I've recently been given a 94 Ford escort, 16v 1.8 petrol.
The vehicle has been fitted with a replacement Zetec engine which has apparently only done 55,000 from new but I'm having major problems with the engine missing, when I say missing I mean when you put your foot down to accelerate (in any gear) it hesitates to the point of it almost stalling and I have to change down a gear before it picks up again and then it goes like a rocket, pumping the accelerator pedal does nothing.
So far I've fitted a secondhand gearbox, new clutch, new front discs, pads, wheel cylinders and brake shoes, rear brake pipes, n/s wishbone, two tyres, rear exhaust, battery, oil and filter, air filter, new plugs and a Lambda sensor.
There appears to be no end of cost ;(
The last straw was when I took the vehicle to a garage who apparently had engine diagnostic equipment and they said it was the "air flow sensor", they charged me 47 quid labour for the diagnosis and for cleaning the air flow sensor element. After the element was cleaned the engine did run better but it still hesitated occasionally on acceleration and they advised me to replace the air flow sensor if the problem persists (which it did). So the following day being fed up with it still missing I bought a new air flow sensor which cost nearly 150 quid including vat.
But even with this new air flow sensor the engine is showing exactly the same symptoms by hesitating when putting demand on the accelerator.
The problem I have now is finding a reliable garage to correctly identify/diagnose the problem.
Is this a common problem on Zetec engines? Should I take the vehicle to a main Ford dealer in the hope that they might be able to correctly diagnose the fault? Has the fault been missdiagnosed? Is the new sensor likely to be faulty or could it be something else?
I don't mind paying for a decent service but feel as though yet another garage is out to fleece me.
Steve.