my car turns over but wont start

1993 FORD ESCORT
102,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SEVE12345
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My car turns over but wont start. When i first got the car it did the same thing but it started. I changed the spark plugs, the spark plug wires and the gas filter. I than started it and let the gas go through the new filter. I than took it out for a drive. Everything went well but when i was done driving it i parked it in my driveway and let it sit there. About 1 hours later I went back outside to go for a little drive. I started the car and the car just dyed on me. I tryed starting it again and it was just turning over. About 2 and a half hours later i tryed again thinking it wont start. To my surprise it did start and i took it out for a drive. I than waited for my dad to get home to show him that it is starting. Started it and than he sayed let me go inside to warm up a bit and i will be out in 5 to 10 minutes. I shut down the car and when he came outside the car didnt start. Can anybody please help me find the problem? Thanks. Before all these problems my mom filled up the car with gas to the top can that have anything to do with it?
Mar 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
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BMRFIXIT
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You need to check what is missing
spark or fuel
if its spark most likely the module no good
you need a new on
if its fuel check fuel pump and fuses and relay
let me know
Mar 3, 2008 at 10:12 AM
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SEVE12345
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How do you see if the spark is working?
Mar 3, 2008 at 4:29 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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Pull one of the spark plug wire out and place it close to a ground crank engine watch for a spark arcing out
Mar 3, 2008 at 4:37 PM
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SEVE12345
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there is no sparks we pull out one of the spark plug wires and we placed it on the manifold, than we took a screw driver put it inside the spark wire and no spark either and than we took a wire to see if there was a spark and my dad touched the open end of the wire and didnt even get a little shock. We also disconected the two hoses from the top or the gas filter and the bottom and no gas came out of either side.
Mar 3, 2008 at 6:02 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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Need a test light or volts meter
With key on engine off check if you have battery power at the coil
if so I would check and or replace the module
module is the most common to fail
did you say you checked the timing belt if not do that 1st
Mar 3, 2008 at 6:30 PM
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SEVE12345
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how do you check the timing belt?
Mar 3, 2008 at 6:35 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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pull the oil fill cap ash a helper to crank for you
watch the cam shaft and rocker if moving while cranking
or remove the plastic cover on the front of engine in the timing cover and crank while watching the pulley
it should turn
Mar 3, 2008 at 9:24 PM
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SEVE12345
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everything moves. We took off the oil cap and looked inside and everything was moving. We also took off the hoses going to the gas pump and cranked the engine. No gas came out, should gas be coming out?
Mar 4, 2008 at 8:04 AM
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BMRFIXIT
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yes fuel should flow when 1st key on
check all your fuses and check the EEC relay
may want to try new one
Mar 4, 2008 at 1:05 PM
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SEVE12345
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we changed the fuel pump, the ignition module, coil and we still cant get it started. we checked to see if the timing belt was broken and we saw everything moving. what should i do next? is there a Automatic Shut Down (ASD) Relay on a 1993 ford escort lx 1.9L and if so where can i find it?
Mar 6, 2008 at 12:00 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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check them relays and I think your problem may be electric I m including the picture and location of the relays you may want to check that


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_93_escort_1.jpg

Mar 6, 2008 at 5:30 PM
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SEVE12345
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how do i get to those relays? and how do i check them once im there?
Mar 6, 2008 at 5:40 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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[quote:f4ed156f0a="seve12345"]how do i get to those relays? and how do i check them once im there?[/quote:f4ed156f0a]
as you see it !!!
you need to check if you have battery power at the relay or at least they are clicking when key 1st on
what engine you have
engine size?????
Mar 6, 2008 at 5:57 PM
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SEVE12345
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it's a 1.9 liter 4 cylinder.
Mar 6, 2008 at 6:23 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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should start with fuses check them all


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_fuse93esc_1.jpg


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_93esc_1.jpg

Mar 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM
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SEVE12345
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i got to the relays i saw the 2 relays and there was a thing in the middle. i do not know what it is called but it was duck taped and i fooled around with it and i started the car. we took off the duck tape because it was botheing me to see a bad job done on the car and it is not starting now. i will send you a picture of the thing i am talking about.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/164730_DSCN0725_1.jpg


