1.9 'Scort owners, read this

[butch100]

Hi all, just wanted to let everyone know about a defect in the head
of the 1.9 engine. Last week I was returning from work and I dropped
a cylinder with a loud banging noise so I had the car towed home
and pulled the head off and found a lot of metal fragments stuck in
the head and top of the pistion. Turns out these heads, as they age
are suspectable to a valve guide dropping out of intake valve into
the head!. Found this out from 2 machine shops I contacted to
rework the head. it's the #4 cylinder intake valve. I should add that
my 'scort has 139K on it (it's a '94).....Later,Barry

[Frunobulax]

Damn. And I only have 360,000 miles on mine...

[butch100]

Wow that's a TON of miles! what repairs-replacements have you
had to do along the way???

[Frunobulax]

Let me see...

I'm on my second clutch; I've replaced the alternator a couple of times;
I'm on my fourth timing belt;I've had the AC worked on a couple of times.
I had the radiator replaced a few years ago.

I've replaced suspension parts quite a few times, of course.

And, of course, I've replaced the damned instrument panel lights twice!

I've probably missed a couple of things on the list, but the engine and transmission are original.

[butch100]

Damm I hope mine lasts that long..I get my head back from the
machine shop tommrow, should have her up and running in a day
or so. I just HATE car payments so much that I'm going to keep
driving my 'scort until it turns to frigging dust!!

[Frunobulax]

Heh -- I figure my Escort doesn't owe me a penny. It was paid off , I think, in '94 or so and still runs like a champ.

[hydrosmith]

Hay Butch100 just had the exact same problem happen to mine. Same cylinder same intake valve, same piston only at 155,000 miles. It gave me no warning at all.

Can you let me know what you are doing for a repair? I still owe money on mine so it has got to be fixed. I'm considering a new engine but is the head repairable? What about a piston replacement?

[butch100]

I took off the head and brought it to a machine shop, they are
going to repair it for $145 and install a valve guide that wont
fall out in addition to serviceing the entire head, ( cleaning
grinding the valves,ect). The piston had a few small dings on it
but it should be OK after I clean it up some. It's a bit of a job to
remove and re-install a head but a shop would prob. charge
700-1000 for this kind of work.

[ScorTmobileR]

cant say i have had any cylinder probs, and i hope that im not jynxing myself by saying that, but ive been running fine in a 93 wagon, and ive got 297,000 miles on it, shes a trooper.

[Frunobulax]

Originally Posted by ScorTmobileR

cant say i have had any cylinder probs, and i hope that im not jynxing myself by saying that, but ive been running fine in a 93 wagon, and ive got 297,000 miles on it, shes a trooper.

Heheh -- I think you and I should whisper and tiptoe around our cars for the next few days...

[ScorTmobileR]

Originally Posted by Frunobulax

Heheh -- I think you and I should whisper and tiptoe around our cars for the next few days...

i would deff agree....think ill give her some extra lovin tomarrow

[92EscrtPmp]

My `scort Wagon 1.9 SEFI motor had a warped head, blown gaskets all around it, and was leaking water on the Cylinder walls, drove it all around with no water in the radiator for 1 month, let it sit up for 6 months with water in the oil, put a battery in the thing let the fuel catch up to it, turned over 2 times andf started right up! I got no complaints

[92EscrtPmp]

She'sa 92 `scort LX Wagon with 299,735.5mi.

[butch100]

It is impossible to drive a veichle without any water in the radiator,
what kept the block cool, good luck???? If you've got 297,000
miles on your 'scort it's safe to say that your probably not going to
fall victim to the valve guide issue. I didn't want to alarm anyone
with this, just passing along what 2 machine shops informed me
about. Removing the head just to replace the valve guide is impractical
for most people, BUT if youv'e got it off for any reason, get it changed
out. If it happens while your driving just remember SHUT IT DOWN
QUICKLY!!

[92EscrtPmp]

what kept the block cool was not driving it in stop and go traffic, killing the car if we did get stopped at a light or few. mostly, I live in backwoods. The timing never skipped, the little bit of water-mixed oil kept the block alright. Never drove it under 55 mph so the air would keep it cool. I had hit a deer with it and smashed the front bumper, so the air went right up over the radiator and under the hood. didn't really take it easy, she's my little "hott Rod Wagon" and I never lost any power. the only problems we had with the car was rutine matenence, and heater cores, and aren't they a pain in the ass to fix... The whole dash has to come out!!!! We have only replaced the clutch once the whole time we had it. The only gripe I have is now the thing won't say in 5th. the damn tranny is going!!!