1998 Escort Si will not run when left for 40 plus minutes,

Hello Erica -

Thank you for your reply and further info... thats all very helpful with this issue you have - thank you.

I see a couple of things here though that I need to mention / make you aware of that should help you -

I see you have had a lot of things changed - but the comment too, that have obviously been told, that the car is too old to be compatible with modern diagnostic equipment - is just not at all true. Your Si 98 Escort has actually got very good diagnostic capabilities - it runs what is called the EEC IV (4) Pcm - / engine management computer - which is not at all old or outdated -and any "Modern" equipment will deal happily with that ...

If you look at the passenger door area - just forward of the door - to the left of where a passengers feet would go - on the plastic panel you will see a small flap / door - opening that reveals a 16 pin , modern , OBD - On board Diagnostics - diagnostic socket... which is where diag equipment is plugged into to get the readings / fault codes etc as needed.. Ive mentioned all that to make you aware- give you accurate info. ( Just one small point - if the diag socket is not there as above - its either on the drivers side - same area...or, up under the dash - under the steering column area.. it just depends on the exact build of the car you have - but it definitely does have one.. )

It sounds to me to be honest then that the garage you are dealing with, doesn't actually have the equipment to deal with it - so you may need to use another , different garage that has - rather than them just replacing items hoping to hit on the fault - which as you will now know, is an expensive way of doing things.... So it may come to that.

So to the issue your car is suffering with -

Now other than the air and fuel filters - the other parts that have been fitted just don't fit with the symptoms you have at all...

Typically this , what you have, can be caused by either a blocking fuel return ( fuel pipe back to the tank - OR , a blocking fuel tank vent ... this needs to be checked... The actual pipe needs checking along its length - ie - between the engine ( fuel injection system ) and the fuel tank... for any kinks, damage ( that can be caused by work on the car - or jacking the car up - or hitting objects on the road etc.. these do happen )

If thats proven ok - then a tip is to remove the fuel tank cap - filler cap -and try the car. If its ok then - then you know it has a tank breather fault.. that then is needing to be dealt with... that they should know how you to do ok.

Make sure that when doing the above "test" - with the cap - that its left off over sufficient time - to be sure )

Now if its neither of the above.. and the fuel pressure is as it should be - between 2.5 and 2.9 BAR.. I see you say , they say "its been checked" -- but its no good just checking fuel is there -- at the fuel rail... It has to be checked using a proper gauge to get the readings - ( This will also tell if you have a fault with the fuel return pipe )

If they dont have a fuel gauge for this - again, you need to use a garage that has. Your car has a schraeder valve ( just like a bicycle tyre ) on the fuel rail, that the gauge is designed to plug on to to test the pressure.

I cant stress enough for the need to have a proper pressure test gauge used on this - the fuel pumps on this model were known to give trouble - after a time of running they would lose pressure and the engine typically then would not rev above anything around 3k revs or so up... This fits with your symptoms so this test must be carried out-and - carried out over a period of time - so as to be on test in the time range you mention...40 mins or so. If the pressure is seen to drop down and the car start to struggle - you know you have that fault with the fuel pump . Renewal of the pump is the answer there..

Any problems found with the above tests would lead to the cause of your issues and should then be dealt with as found.

If its all ok as above - then I suspect you have a blocking exhaust... likely the Catalytic converter.. This is a common issue on this model you have....

Again - this can be tested using a proper whats called "back pressure tester" for the exhaust system - that is how that should be tested ideally.

I didnt ask, and should have done - if you have a warning light / engine fault light on the dash when the car is running -

If you do - you will definitely have fault codes in the PCMs fault log that need to be retrieved first - before doing any of the above - as that will direct whoever is doing the job quickly -

If you don't have the light on - its still always worth running a fault code test - it only takes mins... and then see what you have if you have fault codes.

If there are no fault codes, the equipment can be used to electronically carry out the Live Data tests and so on - again, a clever way of fault finding. No, the EEc 4 system is not as advanced as the modern cars when it comes to diagnostics - but again, its quite sufficient to fault find in the above manner.

Ok so Ive endeavoured to give you an overview and direct you as to the way to carry out /have carried out, the way to find whats wrong with you Escort Erica... Ive endeavoured to give a complete overview so that you should find the fault within what Ive mentioned above.
You can print the above out for a garage to work with by all means if you wish - or just note the main points to tell them - but you will need to be using a garage that has the correct equipment. To be honest, a good mobile mechanic that has equipment should be able to sort those issues for you if you cant find a garage locally - but this link HERE may just be of some help t you also in that regard...

Im very pleased to have helped / advised you - If you need anything else at all - by all means get back to me - Im always happy to help more if needed..

>> Meantime >>> Please do click on the "OK/ Excellent ratings" for me - Thank you in advance for that...

You can and are most welcome to get back to me anytime you might need - clicking the OK ratings does not close you out at all..

Kind Rgds, MIKE.