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1995 Ford Escort Tailpipe Water

1995 FORD ESCORT
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DIZZYSCORPION
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I got a 1995 ford escort lx for my birthday i havent had it very long i got it december 3 2006. it has 117,000 miles on it. it just had a new head gasket put on a year ago.timing messed up two years ago.it was running fine for a couple days.it keeps using power steering fluid.and water sprays from the tail pipe.the water has no gas smell.and is clear looking.I bought a new head gasket becausce thats what my gradfather said it needed now he changed his mind.
my budgets about $200 at the moment.Please help.
Dec 22, 2006 at 4:16 PM
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INDYUKE
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  • 416 POSTS
Unless the new headgasket blew, there shouldn't be an excessive amount of water coming out of the tailpipe, though a certain amount of water is normal for every vehicle. Often if a headgasket blew, signs of that would be large amounts of water out the tailpipe, or exhaust would contaminate the cooling system, or the oil would attain a creamy white color. You said the vehicle was running fine a couple of days ago. Is the vehicle not running well now?

The loss of powersteering fluid might be because of a leak somewhere. Check around the steering components for any sign of leaks.
Dec 22, 2006 at 4:52 PM
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DIZZYSCORPION
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it idles at 1400 rpm when u first start it.Then it gets down to 750 rpm.after about 30 seconds it idles lower until it shuts off.Water in the tail pipe, we checked the water in the radiator and all of the other fluids the only one low is power sterring.Other than that the car is ok.My check engine light comes on and off.
Dec 24, 2006 at 2:29 AM
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INDYUKE
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  • 416 POSTS
From what you describe the idle pattern seems to be normal, except for the part where the car shuts itself off. The check engine light going on and off is telling you that the computer has set a fault code. Are you able to scan the computer for those codes? They will give you a clue as to what's wrong.

One clarifying question: how much water do you estimate is coming out of the tailpipe? Is it a semi-steady drip with the occasional spurt when accelerating, or are you able to fill gallon jugs over the course of a small amount of time?
Dec 27, 2006 at 12:51 PM
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DIZZYSCORPION
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IT IS A STEDAY STREAM WHEN RUNNING THE HIGHER THE IDLE MORE WATER COMES OUT IT COULD PROBABLY FILL A MILK JUG IN UNDER 15 MINUTES
Dec 30, 2006 at 4:21 AM
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SERVICE WRITER
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Indyuke hit it on his first post.
Dec 30, 2006 at 9:09 AM
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Suggested Repair

A steady, high volume of clear water from the tailpipe points to a failed head gasket. Confirm with cooling-system contamination, oil condition, and a scan of the check-engine codes. Also inspect the power-steering system for leaks.

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Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1995 Ford Escort LX wagon reported power-steering fluid loss, a check-engine light that comes and goes, idle that drops until the engine stalls, and a steady stream of clear, odorless water from the tailpipe that could fill a milk jug in under 15 minutes. An expert said that volume of water is not normal condensation and is consistent with a blown head gasket, and advised scanning fault codes and checking steering components for leaks. A second expert agreed with that assessment.

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