98 Ford escort zx2 has hard time taking off after

Hey Joey. It sounds like its flat...not enough timing or timing belt slipped. Have those checked by an honest shop and it wont cost a ton. Hope that's all it is.Good luck. Tom

I doubt the two problems are related.
The computer uses an idle speed control valve to regulate idle speed. The valve controls the amount of air entering the intake.
You should have a check engine light on and also a stored trouble code for the valve. It could also be a problem with the throttle plate in the throttle body.

recheck your cam timing belt, sounds like it jumped on you. PCV valves generally plug into the valve cover and you would have had to seen it when you pulled the head. not all cars have them

The car could probably use a tune-up. Also, check both ends of the PCV line for soft/deteriorated elbows as a vacuum leak here would cause the car to die at idle.

you need to replace the idle control sensor, that will repair your problem. hope this helps!!

most likely 02 sensors. Also could be idle control valve

Get yourself a compression tester and remove all spark plugs and proceed to check the compression for this motor the readings should all be above 110 psi, the car may have jumped a tooth on the timing belt and requires a new belt to be installed.

so you have spark is the rotor button truning when you crank the mtr over. sorry these may seem like mundane questions but this what i need to know. you stated that the timing belt was replaced has the vech ran seens the belt was replaced?

1998 ford escort sport engine started making a tapping noise and engine light started flashing. Had oil and water at normal level.
Car has 110,000 miles. Been serviced regularly!

my girl friends car did the same thing come to find out the timing chain was off