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1997 Ford Escort Wont Start

Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD ESCORT
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 300,000 MILES
My serpentine belt broke while I was parked using my ac. I drove car 1 mile home and parked it, then drove.5 of a mile to parts store and put the new belt on. While driving the.5 of a mile back home my car was clicking. Looked at belt realized I didnt have the belt on correct because me steering was still hard. I put the belt on again using a diagram from Google, clicking went away. Drove it.5 of a mile again but car didn't sound right. Sounded like it was missing so I replaced my 4 spark plugs but then car wouldn't start. My friend came and looked at my car and said I did hook everything up right. He also said the fuel filter was shot so we replaced the fuel filter. No gas is leaking out, but car doesn't want to start right if it does start. If it does start it runs for a few seconds then dies or turns right off when I turn my key from start to run
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Monday, September 22nd, 2014 AT 1:25 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
Have you checked fuel pump pressure? Have you checked to make sure you are getting spark to the plugs (a good hot blue snapping spark)?

Let me know.
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Monday, September 22nd, 2014 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
We have good pressure and good spark on the plugs.
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Monday, September 22nd, 2014 AT 5:54 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
If fuel pressure is good and you have a good hot blue spark to the plugs, it has to run. Since it has spark, fuel isn't getting into the engine. Have you checked to see if the injectors are getting power? Since the belt broke and then was put on incorrectly, check to make sure none of the wires going to the cam or crank sensors were damaged. The cam sensor times the injectors.

To make this really simple, see if the engine will start for a couple seconds using starting fluid. Let me know what you find.
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Monday, September 22nd, 2014 AT 6:03 PM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
We havent had the chance to check what you let us know. I do have a remote starter, could that be giving an issue. The reason im asking this is because my car tried to start its self while the keys were hanging out of the open trunk, and all the spark plug wires were disconnected from the spark plugs.
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Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
OMG. I hate aftermarket remote starters. They cause more fires and problems than I can say. However, since you are getting spark and fuel, I don't think that is the issue. When you had all the plug wires off, are you sure you got them back on in the correct order?
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Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yes my bf and friend looked at it
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Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
Okay, I have a last ditch effort here. Is there any way you could record what is happening, put it on youtube so I can see and hear what is happening. Since the problem really got worse when the plugs were replaced, I have to question if the plug wires are on the correct cylinders and I need to know if you gaped the plugs before you installed them. Something isn't adding up. At least it ran before the plugs were replaced.
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Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 AT 6:57 PM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
What do you mean by gaped the plugs? And yes I'll record trying to start the car I'll try and do it for a few min.
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 AT 8:49 AM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
The guy at auto zone told me allni had to do was put them in
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
My bf said that thebplugs are right. I also uploaded a video. Kortnee and car won't start lol. Thanks again
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
The plugs just go in, but the plug wires must go to the correct plug. That is my concern.

As far as the video, I went to youtube and typed in " Kortnee and car won't start." Is that where you put it? Nothing came up for me. Do you have the link?
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
I'm not having too much luck with youtube. This is what I got when I used your link:

This video is private.

Sorry about that.

It said I had to log in if I had permission to watch it, so I did. It still said the same thing.
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Thursday, September 25th, 2014 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
KORTNEELYNN88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Do you have an e-mail I can just email it to. Idk how ekse to upload it.
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Thursday, September 25th, 2014 AT 6:03 PM

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