Section 67 (Engine Controls - Basic Diagnostic Procedures): Introduction
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 13 other vehicles, including the 2002 Mercury Sable, 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis, 2002 Mercury Cougar, 2002 Lincoln Town Car, and 2002 Lincoln LS. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE:
Information for Escort also applies to 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 inspection and test listed in this article.