Escort spark trouble

I'm so darned old that I still know how to work on 50's type engines but I get a little confused on newer stuff. My kid's escort has a spark issue (no spark),and I'm trying to remember how to test the coil. But I see references to the coil pack or coil module and also references to the TFI module.

What 's the difference between the coil module and the TFI or ignition control module?
I read that one or both of them are the typical problem on escorts when it comes to spark trouble.
Should I have him just replace both?
I'm trying to diagnose this via email since my kid is 200 miles away.

Thanks

well I got no replies but in the meantime I found out some more info. I see now that this escort (a 1.9) just has a coil module and a distributor. I also see that it has some sort of fuel injection system I'm not familiar with . There is an electronically timed spay inside the air cleaner and an intake manifold rather than 4 separate injectors.
There is spark to the distributor and spark to each plug. There is fuel mix spray at the top of the intake manifold but engine won't start.
This thing was running fine until 2 days ago .It started right up and then died.
Any ideas??

well I got no replies but in the meantime I found out some more info. I see now that this escort (a 1.9) just has a coil module and a distributor. I also see that it has some sort of fuel injection system I'm not familiar with . There is an electronically timed spay inside the air cleaner and an intake manifold rather than 4 separate injectors.
There is spark to the distributor and spark to each plug. There is fuel mix spray at the top of the intake manifold but engine won't start.
This thing was running fine until 2 days ago .It started right up and then died.
Any ideas??
If you have spark and fuel you could have a plugged air cleaner. Check if your timing belt is loose or broke a tooth.

:runaround:ok I will take your word for it , it has spark and fuel the only thing that's missing as air and TIMING.............even if air cleaner was plugged it would still fire up for a moment but those little motors have timing belts and do have a way of skipping time enough when you shut down and the engine,,,,,,,,,,( diesels or kikes back )we know the belt is still on because the dist. is located on the end of the cam ........bring it up to top dead center and check your marks on crank to where they should be on dist. then get a new timing belt and reinstall it id bet your over 60.000 and its never been done :2cents::smokin:

Thanks to both of you. We determined it is the timing belt. Even though it is still on it turns out it is pretty worn and lose. So we're putting a new one on. They couldn't have emade it any more difficult to change the belt on those escorts!!! Having to drop the engine to remove the lower pully just to see the dang timing mark!

oh no :nono::runaround:I hope you didn't take it all the way out just un do the mount at belt side of motor and remove tire, gives enough room to remove and replace the belt/ replace the tensioner too

rustydogy- I'm at a disadvantage since I can't see the car.It's 200 miles away in my son's driveway. All I can go by are pictures I looked at on the internet and what my kid tells me. He says he took off the passengerside wheel and there is a small hole large enough to get a socket on the pulley but no room to pull the pulley. I told him to try dropping that side of the engine by disengaging the motor mount at top front of engine..
A lot of trouble just to see the timing mark for the crankshaft I thought but he says there is no way to see the mark with the pulley in place and the engine mounted.. Please tell me if there is abetter way.

sounds alot like the mazda 626. There is an inside rubber splash cover in the wheel well you have to remove. I'm not sure if the escort is an "interference" motor. So he has to be absolutely sure he has everything aligned correctly before he attempts a start. Someone will probably answer this.

Edit: Take alook at autozone their online repair guides. The do cover alot. Signup is free..

he didn't mention any removable cover. That would sure make it easy. As far as interference engines go... I was worried, too, that he could have bent a valve while trying to start the engine when he didn't know what was wrong. I would think that since the time manufacturers began using timing belts instead of the sturdy old timing chain, that they would take into account that as soon as a belt slips or breaks, the driver is going to crank over the engine again and again so it would be stupid to make an interference stye engine with a timing BELT. But at this point we just have to press ahead and get it timed and hope for the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxC3EAVfWwA it is not an interference engine some 4 bangers are, but not this 1 ,and if I got year wrong all ford1.9s are same timing belt and tensioner if you can send this on to him to help just copy and past in e-mail or you watch and then after seeing you can explain it easer he will need a jack to rais and lower the belt side of motor

Good video. Thanks.He should be able to lower the belt side of engine since he and i dropped it just a few months ago to replace the clutch (stupid transverse mounted engine with no working room!). I couldn't find any video to show just how that belt tensioner can be relieved to get the new belt on. In the video you sent I see the guy pulling on a socket wrench attached to the tensioner, but I didn't see that it actually did anything.

