Repairman tuned up "purge valve" problem

[HPhillip]

My 97 escort when first started up would miss while running in place and would fail to accelerate for the first couple of moments of giving it the gas, then it would seem to straighten out.

I took it to a mechanic reputed for honesty and he recommended an expensive tune-up, replacing all spark plugs and the 2 filters.

Only after the tune-up was done did I get a check engine light, which Autozone pegged as a "purge valve failure." And a day or two later, the missing and initial balkiness came back.

I see on the net that both the missing and the balkiness are associated with purge valve problems, so I wonder why the guy thought a tune-up was all the Escort needed.

I'm wondering if there's any way he'll comp part of future service since what he did didn't fix the actual problem.

Also, is it possible that the tune-up improved enough on the system that it facillitated things so the computer could read the system better.

Any similar tune-up/purge valve experiences out there?

[GTP Dad]

I don't have a similar experience but it appears that the tune-up improved performance enough that the purge valve problem came to the forefront. I suggest having the valve replaced and see what happens. Probably not what you wanted to hear but this is the best way to get the car to optimal performance.

Also I wouldn't blame the mechanic. If the computer didn't detect the problem prior to the tune up the mechanic did what he thought was the best given the issues that he observed. Mechanics are somewhat like doctors, they treat the symptoms and if the first treatment doesn't work you have to go back for another visit. This time the symptoms are more defined and the treatment should cure the problem. Good Luck!

[denisond3]

Also it may not be the valve itself. The rubber hoses going to and from that valve seem to be a feeble kind of rubber - or maybe its the fuel vapors going through them that make them mushy and liable to fail. My Escorts are 2nd gen, but I think the setup is the same. There is a rubber vacuum line from the bottom side of the throttle valve that runs to the purge solenoid valve, and another line from the other side of the purge solenoid to the charcoal canister. The canister on my Escorts is located at the very front driver's side of the engine compartment, and down low. To see the solenoid and the hoses, there are several things in the way: The large rubber air inlet duct, the air filter housing, and possibly the battery and battery tray - if the solenoid is located under the batt. tray.
I cant blame the mechanic either. Senile spark plugs and spark plug wires are common enough and can cause such symptoms. The failure of the purge solenoid or its electric connector or its little rubber hoses usually takes more time to happen than the time for spark plugs and wires to decay.

[HPhillip]

I think you're correct that the repairman pretty much had to tune the car up even to get at a possible problem. He said the air filter was especially dirty.

Since he didn't find the cause of the balkiness he comped the repair of the purge valve problem, probably because it was no more than a replacement of a rubber hose, so no more check engine light. But I do still observe the balkiness when the car's first started, which makes it feel like the car's bucking when I apply the gas.

Yet if I run the car in place a minute or two, I don't get the "bronco-bucking" effect as I accelerate for the first time.

The mechanic said that the fuel injectors might need cleaning, and my brother said I might get the same effect with STP in the gas tank. Anyone observed similar problems from dirty injectors?

[GTP Dad]

The problem you describe can be caused by any number of things. If you haven't cleaned the injectors that is a good place to start. Also you may want to remove and clean the throttle body if it hasn't been cleaned. This can cause a lot of issues and is easy to do. Just remove the hose from the air cleaner to the throttle body, unplug the IAC and the throttle position sensor and of course the throttle linkage. Remove the bolts and take the body off the intake. When you look at the back side you will see what I am talking about. Spray it with throttle body cleaner and replace. This should help. This can be done with the throttle body on the engine but I found it to be less of a hassle to just remove it.

[zzyzzx2]

The vacuum lines associated with this purge valve are the first ones to go on these cars (at least on 1991-1996 model years). I would check those as well. On mine one was completely off the charcoal canister and just hanging in air.