Has beed a great car, 170K but...
Started running (idling) fast at stops then would settle down the idle up again....
Last week coming home, it started getting hot then overheated and died...
I think the Timing belt may have slipped, has never been replaced.
Tried cranking and just hear puffing sound, my car guy neighbor said it sounds like the belt skipped a notch or two...
Does not even try to fire a cylinder...

I pulled back timing cover and belt is still intact and tight...
pulled the plugs and inspected, all were clean no signs of oil or water nice n dry..
Checked dip stick , clean, just had an oil change previous week so the oil looks new as expected...

I have been having issues with a suspected head gasket leak, and used Barrs, and it seemed to work well, last year, started again
and used the other half bottle a week before she died....
Is it possible that the Water pump clogged up and made the timing belt skip ?

This weekend I am gonna pull the cover OFF the timing belt and see if it is 'IN' time.

I just got it back from my local Mech. they are a good family owned and have always taken care of this car.
The older brother, a little angry kind of fellow, looked and told me 'The engine is blown, its junk'
Very sure of him self, was not open to any discussion... so I had it towed home

I've replace most of the engine items Air sensor, etc over the last year so most of the engine control items that could be replaced have been...

Any opinions or insight are welcome, hate to see it towed to the junk yard as I just redid the front end last year....

Thanks Chuck

 

Since your engine has overheated recently and in the past, I would investigate for a blown head gasket and possible head damage. Iron blocks and aluminum heads don't handle overheating well.

If the timing belt is tight and no teeth on the belt are sheared, it likely has not jumped time. However, if the engine appears to be cranking faster than normal, it could have jumped time. Most of the time, the timing belts snap instead of jumping time.

 

I agree, it was only a couple minutes but still may be an issue...

 

Update : Found the Belt had jumped one tooth......
Also checked the compression of each cylinder from Left to Right cyl 1,2,3,4 45psi 60psi 50psi 150psi

So I guess I could have a cracked head, but across three cylinders ? Anyone care to comment...
I sounds like a blown head gasket.

I fixed the belt timing, back in 'time' again...
With the plugs in I turned the engine over and you could hear the one cylinder fire.....
I pulled the plugs and found the #2 plug was very wet.... Water, no oil on any of the plugs.
So maybe the cracked head is again in play......

Again.... checked dip stick,,, NO WATER the oil was clean from the earlier weeks oil change..
Also no white smoke from the tail pipe....that is at the time the car died !

would appreciate the expert opinion on this new info....

thanks
Chuck

 

With only one cylinder having good compression, it looks like you will be removing the head soon.Very least you need a head gasket and an examination, valve lapping and machining of the head. If you don't have a auto machine shop go over the head, you are just wasting your time.Hopefully the head is suitable for further service.

 

what a shame, I don't do this kind of work and have no idea of cost........
the old gal has lots of run time left on her but I'm afraid the junk yard may be the next stop....

In the old days we had some garage mech's hanging around, but seems like they are all gone...
Living here in Florida, the old retired guys (like me) don't do this anymore....

I am concerned the head may be cracked, but it really did not overheat for very long before the timing jumped
and it died.....

 

Well a quick update, after doing so e research on the,98 escorts, seems like a common theme is cracked heads....
so mu quest to repair ends, I had the local scrap yard pick her up......
18 yrs of service was a good run 170K miles.....
Will miss that little car, was a good friend...