1997 Ford Escort Engine power loss on right turns.

Tiny
WINGNUT74
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD ESCORT
Engine Performance problem
1997 Ford Escort 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 152k miles

When my vechicle gets below 5gal of gas remaining my car experiences sudden power loss on right hand turns then recovers when I exit the turn. Does the Escort fuel tank have an internal bladder, and if so what are the odds of the bladder rupturing or deteriorating to cause this problem.
I replaced the fuel sending unit a few weeks ago and noted the screen on the fuel pump was clean.
I have not been able to buy a fuel pressure gauge yet to verify the fuel rail pressure. I have no engine codes and the "Service Engine" light does not illuminate when experiencing this problem.
Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 11:17 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
I would ve suspected fuel pump
remove pump and check the splash guard
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 2:18 PM
Tiny
WINGNUT74
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I stoped by a local salvage yard that has an Escort like mine to look at the fuel tank. I found that the tank is made of plastic like mine is and there is not a bladder installed. Although I did see the area where the pump sits. My mechanic suggests the baffle/sump area is loose. To me it seems like the pump area is molded with the tank, Have you experienced a repair in this area or is it better to just try and replacing the tank itself.
I will ask my mechanic to verify the proper pump is installed, before I look into replacing the tank.
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 4:21 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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If the inside of the tank loose
no repair can be made that I know of
need to replace the tank
good luck and let me know how it goes
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 4:33 PM
Tiny
WINGNUT74
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I will be sure to reply with the repair so the next guy experiencing the same issue will be able to cut down on his trouble shooting. I have noted one other guy having the same problem. I replied to his post to see what corrected his issue, Hopefully he gets my note.
Thanks for all your responses.
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 4:38 PM
Tiny
WINGNUT74
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2 weeks ago I took the car to my mechanic and with him troubleshooting it between other jobs, He decided to replace the fuel tank with another one from a local salvage yard. The operational performance during a road test led to the same issue occuring. "Car still dies on Right hand turns when less than 5 gallons remaining in the fuel tank". I will need to ask him tomorrow if he used a differrent pump/filter, im not sure at the moment. But he did tell me that upon visual inspection, the pump and filter seemed to look fine. The technician had placed a fuel pressure gauge on the injection rail, and indication showed a fuel pressure loss on turns as previously stated. I not sure if it was a an indiation of zero pressure or just a drop below required pressure for system operation.
I noticed a previous entry from another member (blyr1020) who was encountering the same issue. Is there some way for site moderators to ask them what the corrective issue was for their vechicle It seems that this problem has occured to other Escort owners, Making me realize its not just some weird occurance with one vechicle. I will do what I can to try and keep this thread updated with repairs and hopefully the corrective action.
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Thursday, March 19th, 2009 AT 11:13 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Let me know if the pump was replaced too
i will try and send bly a PM
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 6:01 AM
Tiny
WINGNUT74
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The original fuel pump/screen was used in the replaced fuel tank. I think my mechanic is starting to get frustrated with the car.
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
WINGNUT74
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I would like to thank this web site and you personally for trying to help me diagnose my cars peculiar problem.
I went and picked the vechicle up from the mechanic today and the problem was corrected by changing the fuel pump. My mechanic is not sure why the pump created this kind of issue, But when it was changed the issue stopped. Im glad it got corrected and hopefully anyone else with this kind of issue will read this thread. Let me add, That the whole pump/sending unit hangar was changed not just the pump itself.
Thank You,
Wingnut74
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Monday, March 23rd, 2009 AT 10:10 PM

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