hesitant escort.

[redrunner]

hi, my 1994 escort 1600cc zetec petrol injection engine has started to slightly hesitate at around 30-35 mph,
the plugs are set right gap and newish , also leads are nearly new and connected on tight . ive also changed the idle speed control valve on the inlet manifold,.
engine starts ok, ticks over ok/ and is ok on all other speeds.
its the sort of thing that you get when when a carbs got dirt in the jets.
it was suggested it was the auto choke stickin ?
any advice welcome. cheers, r.r.

 

[andy1020]

could be anything...!

sounds like a fuel problem but it could equally be electric. If it is electric I'd bet something up with the engine managment system, like ECU type of thing rather than plugs, etc which as you say are fine. Unfortunately this is hard to diagnose without plugging it in to a diagnostic computer, or simply changing parts. There are also sensors (like exhaust gas sensors) which can cause this type of problem too.

I'm not sure about the choke thing. If you take the air filter off and let it idle and heat up you should see the air flap slowly open and you could also check the gap with a drill bit between the edge of the air flap and the carb, (proper gap is in haynes manual) but you'd find the problem would vary depending on how long it had been running. (ie might not be there for 1st few mins)

You could try some fuel system cleaning additive into your petrol and see if that clears it. Failing that pay someone to plug it in to a diagnostic tester.

Hope that helps,
Andy.

 

[redrunner]

. thanks for reply andy 1020 , sorry about late reply/
ive took on board what you suggest and will follow it up, as you say its a bit of a - could be anthink / problem. .more niggly than anythink, as its around the 30mph mark , built up area speed limit. . one way out of it is dont go at that speed.
will post update if i get anywhere with it, regards.r.r.

 

[andy1020]

another way out is not to avoid the speed but to avoid the revs- ie srive in 2nd or 3rd instead of 4th..

 

[redrunner]

yep , thats another way i never thought of , andy 1020/ . .