Looking For A Few Spares For An Escort Estate 1800 Td

[ValiantSaint]

Hi everyone, my Brother has just bought a 1998 Escort estate 1800 TD, but it is in need of some TLC (mainly bodywork) The tailgate is rotten and needs replacing. Where's the best place to look for one, and how hard are they to replace? Also, the rear box on the exhaust is full of holes and so he will also need a replacement one of these.

One last thing, the clutch pedal is a bit stiff and it's also a bit of a slow starter. It has done 83,000 miles though...

Many thanks in advance : )

[vinnyvangough]

Hi there

Local scrap yards or eBay are probably the best bet for these parts.

Other option would be to message either 1-PD or Heavyrightfut on www.fordescortclub.co.uk

[jmurray01]

The exhaust can be bought cheaply from a car part warehouse for around £30, the tailgate can be bought from a scrapers, and the slow starting will just be worn plugs.

[lublin]

It has done 83,000 miles though

That's nothing for a diesel if it's been serviced correctly. I've owned a few (different marks) and all of them had around 180,000 miles on them before I got rid of them. The slow starting could just be dirty injectors so try putting some injector cleaner in the fuel, I'm assuming it fires up on all four cylinders OK, if it doesn't run on four until after a few seconds (when it's very cold) then it could be glow plugs, but don't buy cheap ones as they don't start the engine as easily as the better more pricier ones. Poor starting can also be an air leak in the fuel line unfortunately very small cracks in the fuel line can let air in but not diesel out so sometimes they are hard to spot. If the starting problem is worse after stand then it sounds like air leaks but unfortunately poor starting could be a few things.

[ValiantSaint]

Many thanks for the replies. What car part warehouses do you suggest? I tried Euro Car Parts, but they had nothing in stock. Where's the best place to buy glow plugs from and are they hard to fit? Thanks : )

[lublin]

Many thanks for the replies. What car part warehouses do you suggest? I tried Euro Car Parts, but they had nothing in stock. Where's the best place to buy glow plugs from and are they hard to fit? Thanks : )

Any motor factors should have them for a Ford. I would use a good make like Bosch but only if you are sure this is the problem. You can usually see if they are all the same colour or not and if you can't tell like this then connect them to the rail or what ever feeds the power and make sure they are well earthed (in contact with the engine) and firmly in place around the head area with the plugs well away from anything combustible/meltable (pointing upwards) then turn them on and see if they all go a very light and very hot red colour (this will take most of your skin off if you just lightly brush against it). Some engines have easily accessible plugs whereas others have very awkward to access plugs, if you take a look you will soon see. Best to phone round and see if anyone has them in stock, then test them and go and get them in another car if one is duff (replace the set though) saves taking them out more than once, especially if they are difficult to get at ones. I used to buy the expensive ones as my job was off the buss rout and a day off work because it wouldn't start was expensive.