help with 97' Escort
#1
06-08-2010
help with 97' Escort
It's not a Ranger 4-cylinder, but its a 4-cylinder. Sara's car is idling REALLY low and kind of like missing/sputtering. the RPMs are going up and down. I was going to change the spark plugs and clean the MAF sensor . Does it sound like those could be the problem? It drives and rides fine, just the idling is really low. any suggestions
#5
06-15-2010
Alright guys, She REALLY needs your help.
It is idling bad now, to the point of shutting off unless she keeps the RPMs up. Its fine under acceleration and driving, only under idle does it mess up. ItT just has an unsteady idle, almost like a rythym. It goes down and up, down and up and then shuts off unless given throttle.
Like mentioned above, i think its the idle Air Control Valve. Does this sound about right to you?
It is idling bad now, to the point of shutting off unless she keeps the RPMs up. Its fine under acceleration and driving, only under idle does it mess up. ItT just has an unsteady idle, almost like a rythym. It goes down and up, down and up and then shuts off unless given throttle.
Like mentioned above, i think its the idle Air Control Valve. Does this sound about right to you?
#6
06-15-2010
#7
06-15-2010
This may sound stypid... But check the air filter too. If the filter is plugged the engne is struggling to get air and can't pull enough air through at idle. Probably not what's causing your problem but
ake sure you cover all your bases before throwing money into sensors
ake sure you cover all your bases before throwing money into sensors
#8
06-15-2010
#9
06-15-2010
#10
06-15-2010
#12
06-15-2010
P1443 is usually either a leaking vacuum hose near the canister or a failed Purge Flow Sensor which is the one in the picture that is not colored in. Many parts places sell this under a different name but it should look like the picture. I replaced the one on our 97 Escort to correct a P1443 but there were no driveablilty or idle symptoms. Available from RockAuto for about $25 - STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS Part # CP416.
#15
06-15-2010
Thanks Bob and Chris, i have been researching the problem for the last hour and from what ya'll have said and what I have found, here is what I have come up with. I am no mechanic, I'm just using commen sense. Bob you're right she has had that check engine light on for about a year now with NO problems. I dont think that the Check Engine Light and the idling problem is related.
here is what I found:
I know for a fact that when you open the gas cap it makes a loud whishing noise. And she as said that she smells vapors.
And i found the same article ya'll did:
All of this makes sense,but like you said Bob, i dont think that its causing the car to idle bad. I think that is a total different problem.
I think that the Idle Air Control Valve is sticking and faulty which is causing the engine to idle poorly. Like I said, it runs fine under all other condtions except idling. I may try to clean it with throttle body cleaner to see if that helps. if not its being replaced. She DOES live down a gravel road and her motor stays dirty especially the air filter
here is what I found:
Originally Posted by http://www.aa1car.com/library/evap_system.htm
• If a blockage occurs in the liquid-vapor separator or in the vent line between it and the EVAP canister, the fuel tank will not be able to breathe properly. Symptoms include fuel starvation or a collapsed fuel tank on vehicles with solid-type gas caps. If you notice a whoosh of pressure in or out of the tank when the gas gap is removed, suspect poor venting. You can check tank venting by removing the gas cap and then disconnecting the gas tank vent line from the EVAP canister. If the system is free and clear, you should be able to blow through the vent line into the fuel tank. Blowing with compressed air can sometimes free a blockage. If not, you will have to inspect the vent line and possibly remove the fuel tank to diagnose the problem.
• EVAP Canister. This is a small round or rectangular plastic or steel container mounted somewhere in the vehicle. It is usually hidden from view and may be located in a corner of the engine compartment or inside a rear quarter panel. The canister is filled with about a pound or two of activated charcoal. The charcoal acts like a sponge and absorbs and stores fuel vapors. The vapors are stored in the canister until the engine is started, is warm and is being driven. The PCM then opens the canister purge valve, which allows intake vacuum to siphon the fuel vapors into the engine. The charcoal canister is connected to the fuel tank via the tank vent line. Under normal circumstances, the EVAP canister causes few problems. Since the charcoal does not wear out, it should last the life of the vehicle.
• EVAP Canister. This is a small round or rectangular plastic or steel container mounted somewhere in the vehicle. It is usually hidden from view and may be located in a corner of the engine compartment or inside a rear quarter panel. The canister is filled with about a pound or two of activated charcoal. The charcoal acts like a sponge and absorbs and stores fuel vapors. The vapors are stored in the canister until the engine is started, is warm and is being driven. The PCM then opens the canister purge valve, which allows intake vacuum to siphon the fuel vapors into the engine. The charcoal canister is connected to the fuel tank via the tank vent line. Under normal circumstances, the EVAP canister causes few problems. Since the charcoal does not wear out, it should last the life of the vehicle.
And i found the same article ya'll did:
Originally Posted by http://autorepair.about.com/cs/faqs/l/bl489h.htm
Q. I have a 1997 Ford Escort, 2.0 liter engine and manual transmission. Service engine light came on. Autozone read the OBD-II code as P1443, but their charts didn't go that high to tell me what it was. I found on a web site that it means a EVAP emission control system control valve malfunction. What is it? What does it look like and where I can I locate it under the hood?
