2000 ford escort will not start HELP!!!

[gwalkr]

Hey everyone and merry christmas. Anyone can tell me my 2000 ford escort when i pulled up in driveway last nite it sound like it was idle higher then usuall then this morning when i went to leave in it it would not start. I sounds as if it wants to start but wont. Any one have any ideas. THANKS

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!

Try removing the air cleaner and spraying starting fluid into the throttle body. If the car starts then the fuel pump has probably gone bad and not holding enough pressure to start the car. There is also a possibility that the fuel filter has plugged. Change it first before changing the fuel pump. Much cheaper.

If it fails to start check the ignition side of the car as you may have had a coil or the crank position sensor go bad.

[gwalkr]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

Welcome to AF!!

Try removing the air cleaner and spraying starting fluid into the throttle body. If the car starts then the fuel pump has probably gone bad and not holding enough pressure to start the car. There is also a possibility that the fuel filter has plugged. Change it first before changing the fuel pump. Much cheaper.

If it fails to start check the ignition side of the car as you may have had a coil or the crank position sensor go bad.

Thank for the advice but it turned out to be the timing belt.. Im having it put on today!!! WIsh me luck!!! hopefully just the belt!!!

[scoatw]

I had the same symptoms. My daughters 96 1.9L hit a pothole and suddenly quit running. I sprayed starter fluid in the throttle chamber and it starts for a short time. I started troubleshooting the fuel system. I changed the fuel filter, no result. I had her turn the key on without starting it. to check the fuel preassure regulator, it worked. I checked the filler cap to hear the fuel pump whirring, nothing. I checked the fuel stop switch in the trunk, it was in the off position, turned it on, Bingo. The jarring from hitting the pothole knocked it in the off position. Thanks to this website and a Haynes repair manual I was able to save myself about $500.

[RODALCO]

I had a similar problem with a Holden Commodore.
Drove perfectly the day before, in the morning trying to crank it over, but didn't fire, and the fibre drive gear to the distributor was stripped of cogs.
Just wear and tear It had done 240,000 kms.
A secondhand replacement solved the problem.
Lucky that Holden had chain drive for the cam.