50036

50037

50038:lol2:after he gets it on and sets tensioner snug it down rotate motor 1 complete cycle 2 crank turns /clock wise / check to see if marks line up right/ if they do then loosen tensioner and jus lightly tap it for final adjustment, let it move with its own spring pressure then retighten tensioner , put all back together

he didn't mention any removable cover. That would sure make it easy. .
Glanced at the vids rustydogy posted. Vid 2 shows the removable splash cover I was talking about.

Thanks guys- I sent that image of the waterpump/tensioner on to the kid. He says there is no bolt on the front of the tensioner. And says there is no removable section in the wheel well. His escort is a 1990 so who knows? It is definitely different than the 93 and in fact is NOT fuel injected either.
At this point ,he has dropped the belt end of the engine and is ready to pull off the crank pulley. Thanks for helping us out on this!

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c1528008b335

You may have to sign up. autozone repair guide with pics.

Good visuals! Thanks- I'm waiting to hear from him on progress.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairguides/Ford-Escort-Lynx-1981-1990-Repair-Guide/ENGINE-MECHANICAL/Timing-Belt-and-Sprockets/_/P-0900c1528008b335#hd1-1-1 (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairguides/Ford-Escort-Lynx-1981-1990-Repair-Guide/ENGINE-MECHANICAL/Timing-Belt-and-Sprockets/_/P-0900c1528008b335#hd1-1-1) try this sorry I had rong year

got it! thanks. I had no idea autozone had this stuff online. I sent it on to the kid. Looks differnt than his model though. His doesn't have timing marks on the plastic belt cover.

hmmmmmmmmmmm. if he don't get it figured out soon get vin # for me and month /year of mfg and we will get right but he does hove now 1.9 carb/efi and duel roller I engine is this original motor ??

as far as I know it's original engine. He is not responding to me so I guess he's out for a while. I'll post what i find out when he gets back. i appreciate your help on this. In all my searching i haven't been able to find any pictures that look like his.

like you I am disadvantaged I cant see either its really not a tough job I have done many ford timing belts , it should only take a half day including (beer )if he lived in Denver I could go talk him threw as now im in wheel chair

Yeah I'm with you. If I could just get my hands on this thing.... Not a tough job just a lotta stuff in the way. Put that wheelchair in high gear and head down to Eugene Or. That's where this escort is.

hmmmm. lets see I get bout 15 mi on charge 3 1/2 -4 hours to charge and go again bot 6-7 mi an hour ,if I get there before he figures it out I get a big steak dinner ,its a deal ,,,,,,,,,,,, on my way packen a lunch now........ tell him to look for me .....LOL,.with ........ id be the fat guy in a chair with the broncos logo on the back of the seat

thinkin' of heading down there myself. The suspense is killing me. I'll meet you there with a sixpack

no go on ahead ill catch up

Ok! He got the timing belt on! Fired it up and it runs! BUT the thing is idling at about 3000-3500 rpm. and the brakes act like they are no longer power assist
I told him to run the engine a while to urn off any fuel left in the intake manifold from all the cranking while the engine wouldn't start. he ran it for a while but it won't idle down . I told him to look for a vacuum hose disconnected..
Meanwhile- I'm not sure what he might have done to the brake system. Is the brake system a vacuum set up?

I would check brake booster hose. Sounds like knocked lose or broken. High idle normally vacuum leak.

Thanks- just after I posted the last question I remembered that the brake booster is indeed a vacuum system. DUH!!! So obviously the high idle AND the bad braking are from a disconnected vacuum hose. Sometimes it takes my old brain a while to get in gear. Wonder what the cure for that is??

I have to agree with aleekat , brian sounds that way to me too

Sometimes it takes my old brain a while to get in gear. Wonder what the cure for that is??
Jack Daniels works for me..:grinyes: