Escort Work Log - Fuelling Recalibration, AFR & CO%

Work took place in August 2024.

• AEM Air/Fuel meter + wideband O2 sensor
• Replacement Idle Speed Compensation Valve

Since replacing the fuel pump and changing the fuel delivery to a lift-pump setup, the car accelerates more cleanly than it ever did since completing the conversion, however it is still subject to a faulty/useless aftermarket ISCV valve and an idle that is either adjusted to be okay when hot (and far too low when cold), or adjusted to be okay when cold (and far too high when hot). The cooling fan thus always played havoc with the running of the car since the ISCV valve couldn't properly adjust the idle when the extra load was put on the engine.

Since the idle couldn't be set correctly, it was also a real trial to set the base fuel delivery via the ECU adjustment screw, ending up with the car needing to run with far more fuel than is necessary.

Put simply:

• ISCV valve didn't work, so…
• … a correct idle speed for all running modes (cold start, hot running) cannot be achieved, and…
• … the correct base fuel mixture (AFR/CO%) can't be dialed in

So although the car can drive through the gears much better than before, when it comes to starting, pulling away, or moving the car at car-park speeds, it's still a chore and frustrating having to keep the revs up manually and slip the clutch to avoid stalling.