I have an escort with a fairly newly built and rebored 711m 1600 engine bored to 1700 The car is a bad starter. I have fitted a new battery (Extra heavy duty) I have replaced the battery leads, plug leads , new distributor new solenoid. The car may only be left 1 or 2 days and the engine is very slow to turn over as though the battery is flat. Other electrics seem fine. the engine has done about 1500 miles since a full rebuild. Once the engine has started and warmed up it starts with no problem.
plugs are clean, oil is fairly new. points are set correctly I can only assume there must be a weak point in the ignition system or the battery is draining somehow.....can any one help??

Dave...New Zealand., January 2005

starter motor

adam, April 2005

Make sure the coil and ballast resistor are ok.

Check the fuel lift pump. (mechanically operated! )

Check and renew all earth connections , there may be a hidden earth lead from the bellhousing or gearbox area.

check starter motor and/or flywheel ring gear.

basically if there is fuel air mixture getting in to the cylinders and there is a spark (plugs) then it should go!

aries9456, January 2005