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/164730_DSCN0729_2.jpg

Mar 7, 2008 at 4:52 PM
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SEVE12345
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it is the thing with the blue duck tape around it it seems to be loose or something
Mar 7, 2008 at 5:16 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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Almost there
check around the general area for a loose and or corroded wire
pull out the relay and check the pins and connector plugs
do the twist and try test
twist the wiring and listen for the relays to click and car to start
Mar 7, 2008 at 6:02 PM
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SEVE12345
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is it supposed to have duck tape around it? and can it be the thing with the blue duck tape around it or is it the wires? how do i pull out the relay to see the pins?
Mar 7, 2008 at 6:12 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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at this point i will look for a wiring prob
if the duck tape was on it
some one try to fix something before
try new relay
Mar 7, 2008 at 7:04 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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arent those relays the fuel pump relay and the eec relay. if the eec relay(brown one) is bad, you could have jarred it enough by moving it to start the car. these are very common parts to fail, i always replace the both of them. if you dont find the broken wire or corrosion in there
Mar 7, 2008 at 7:24 PM
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SEVE12345
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I have another question. What is that thing with the duck tape on it? like the name so i can go and get that replaced plus 2 new relays. and how do you change the relays? Thank you very much everyone that helped me get this, this is the best site to fix your car and i will refer you to everyone that i know.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/164730_DSCN0725_2.jpg

Mar 7, 2008 at 9:32 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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that is i think called a pip
Mar 8, 2008 at 6:52 AM
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BMRFIXIT
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push the clip and pull relay check wires too use a test light check for power at the relays with key on


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_escor_1.jpg

Mar 8, 2008 at 7:04 AM
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SEVE12345
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i took off the relays check for power and i got power at 1 of the 4 switches when it was on ON. i did that for the green one and the brown one and got power at 1 out of the 4 both times. I took off the thing with the blue around it and there is no power when the car is on ON. Is it the relays now or the thing with the blue around it or the wires?
Mar 8, 2008 at 9:32 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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if i were you i would replace the relays. you should have power at the black and pink wire and also the white and red wire with the key in the run position. on the fuel pump relay which is the green one. and also with the relay plugged in you should also have power at the white and dark green wire while cranking it over.
Mar 8, 2008 at 9:40 AM
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SEVE12345
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on both the green relay and the brown relay i get power to the one with white and dark green not cranking the engine but the ignition on ON i dont get any power to any of the other ones
Mar 8, 2008 at 9:50 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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THE BLACK AND WHITE WIRE SHOULD HAVE POWER WITH THE KEY ON IF NOT CHECK THE METER FUSE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUSE BOX. IF FUSE IS GOOD THEN CHECK FOR POWER AT FUSE WITH THE KEY ON AND LET US KNOW
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:13 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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middle row fourth to the right.
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:25 AM
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SEVE12345
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does the 2 wires have to have the relays on to check for power?
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:26 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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no they can be disconnected
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
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SEVE12345
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the black and white wire had no power, the meter fuse had no power and i checked the engine fuse and there was no power there either. i took out the fuse and there was o power at the meter fuse place and for the engine fuse place also had no power.
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:45 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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so now we know that there is the root of the problem. check fusible links at the starter solenoid to see if any are blown. also we will have to check ignition output from the ignition switch. right now im leaving work and wont be back to a computer for a few hours. hopefully bmr will get on in the meantime and finish this party we have started. i will be back.
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
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SEVE12345
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do you have a diagram of a 1993 ford escort lx 1.9 L 4 cylinder to show me where the fusible links at the starter solenoid are? and for the ignition output from ignition switch where would that be?
Mar 8, 2008 at 11:09 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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the dark blue wire at the ignition switch under the steering column is where you need to check for power with the key on. i just got this lap top and i dont know how to transplant the diagram from ondemand to this post, sorry. im learning every day and that is something i need to know how to do. get back to us.
Mar 8, 2008 at 12:09 PM
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SEVE12345
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im not sure if i got the right dark blue wire but i will send you pictures of it. I put the tester on the wire and it was flicking on a off if i pushed harder it would flick on and if i released it flick off. the light wasnt that strong on it. it is the top blue one, it is attached to a white plug as you can see. the one on the top top.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/164730_DSCN0733_1.jpg

Mar 8, 2008 at 2:16 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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NO NOT IN THE RIGHT AREA. YOU NEED TO BE AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS WHERE YOU PUT THE KEY IN. THERE SHOULD BE SOME FAT WIRES THERE. THATS WHERE WERE LOOKING FOR THE BLUE WIRE.
Mar 8, 2008 at 2:57 PM
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SEVE12345
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do i have to take anything apart to get to it?
Mar 8, 2008 at 3:03 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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yes you are probably going to have to take down hush panels under steering column and possibly take the cover off the steering column itself to access the switch.
Mar 8, 2008 at 3:10 PM
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BMRFIXIT
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Good job! but if you have power at the relay are they clicking when first turn key on ?(ground ??) do you have check engine light on when 1st key on as for the fusible links you have a picture of that. you can check it FORD don’t put their fusible links on the starter GM did that check for a corroded wire replace relays cheep enough to do as for the connector that with two wires its an octane booster check the diagram I had sent you shouldn’t have any power on it GOOD LUCK


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_93_escort_2.jpg


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_93esc_2.jpg

Mar 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM