Ford Escort ignition problem
 

I would imagine anyone with a bit of knowledge about mechanics should be able to help with this one.

The car is a N reg Escort 1.6 Zetec [awesome car] lol.
While on a journey the car cut out mid drive. This has never happened before and it would not restart.

On turning the key the usual dash lights appear but it won't turn over.
[obviously not a starter problem as it cut out mid drive]
On the turn of against spring tension the lights on the dash dim and flicker.

I am thinking it is the starter switch as the spring mechanism in it has been iffy in the past. Perhaps a faulty internal connection here?

I have taken the switch out and it has a Red, Black, Blue and Yellow wire to it.
To eliminate the switch what wires should I bridge to try and start the car?

Any thoughts. Thanks

Anyone?

Hi, might be worth a auto sparky to take a quick look, the fuse box has a issue where the ground/earth block burns out very common fault and cause starting issues

oops, the symptoms you are describing sound like a cambelt snap and now you have a valve against piston scenario, fingers crossed it's not that.

Bob, was there a funny noise before this happened, I doubt it is a cambelt snapped as the starter would turn the engine over despite bent valves,,

The starter motor may of run on and overheated, ( a common problem on escorts), Have a smell around the starter motor, it may smell burnt, When the starter overheats it shorts out and cuts the engine out,

disconnect the battery and remove the live lead to the starter, There may be two live leads, One will be for starter and the other will be the live for the Alternater charging circuit, put a nit and bolt to join these two after removing from the starter, Tape them up with some insulating tape and cable tie to stop it flapping around,
Re connect the battery and you will be able to bump start the car ( unles its an auto)

Before doing this put the car in 5th and roll it back and forth to see if the engine is turning over freelly,

I'm an RAC patrol and this is very common,

Good luck

Thanks alot. I will try this. There was no funny noise by the way prior to the engine dying.

I was going to bridge the terminals to the starter[this was something i used to do with mt Pug GTI but this is different to what I did in the past.]

The car is actually my dads and its parked at his house. He has no RAC/AA whereas I do. Do the RAC/ AA have access to PNC/national database or similar as I am considering calling them but the car is not registered to me?

Thanks

They dont have that info Bob but the RAC are being very vigilant at the minute, so if they think they can smell a rat then they will refuse sevice and cancel your policy Technically its fraud as its an insurance policy,

If your dad joins whilst needing service they will also charge him a call out fee on top of the non discounted price. His best bet is to find a patrol (wink wink) and join through him. Pm me for my number

He won't join the RAC as he has given the car to me [now its fooked].
He has a new Merc now and has cover with that.

Are you saying the car will not bump start if the starter is knackered?

What will rocking it in 5th gear tell me exactly?

If the starter motor is still shorted out internally it wont start as thats where is gets its ignition live, rocking back and forth in gear will turn the engine over and you should be able to push the car with it in 5th, if it wont move in 5th then the engine is seized or hydraulic'd

If it wont move in gear then dont try and bump start it mate

Thanks again t7srt

Ahem, if you want to join the AA, PM me :D

[scuttles off!]

Ok. Got the car bump started and back on my driveway where I can have a good luck at it. The starter will still not turn using the key.

have you tested for a live at the cranking wire on the starter? or tried as you say bridging it across?

checked all earth leads engine to chassis?

are you immobiliser lights flashing repeatidly atall? the little red led, when ign on or trying to crank it should not be flashing.

I'm still putting my money on the starter motor being burnt out,

Let me know what it is when sorted Bob

Why would the car cut out mid drive thru a stuck starter though?
I understand why u say that with it not turning over now but the car stopped dead mid drive,
Im still sticking with the known issues with the fuse box if he has fuel on the plugs

your missing the point the car bump starts so its getting a spark and fuel however it did cut out and stop, test for the lives to starter test earths that will diagnose starter or not. once running test other things, could be crank sensor playing up etc although for it to vut out and no longer crank over have got to be the one and the same issue however cars are weird and wonderfull creations lol

if you local to southampton if you pay my fuel ill pop up and have quick look and plug it in to my machine for you.

lee

I checked the live to the starter and it showed 12v so I decided to take it off.
I then connected a set of live jump leads to the starter when it was off the car and nothing.
Surely it is fooked?

That was my issue but t7srt has posted the comments below.

The starter motor may of run on and overheated, ( a common problem on escorts), Have a smell around the starter motor, it may smell burnt, When the starter overheats it shorts out and cuts the engine out,

so you had 12v at tthe main live, and you also tried running a live to the main live and the cranking liver terminal? if yes then yes the starters goofed

was the big fat live still conencted to the starter? (not just a small one for the solenoid) seen one on a rover 216 that had rotted off at the started end and then was flailing around - very dangerous.

The known issue with the fuse boxes on escorts only affected the Fuel pump circuit,
If the starter motor shorts to earth it will back feed through the alternator and cut the engine, The car would also cut out if the main live feed to the starter was corroded to a point that it came away from the starter,
As Bob has 12v down to the starter I'd say it was ok, There is a black connector at the back of the bulkhead (engine side) with a balck/red wire, Its the only wire that is in the connector, This is the exciter wire for the starter, you can check from here that you are getting a live feed when cranked, You can even pull the connector apart and feed a live straight to the starter without getting your hands dirty,
The car bumps starts and runs so it can only be the starter or wiring to the starter,

SIMPLES:thumb:

I should have updated this a few days ago when I fixed the car.

I fitted a 2nd hand starter and ignition switch and the car started no pobs.

Thanks for any input.

Shall i say it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I shouldnt,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,



s*d it,,,, I will,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


Told you so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


Glad you got it sorted mate,