1999 Ford Escort Car Won't Start

BUTTERFLYKISS2007

MEMBER
1999 FORD ESCORT

1999 Ford Escort Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My car won't start and it's been a week. I live in Wisconsin and last weekend it was in the 40's and raining and then at night it froze. I thought I had frozen fuel lines. We put heat in the tank and it still didn't start, and it has been a little warmer outside since then. We replaced the spark plugs, and seeing the old ones we thought for sure that was the problem also there was gas on the spark plugs. We know the coil pack is working, but after replacing the sparks plugs the battery was low. Last night we charged the battery and this morning it still wouldn't start. I think that my friend put the spark plugs in correctly, but now he thinks its the belt on the engine. (Not sure of the name). I don't know if its that or my first instinct that the lines are forzen. Please help me. I am unemployed and can't afford a mechanic right now. Please and thank you!

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Do below might give you a basic idea where its coming from

Get a starting fluid/ether/better off gas in a spray bottle and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 in away from ground have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor /distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, ECM, Ignitor camshaft and crankshaft sensors- Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it

If both correct fuel pressure and snapping blue spark is present-check engine compression could be a valve and ignition timing, issue -this will lead you to problems with compression and valves opening and closing at the wrong time/broken or jumped timing belt/chain