Section 1 (Engine Controls - Basic Diagnostic Procedures): Introduction
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 12 other vehicles, including the 1999 Mercury Tracer, 1999 Mercury Sable, 1999 Mercury Mystique, 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 1999 Mercury Cougar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE:
Information for Escort applies to Escort ZX2, unless otherwise indicated.
The following diagnostic steps will help prevent overlooking a simple problem. This is also where to begin diagnosis for a no-start condition.
The first step in diagnosing any driveability problem is verifying the symptom(s) with a test drive under the conditions the problem reportedly occurred.
Before entering self-diagnostics, perform a careful and complete visual inspection. Most engine control problems result from poor electrical connections, damaged/misrouted vacuum hoses or mechanical breakdowns. Before condemning the computerized system, perform each test listed in this article.