
> in the pipe. Taking the cat off and blowing through it 'may' confirm it,
> rattling bits is definite.  50 quid is cheap.  If you dare run and drive
> it  it with the exhaust off then the blocked cat diagnosis is easier !!

Could be that a blocked cat caused the gases to find their own way out 
and that's what started and enlarged the blow and broken up seal in the 
first place...

"PCPaul"  wrote in message 
news:qwOFk.66777$E41.12415@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:13:36 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:
>
>> The blow eould have been letting enough gases through, fixing it has
>> made everything go through the rest of the exhaust, if it is blocked
>> then it can't run right.  There is a way of testing with back pressure
>> in the pipe. Taking the cat off and blowing through it 'may' confirm it,
>> rattling bits is definite.  50 quid is cheap.  If you dare run and drive
>> it  it with the exhaust off then the blocked cat diagnosis is easier !!
>
> Could be that a blocked cat caused the gases to find their own way out
> and that's what started and enlarged the blow and broken up seal in the
> first place...

Yup, it seems that's what might have happened.  Bits had definitely come
loose inside. Changed the Cat (£56 inc VAT, if anyone is interested), and
the poor old engine has gor a new lease of life.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for pointing me in the right direction.  Aren't
newsgroups great?

Best wishes
Steve

Steve W wrote:
> "PCPaul"  wrote in message
> news:qwOFk.66777$E41.12415@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>> On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:13:36 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:
>>
>>> The blow eould have been letting enough gases through, fixing it has
>>> made everything go through the rest of the exhaust, if it is blocked
>>> then it can't run right.  There is a way of testing with back
>>> pressure in the pipe. Taking the cat off and blowing through it
>>> 'may' confirm it, rattling bits is definite.  50 quid is cheap.  If
>>> you dare run and drive it  it with the exhaust off then the blocked
>>> cat diagnosis is easier !!
>>
>> Could be that a blocked cat caused the gases to find their own way
>> out and that's what started and enlarged the blow and broken up seal
>> in the first place...
>
> Yup, it seems that's what might have happened.  Bits had definitely
> come loose inside. Changed the Cat (£56 inc VAT, if anyone is
> interested), and the poor old engine has gor a new lease of life.
>
> THANKS TO EVERYONE for pointing me in the right direction.  Aren't
> newsgroups great?
>
> Best wishes
> Steve

don't forget to take the old cat in for scrap.  20 -40 pounds worth