Engine Performance problem
1999 Ford Escort 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 125000 miles
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I have a 1999 Escort that has a problem. I was running about 75 MPH for about 1.5 hours without any trouble, when the car just lost power. I was on the downside of a hill, and coasted to an area to pull off. I then got the engine to start, but when you attempted to accelerate it would begin to die out. It would only run at low rpms. This went on for about 15 miles (I was able to get to about 30 MPH by changing gears) until it died completely.

I have been working on it, and it will hit, but won't start. I have good fuel flow from the filter, and the fuel flows out of the infector manifold when the engine is cranked. There is no flow when the pump is on, but the engine is not rotating (there may be some type of a safety shutoff valve). I further pulled the injectors and connected them to fuel. I could see spray out of the injectors when the car was cranked.

I don't believe it jumped time because the cylinders all show between 180 and 190 PSI of compression.

If anybody has any suggestions, I would appreciate it.

You need to check for fuel pressure using gauges
check for spark (do you have a good and strong spark )
check for exhausts restriction
check timing belt (good compression but I would still check the timing marks )

good luck