Fuel system problem

Specs
2001 Escort w/2.0 SFI
67Kmi
Tuned up about 3 weeks ago, New plugs, wires, all filters.

In the last few days the car has a problem starting (must turn over several times to start). Once started it hesitates every now and again on flat roads, but under a load (like going up a hill) it hesitates alot and the service engine light start to blink and then stops. The blinking will come on again with 10 or 15 mins it I still going up a hill. I thing it is the fuel system but I am not sure where to begin. Please advise. Thenks David

Maybe you can get the codes read to see why the light is blinking.

Blinking SES light means misfire. Check that none of your plugs are cracked, and that the wires are not burned and are installed and routed properly.

Obviously the posibilities here are endless, but if I had to guess I'd say fuel pump. One way to possibly diagnose it without a pressure gauge is next time you start the car, before starting it turn the ignition switch to the on position for about 3 or 4 seconds without trying to start it. Turn it off and immediatly on again, but this time after the 3 seconds go to start. If it fires right up with this procedure I'd bet it's the pump. Well actually it could be the check valve at the pump, but I don't think it's available separately. Please post your results to help us all out!

Good point cobra. With a bad check valve the fuel would go back into the tank after shutdown. Making it hard to start.

When the light is blinking, it indicates the computer senses an active misfire, when the misfire goes away, the light will stay on steady and log a trouble code. Also, since he just changed the plugs and wires before it did this, I'll be willing to bet that he has a burned spark plug wire or cracked plug insulator...

Thank you all for input. This what I have done so far.
Changed the Coil and wire set, and check the plugs, - did not help
Changed out the fuel pressure senser - did not help
Read the codes off the computer - no codes given.
My first thought was the fuel pump, but I did not know how the test it. When I go the start the car, I put the key in the ON position till the fuel pump stops running. then I go start the car but it never starts. Then I turn the key to off and then back to the on position till the fuel pump stops and then start the car, sometimes it will start sometime I have to do it again to start the car. This morning I took it in the have a diag done. I will post the results. I wish I could work on it longer but we need to car up and running ASAP.

Sounds like a fuel pressure regulator problem to me. When they go bad they do not hold pressure and will make the car hard to start. Will also cause misfires if the pressure is too low.

Sounds like a fuel pressure regulator problem to me. When they go bad they do not hold pressure and will make the car hard to start. Will also cause misfires if the pressure is too low.

Thanks for the input, but there is no fuel pressure regulator on the 2001 escort. It has a fuel pressure senser. Anyway it is the fuel pump, I just got the call from garage and that is what they found. The pump is running at about 14 psi and should be running at 55 - 85 psi. thats a quick $600.00 down the tubs.... Thanks everyone for the help.

Thanks for the post. It seems like Ford has a better idea by not putting regulators on these cars. Makes them more money when the pumps wear out prematurely.