Thanks for your help,
Pete
A. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1443 indicates a failure in the EVAP canister purge valve circuit. The Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) Canister Purge (CP) valve controls the flow of vapors from the fuel vapor storage canister to the intake manifold during various engine operating modes.
The canister purge valve is located at the LH front of the engine compartment, below the air cleaner assembly.
Thanks for your help,
Pete
A. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1443 indicates a failure in the EVAP canister purge valve circuit. The Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) Canister Purge (CP) valve controls the flow of vapors from the fuel vapor storage canister to the intake manifold during various engine operating modes.
The canister purge valve is located at the LH front of the engine compartment, below the air cleaner assembly.
I think that the Idle Air Control Valve is sticking and faulty which is causing the engine to idle poorly. Like I said, it runs fine under all other condtions except idling. I may try to clean it with throttle body cleaner to see if that helps. if not its being replaced. She DOES live down a gravel road and her motor stays dirty especially the air filter
Originally Posted by http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781242
Indications and Symptoms
The IACV is exposed to the intake charge, and grime can build up from both (these are my assumptions) a. oil blow-by and b. any impurities that manage to escape the air filter. A dirty IACV appears to cause both too high idle rates and too low idle rates. In my case, RPMs dropped immediately to zero (car stalled) when stopped. I needed to brake torque at a stoplight to simply keep the engine running. My idle problem took some time to manifest, and first appeared and disappeared after one day in January 2005 (bought the car in March 2002). By April 2005 it had returned, and was dramatically worse.
The IACV is exposed to the intake charge, and grime can build up from both (these are my assumptions) a. oil blow-by and b. any impurities that manage to escape the air filter. A dirty IACV appears to cause both too high idle rates and too low idle rates. In my case, RPMs dropped immediately to zero (car stalled) when stopped. I needed to brake torque at a stoplight to simply keep the engine running. My idle problem took some time to manifest, and first appeared and disappeared after one day in January 2005 (bought the car in March 2002). By April 2005 it had returned, and was dramatically worse.
#16
06-15-2010
I think if i clean the throttle body and the IAC, it will run right.
Celica Hobby - Idle Air Control Valve - How To Properly Clean
Celica Hobby - Idle Air Control Valve - How To Properly Clean
#19
06-15-2010
cant..lol its a salvage title car, it had cosmetic damage when she got it and it was fixed by our friend who is a certified repair man. She got the car with only 50k on it and paid 1200 for it fixed and all. it has been a great car, its about time for sensors to start going out with 123k on the clock
#20
06-15-2010
There is a plastic line that runs back from the PCV to a soft rubber elbow on the driver side end of the intake manifold. At higher miles, that elbow often collapses and/or develops a leak, especially on the back side. If it's leaking, you should be able to hear it at idle.
While the Ford part was on order, I substitued a loop of fuel line for the elbow and it worked OK to keep the car in use but rubbed against the hood.
The Ford replacement is just like the original but you have to buy the complete assembly for around $20 to get the elbow. Dorman sells an aftermarket copy of just the rubber elbow for less money but the word is that it only lasts a few months instead of ~100K miles like the stocker.
While the Ford part was on order, I substitued a loop of fuel line for the elbow and it worked OK to keep the car in use but rubbed against the hood.
The Ford replacement is just like the original but you have to buy the complete assembly for around $20 to get the elbow. Dorman sells an aftermarket copy of just the rubber elbow for less money but the word is that it only lasts a few months instead of ~100K miles like the stocker.
#21
06-15-2010
Thanks Bob, it WAS the PCV elbow! I drove it, git it home and pooped hood to hear a sucking noice. Upon inspection of the. Elbow, had a hole an M&M could fit in.
Just like u said, Ford dealer said I'd have to buy whole assembly. But he said he had some single elbows in back and would look for me. He broought one like what was on diagram to me. Took it home, doesn't work :(. So I went to Autozone, they didn't have one and I was going to do like u and use fuel line temporarily. I showed him the elbow and he took me back and found one that was similar for Chrysler. It had a little piece of runner for a suport rib in the 90 degree angle, just cut if off with razor blade and put it on car, runs like a champ! Now I just have to take the Ford one back
Now I just have to fix the P1443 code which as u stated was the EVAP canister. I'll replace it next week while she's at beach. Thanks for all the help!
Just like u said, Ford dealer said I'd have to buy whole assembly. But he said he had some single elbows in back and would look for me. He broought one like what was on diagram to me. Took it home, doesn't work :(. So I went to Autozone, they didn't have one and I was going to do like u and use fuel line temporarily. I showed him the elbow and he took me back and found one that was similar for Chrysler. It had a little piece of runner for a suport rib in the 90 degree angle, just cut if off with razor blade and put it on car, runs like a champ! Now I just have to take the Ford one back
Now I just have to fix the P1443 code which as u stated was the EVAP canister. I'll replace it next week while she's at beach. Thanks for all the help!
#22
06-15-2010
Probably not the canister. Look over the hoses near the canister to check for leaks. If none are found, it is usually the Purge Flow Sensor that causes the P1443. I believe the PFS is sold by Ford as part of a $100+ assembly but you can get just the PFS from somewhere like RockAuto for about $25. Standard Motor Products CP416. Looks similar to this picture.
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