nascarmechanic

I have a 1995 escort, timing marks are lined up, plugs, wires and coil are new, coil is plugged in, cam sensor is putting out a signal, is there a control module on these things? What else is left to replace or check? What makes this even worse is that it's my sister IN LAW'S car and I am stuck fixing it.

KimMG

distributer?
timing belt?
Do you get spark from the coil?

mightymoose_22

You mentioned the cam sensor which is on the head under the intake.... but there is also the crank sensor down by the oil pump... if it isn't plugged in... no joy.

mightymoose_22

How do you know you are getting fuel?
Any chance the fuel switch in the trunk is tripped?

nascarmechanic

Ok, there is now fire. The ifgnition module on the left strut tower was bad. There is fuel behind the throttle body, and when the plugs are pulled, they smell like fuel. The fuel pump activates when the key is turned on, but I have not tested fuel pressure. Engine cranks nicely but will not fire up. This sucks, I want my sister-in-law's car out of my driveway.

mightymoose_22

What kind of work was done on the car? Did you check the crank sensor by the damper?

Escortjunkie

My friends 91 Mercury Tracer has the same motor that is in the 95 escort. His car was doing the same thing yours is doing. We tried everything ... replacing the fuel pump, filter, coil, wires, plugs, nothing worked until we did a COMPRESSION TEST on each cylinder.

If the compresion for at least one cylinder is below 100psi then the head gasket is gone and you need to replace it. I am in the process of fixing my friends head gasket as we speak and would be glad to give any further advice.

nascarmechanic

Turns out the crank has to be turned 90 degrees counter clockwise to set the timing correct when the belt has been replaced. Every other car I have worked on, the marks lined up in a row.... Leave it to Ford to mess up something that should be a simple job.

Escortjunkie

i never herd of that before .... usually the marks do line up even when you replace the timing belt, you might of just used the wrong mark cause i've noticed that theres the tang and like another little mark on the crank which made me wonder if it was on right.