93 Escort problem

[chica0902]

I have a 93 Escort Sedan that has trouble starting when it's been sitting for awhile. It'll start but die right away unless I give it gas. Even then when I let off the gas to put it in gear it dies sometimes. When I eventually get it started, it seems as if it's going to die when I'm stopped at lights or stop signs. Any suggestions? I'm taking it to the 3rd garage on Wednesday (the 13th) and am wanting to give them suggestions to look at.

Oh, and be patient with me if I ask you to explain what you mean. I have no freakin clue about anything with cars. I know how to drive them, that's about it.

[Snow93]

idle speed control motor will do that to ya sometimes use to do somethin like that to my car till we hauled one out of thejunk yard for 10 bucks.. just a thought(this was an automatic by the way). i get you a pic of it if ever i get my car out of the school lock up (no license),

[raytracer]

Hey all....nice forum.

I have a 93 Escort that won't IDLE. It'll start fine but won't idle.....just dies whether in gear, clutch in or out. I have to keep my foot on the gas and keep revving to keep it started. Someone mentioned O2 sensor but that there are multiple O2 sensors. SO.....maybe someone here has had the problem or knows the cause....would really appreciate any ideas.....

Raytracer

[townsaver]

I had a similar problem, there was a hose on top of the engine (little L shaped one, total length about 3-4 inches) had that replaced, and its been working fine ever since....

[Davescort97]

I had the same problem and I replaced the PCV valve and it has been okay since that. You might look for a vacuum leak also if that doesn't work

[Sandfobs]

Originally Posted by Davescort97

I had the same problem and I replaced the PCV valve and it has been okay since that. You might look for a vacuum leak also if that doesn't work

I had a vacuum leak on my intake gasket.. When I opened the hood while running you could hear it ... I just ran my finger all the way around till I noticed the sound change.

I replaced the gasket and it was perfect.... but when my dad looked at it once he played with the throttle assemby and now it's totally screwed up I think. The vaccuum leak is fixed but now I have the problem with the idle... when I warm it up ... it starts fine and keeps running perfect... after a few minutes it will change .... the engine dies down like it's going to quit altogether then goes back to regular idle speed... then repeats this process till eventually the engine quits... Kind of embarrassing really. I thought I fixed my problem.

Any ideas? I hate going out to warm up the car and when I go out to leave it's not running and it's still freezing in the car.

[Sandfobs]

Well here it goes I took it in for a tune up.....thinking this was all it would need. Afterwards it was harder for the vehicle to keep idling, the guys hooked it as check engine light was on. Came back and told me it could be some sort of wiring problem. When I got home I went back to check my last work on changing the intake gasket.. There was a conncetion there that I remember was hard to get together it didn't click or anything.

I checked the connection and the prongs were bent down.. I must have done that when I changed the intake gasket, so I bent the prons back where they were to be and it clicked together easily and the check engine light went out. Unfortunately it did not fix my problem, it still wouldn't idle on it's own, and when it did it it barely stayed running.

My father explained to me maybe the catalytic convertor was clogged to badly .. after all it did sit for quite awhile before I got it back up and running. So I took out the convertor and ran a straight pipe to see if this was the problem ... but Nope ... still running the same... now... I also noticed rad cap overflow dripping ... I'm thinking it had something to do with the sensor that was on the pipe before the convertor.

I am really starting to feel I'm running into more than I can chew here. Does anyone have the answer to my problems out there? LOL I sure hope so.. Need to sit back and have a brew, I'm baffled