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1997 Ford Escort LX Station Wagon Problems


raec123
04-13-2005, 12:14 AM
1. turn over no start problem.
Just had the starter replaced in January after two trips to the dealership where they couldn't figure out what the problem was. Now, it turns over, but just won't catch. The dealership is saying they *believe* it's a faulty crankshaft sensor. What in the world is a crankshaft sensor and how does it affect the starting mechanism of the car? Car just had it's 120,000 mile check up with belts replaced, oil changed, tires rotated, alignment, and other stuff that just cost me $600.

2. Sputtering, stuttering, jerking, whatever you want to call it.
Er, manual transmission, btw. Recent problem within the last two months or so. While driving, the car has started to jerk as if it had bad gas or I hadn't released the clutch, something. I did get Turkey Hill gas once, never did it again and switched back to Mobil/Exxon which I've used pretty exclusively since we got the car in 97 and made sure I wasn't riding the clutch. It's still doing it occasionally.

3. There's a ghost in my machine.
My dome light comes on when I hit the brakes. Had the car to the dealership three times for this problem and always get the same answer, have no clue, never does it for us. And then there's the car alarm. Around 11 am the damn thing goes off. It sits in my driveway which is on an incline, set in first gear, emergency brake on. Again, dealer has no idea why and can't find the problem.

Any help would be most appreciated. I'm tired of the leaving the car unlocked simply to keep the alarm from going off.

Thanks,

Rae

Davescort97
04-15-2005, 08:33 AM
1. turn over no start problem.
Just had the starter replaced in January after two trips to the dealership where they couldn't figure out what the problem was. Now, it turns over, but just won't catch. The dealership is saying they *believe* it's a faulty crankshaft sensor. What in the world is a crankshaft sensor and how does it affect the starting mechanism of the car? Car just had it's 120,000 mile check up with belts replaced, oil changed, tires rotated, alignment, and other stuff that just cost me $600.

2. Sputtering, stuttering, jerking, whatever you want to call it.
Er, manual transmission, btw. Recent problem within the last two months or so. While driving, the car has started to jerk as if it had bad gas or I hadn't released the clutch, something. I did get Turkey Hill gas once, never did it again and switched back to Mobil/Exxon which I've used pretty exclusively since we got the car in 97 and made sure I wasn't riding the clutch. It's still doing it occasionally.

3. There's a ghost in my machine.
My dome light comes on when I hit the brakes. Had the car to the dealership three times for this problem and always get the same answer, have no clue, never does it for us. And then there's the car alarm. Around 11 am the damn thing goes off. It sits in my driveway which is on an incline, set in first gear, emergency brake on. Again, dealer has no idea why and can't find the problem.

Any help would be most appreciated. I'm tired of the leaving the car unlocked simply to keep the alarm from going off.

Thanks,

Rae

1. The crankshaft position sensor (CPS) provides information to the power control module. It consists of a 36 tooth trigger wheel with one missing tooth that is pressed upon the rear of the crankshaft pulley. The CPS picks up on the 1 missing tooth to control ignition timing and spark distribution e.g. it detects when each piston is in position for the spark to occur to the plugs. If it is defective it is not delivering spark to the plugs at all or at the correct time.

2. If your wagon is sputtering and jerking and especially under a load such as going up a hill it could be bad ignition wires going to the spark plugs. One way to check is to watch them at night under a no light condition. You will be able to see sparks coming from them. The voltage is being diverted to a ground rather than going to your plugs. If your car has over 60,000 miles the plugs and igniton wires probably should be replaced. Your car takes Motorcraft AFSF-34EE plugs and I suggest Autolite 8.5MM #86846 Pro-Fit resistor wires. I've used these on my 97 and have had real good luck with them.

3. Although it doesn't seem like it, but the anti-theft alarm going off and the dome light coming on when you apply your brakes may be a related problem. When the switch at your door is actuated the dome light comes on. Also, when it is actuated the alarm goes off. I think the door switch is just marginally opening the circuit and when you apply the brakes it makes contact to make your dome light come on. By the same token the marginal switch is making your alarm go off. Why at 11 AM. I don't know. I would mark the tips of the plunger switches on the sill with a dab of paint and close the doors. Then opposite that I would tape a quarter to the door. This would keep the switch open and not let the alarm or dome light dome on. If that didn't work I would pull the fuse for the horn. The dome light switch has 3 positions. Off. On with the door open and on all the time. With the switch in the off positon I wouldn't think it would come on under any circumstances.

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