99 Ford Escort ZX2

I degreased the engine over the weekend and ended up with a pretty clean engine. However, there was a side affect. After getting it all hosed off the engine is bucking and seems to be massively misfiring, maybe even a backfire here and there. I once had a 84 mustang that if I went through some standing water and if things aligned properly, water would get in the distributor and cause the similar effect until it dried out. I have checked and dried out things with some improvement but not quite there yet. Would anyone else know where else water or moisture could be hiding to cause this. I am going to take the coil pack off later today and see if there is moisture but I am running out of options.

Take the distributor cap off and let it dry out.

hi no need to take apart the coil pack or anything that complicated the plug wires get water below them where they meet the valve cover all you need to do is pull the wire off of the spark plug and make sure they are dry it is very common for this to happen compressed air works best if you dont have that remove the plug and dry off the plug and hole and the plug wire with carb cleaner... sorry for the run on sentence... ase master certified light auto mechanic btw

reply to post by baerj1


Yep, realized that, nothing to do on the coil pack. The plug wells were full of water, and I got them dried out then let the car just sit and run for about 45 minutes and it seemed to have got it all dried out. There must have been a little residual moisture. Thanks.

reply to post by Skewed


You need to check your timing belt immediatly!!!!! These cars are notorious for breaking their timing belts and it sounds as if yours is starting to go. Luckily yours is a non-interference engine which means you wont have to worry about massive damage if it breaks, and someone with a little bit of knowledge and a Haynes or Chiltons manul will have no problem changing it, personally i`d swap it for an upgrade to a timing chain if possible

Ehh should have finished reading the thread but about the timing belt is still true for the Ford ZX-2, they suck and are horrible.

Glad you got it fixed.

reply to post by StratosFear


My wifes brother has one of these, I changed his timing belt a couple months ago. This is on strange engine is about all I can say about that job.

I currently have a 98 zx2. I bought it a month ago with 77k miles on it and changed the timing belt, kit, and water pump. It has been running great for me, better than any vehicle before, was doing fine yesterday, but when I tried to go to the lake today it wouldn't start. We think it has something to do with the fuel pump - I hope it isn't something expensive as there was a cracked gear found when the shop was doing the timing belt, that gear costed $400 + an extra $100 labor...