Hi I have been offered a 1996 escort van with 200,000 miles on but has trouble starting and runs rough but been offered it for next to nothing would it be a simple fix i.e fueling isuse or is it something more complicated any advice appreciated thanks Sam

Price dependant,

If it had tax and MOT worth a couple hundred quid. If needs must, rip the engine out and fit another. Cheap as chips.

Mot until august no tax bought it for £90 from what the guy said the cam belt snapped he replaced cylinder head and belts and now wont start unless you crank it for 5 minutes and when it does start it runs rough I had a play about yesterday there is fuel pressure at the injectors and will start and run perfectly if you spray carb cleaner in the air intake so believe the fuel pump is out of time as when the engine is lined up at tdc no 1 the fuel pump is half a mile away from the locking point so going to have a look at pump timing over the weekend

Is the best way to do the timing lock the engine in tdc no 1 then release the tension on the belt and lock the pump off put belt back on take locking pins out and give it a try or do I need to take the cam belt off as well only done them on cars where the belts have been on opposite sides not the same side

Thanks Sam

Pump timing sorted and now runs a treat but has a tiny diesel leak coming from the pump area any ideas as to the fault thanks Sam