[cklaubur]

'97 Escort Sedan
New fuel pump and regulator
Timing is correct
spark plugs good, wires replaced a week ago.
At least a quarter of a tank of fuel (Actually added a couple of gallons to make sure there was enough)

My '97 Escort refused to start Thursday afternoon, acting like it was out of fuel. A quick test (read: poking the test valve on the fuel rail) yielded a dribble of fuel. Replaced the fuel pump, due to it being under warranty, and fuel regulator. Fuel now sprays out of test port when depressed, but car will not run. When cranking, it will catch, but die as soon as the key is released.

Any ideas?
Casey

 

[pextor]

ignition switch?

 

[97DragScort]

crank sensor

 

[cklaubur]

If the crank sensor is bad, would the car even try to catch?

Also, this may be a stupid question, but how do you remove the ignition switch?

Casey

 

[pextor]

remove the trim from the steering column, then the switch comes off with either two clips or two screws, i don't recall which. the switch is on the opposite side from where the key goes.

 

[tttwism]

just because there is fuel, doesnt mean its getting to the cylinders, try starting fluid, just because it wants to start and does for a second doesnt mean it has fuel, could be the pressure regulator. if when it does grab, it runs good for the second or two, then maybe it is the ignition, holding the key when it does start will let you know, the starter will sound bad for a second, but will let you know that before you take it apart.

 

[cklaubur]

After spending all day playing with the car, checking every sensor and circuit on this car, I did get it to run. Tttwism, you were on the right track. Apparently, these cars will run on 15 psi of fuel pressure, with the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator disconnected and plugged, if you spray enough starter fluid in the intake to get the engine started. It won't like it, but it will run.

Apparently, my new fuel pump is bad. Well, I know how I'm spending Father's Day tomorrow.

Casey

 

[tttwism]

Just a thought... I know you probably have done this, but didnt read anywhere about it, did you check the shut off relay? new fuel pumps rarely are bad, maybe you have no current to the pump... but anyhow, figured it was fuel...

 

[cklaubur]

I checked the pump. The pump was running when I checked the pressure. I know that usually new pumps aren't bad, but I'd also expect to see a bad one slip through every once in a while. The fuel pump circuit was actually one of the first things I checked.

Casey

 

[cklaubur]

I had the car running for a while today, just long enough to strand me at an AutoZone a few miles away. Thank goodness for roadside assistance and towing.

Exchanged the pump with another new pump, and couldn't get the car to start. Put the old fuel pressure regulator back on, and the car fired up on the third attempt. Went out on a test drive to an AutoZone to exchange the fuel pressure regulator, and the car started to develop a bit of hesitation. Made it to AutoZone, but car would not accelerate from idle when I went to leave.

Casey

 

[jeff518]

clogged fuel filter? replace it recently?

 

[cklaubur]

The filter was replaced about a month before all this started. Could it clog up that quickly?

Casey

 

[cklaubur]

Well, just to keep everybody up to date, the car is running again. I haven't gone anywhere with it yet, just around the block. It took a bit of time to get it to start, but that was because I had relieved the fuel system pressure to replace the regulator.

Casey

 

[cklaubur]

Replaced the fuel filter again, and now the car will start easily, but will chug for about 10 seconds, then stall. This car is really starting to get annoying!

*UPDATE* I just tried it again, and now I can hear a pop through the intake when the engine is chugging. Any ideas?

Casey

 

[cklaubur]

This may sound like a stupid question, but is there a way to check the fuel pump relay? I know it's in the CCRM, but is there a way to test it?

Casey

 

[rbailin]

Not without a Ford scan tool in their service department.

Rent a fuel pressure gauge and attach it to the test port next to the fuel pressure regulator. It should read at least 30 psi, preferably 35-40. It should hold that pressure for several minutes after the engine stops.

 

[cklaubur]

I tested the fuel pressure with a guage, and I am still only getting 15 psi when the key is turned on.

I also checked the voltage back at the fuel pump module, and saw that when the key was turned, the voltage jumped to 12 volts, immediately dropped to 9 volts, stayed there until the pump shut off, then dropped to 6 volts. Shouldn't the voltage stay at 12 volts until the pump stops?

Casey

 

[rbailin]

I'm sure you can grab a voltmeter and check the appropriate connector pins on the CCRM. But if you can go to a junkyard and buy a CCRM with the same large letter on its label (e.g., "R"), you'd save a lot of time and aggravation just swapping in the used CCRM.

Unlike the A/C relay, the fuel pump relay doesn't have a reputation of going bad.

I'm assuming they sold you a fuel pump for the correct year Escort? 1998 and later used a different method to control the pressure. You might want to try a different brand, too, just to be sure.

 

[FordMan59]

If you know y0u are getting fuel and fire it might be a good idea to chech the compresssion. Backfiring makes me wonder if its's a valve seat issue. Check it out before it's too late.

 

[Jeffescortlx]

Could also be a air metering problem, bad MAF, bad vac leak or a bad ECT.