something's wrong... - CEG Archives

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I've posted here before asking questions about my brother's 'tour. He's been having some sort of engine trouble with it for nearly ten months now and we haven't figured it out yet. Right now it has intermittant acceleration problems. He says that sometimes it gets up and goes like it should and other times it acts like a dog for five seconds and then slowly gets itself back up. It will do this off and on almost every time he drives it. In the winter he has problems with it not starting also. Don't know if the problems are related or not. Any help would be appreciated!

Oh yeah...it's a 1996 GL Zetec ATX

I had the same problem. I changed the spark plug wires in mine. If that doesn't work then do the plugs. If that doesn't work then try the coil. In order. maybe plugs before wires but mine was because of the wires.

Possibly the fuel pump on its way out?

He just replaced the wires a couple months ago with 8mm ones. I think the stock wires are 7mm? I know those are good. His plugs are Autolite single-prong and are only a year or so old w/+-15000 miles. So I guess that leaves the ignition coil to replace? Is the Accel coil from CTA the one to get or is stock replacement from an auto parts store good enough?
I hadn't thought about the fuel pump. Is this a common problem with the Zetec? His fuel filter is also fairly new so it isn't that either.

Originally posted by nothingbutford:
He just replaced the wires a couple months ago with 8mm ones. I think the stock wires are 7mm? I know those are good. His plugs are Autolite single-prong and are only a year or so old w/+-15000 miles. So I guess that leaves the ignition coil to replace? Is the Accel coil from CTA the one to get or is stock replacement from an auto parts store good enough?
I hadn't thought about the fuel pump. Is this a common problem with the Zetec? His fuel filter is also fairly new so it isn't that either.

From what I have heard the stock coil and the Accel coil are similar in price. Accel coil works great.

Originally posted by LoCoZ2:

Originally posted by nothingbutford:
He just replaced the wires a couple months ago with 8mm ones. I think the stock wires are 7mm? I know those are good. His plugs are Autolite single-prong and are only a year or so old w/+-15000 miles. So I guess that leaves the ignition coil to replace? Is the Accel coil from CTA the one to get or is stock replacement from an auto parts store good enough?
I hadn't thought about the fuel pump. Is this a common problem with the Zetec? His fuel filter is also fairly new so it isn't that either.

From what I have heard the stock coil and the Accel coil are similar in price. Accel coil works great.

I've heard bad things about the Autolights.. Try motocraft.

Originally posted by TronX:

I've heard bad things about the Autolights.. Try motocraft.

That's funny, Maybe you should get the Autolites...

But seriously, I think you will find they are the same plug with a different brand label and box.

TB

Originally posted by BOFH:

Originally posted by TronX:

I've heard bad things about the Autolights.. Try motocraft.

That's funny, Maybe you should get the Autolites...

But seriously, I think you will find they are the same plug with a different brand label and box.

TB

I'd say like 80% of the people on this board are using the Autolite double platinums.

Thanks for your replies. I told him he might need a new ignition coil, but we're not going to replace anything until I can scan his computer. I just bought an advanced one that checks ALL engine data while you drive it and will find an intermittant problem. We're going to see if it finds something before we replace anything.
I checked his timing belt the other day to make sure it was good and it MUST have been replaced before now for some reason...it's not cracked and shows little signs of wear, it's also pretty tight.
Is there anyone here that has had problems with the Autolite Platinum singles? He put those in right after he put Bosch fours. The Bosch's made the engine run like crap.

i think I'm using... champion double plats, good stuff.

Autolite double plats just about equal motorcraft, and work just fine. As long as they're gapped right he should have no problems with them.

could it be the A/C compressor trying to seize?

Don't use single platinums unless you do like Ford originally did and use two with platinum on the outer electrode, and two with platinum on the inner.

Originally posted by Paul Kienitz:
Don't use single platinums unless you do like Ford originally did and use two with platinum on the outer electrode, and two with platinum on the inner.

So could it be that the singles are what his whole problem is? (they are all the same) Does this have something to do with the uncommon firing of the Zetec?