Have a 95 escort 16v lx which is spluttering when warm, as though it`s not getting fuel, it only does this when driving not when you dip the clutch or out of gear. If you turn off the engine and turn back on problem goes for a short time then comes back, its been on diagnostic computer at ford,they said faulty alternator, replaced this but still the same. Can anyone help please

By poor performance, did you mean the car or the dealer? If the fuel filter hasn't been changed in a while, try changing it. Does the car have a volt meter? If it doesn't connect in a test meter. Watch the voltage, is should run about 14 volts with the engine running. If not, it has some electrical problem other than the alternator. Check the connections from the battery to the alternator and fuse panel. If it has an external voltage regulator, check its connections. Also from the battery to the body and engine ground. There are some other things to check, but the computer at the dealer should have picked them up.

This is a general answer, I lack Escort experience. If somebody here has an Escort, they may be of more help.

[QUOTE=labman]By poor performance, did you mean the car or the dealer? If the fuel filter hasn't been changed in a while, try changing it. Does the car have a volt meter? If it doesn't connect in a test meter. Watch the voltage, is should run about 14 volts with the engine running. If not, it has some electrical problem other than the alternator. Check the connections from the battery to the alternator and fuse panel. If it has an external voltage regulator, check its connections. Also from the battery to the body and engine ground. There are some other things to check, but the computer at the dealer should have picked them up.

This is a general answer, I lack Escort experience. If somebody here has an Escort, they may be of more help.[/QUO


The car, it`s driving me mad.
Will check these but will be back at dealers tomorrow.
Thanks

Just a quick question... sorry for stealing your thread to ask this. What EXACTLY do you mean when you say "check your ground connections"... does it mean measuring resistance between the wire and the body, to check how much resistance is on the connecting part of the wire? If the resistance is high, it means the ground is not good?

A measurement may not give a significant reading. What I mean is to remove the cables, clean any corrosion and oxidation, and then carefully tighten it up again.