Ok guys I have a well maintained 1999 Escort ZX2 that runs like a pig or is an absolute NO START when its rains...been to 3 shops and all tell me the Scope says there is nothing wrong with it...according to my bank statement I am in for almost $2,000 with no satisfactory solution...they have replaced all plugs and wires, blamed it on the wrong oil pan filter (needs check valve & 5-30 oil), new start wire and new starter just to eliminate a few items...also the car has a slight hesitaion or miss when it hits 70 km an hour or 40 mph...anyone else have this no start in the rain problem or an idea what is going on under the hood?...I seems to not be getting its fuel once its wet but the mechanics are telling me there is lots of pressure in the fuel pump...my next guess is the coil...could it have a hairline crack???...HELP!

 

I don't know if this is your problem, but the spark plug boots on the valve cover are crappy, water CAN get into the cylinders if accumulated in valve cover. I steam cleaned my engine once and it would barely run at low RPM after until the water evaporated.

 

no start when it rain is usually due to the ground connector at the negative battery cable end. This is already a bad connection in most situations and when moisture is in the air it only gets worse.

the fix for this is to remove the negative cable end, separate all the connections on the cable end, clean them all with a wire brush put them all back together then spray lightly with wd-40 then put the cable end back onto the battery. This should last you a couple seasons then you will likely have to do it again

please note, this is not instructions on just cleaning the battery post, as cleaning the battery post will not eliminate the problem