Turns over but won't start

[hulklyjoe]

90 ford Festiva lx manual fuel injected. Bay area California

Guy I bought it from said it just quit running, said he thought it was a coolant problem or something.
replaced timing belt and made sure it was lined up
replaced oil and filter,fuel filter,air filter,timing belt,fusible links.
Turns over just won't go, I have spark, I have gas at the plugs, I have gas pressure not sure how much, Anybody have this problem any suggestions?

[packrat427]

Just quit ?

It sounds like you have most of it covered , Last time that happened to me , it was the pump , just enough pressure it would barely idle , touch the gas pedal , and it would bog and die , or just start and die .

[jglutz]

How do you know if there is gas at the plugs?....where they wet?...dis they smell like gas?
Just a guess...maybe you have bad gas or water in it....try some spray starting fluid.

May be it would be advisibl to do a compression check....good compression would validate the engine internals and the timing...~$30-40 tool.

[clev]

Can you elaborate on how to check the fuel pressure?

[stefan]

you need a fuel pressure gauge. you tee it into the fuel line and check the PSI

[clev]

Hello again, stefan. You appear to pretty knowledgeable about the festiva. I have another post about identifying the grounding plug for checking timing; can you help with that?

[jglutz]

You don't need to ground the STI line to check timing. Grounding the STI prevents the ECU from adjusting timing and then remeber the base setting when the wire is removed. The festiva will run and start with the timing out...not properbly set...with in reason.

You said you have spark...how was this determined...are all of the plug wires in the right place. Is the rotor installed properly...or even installed at all.

When you turn the key to start but not run...does the check engine light come on then go out after a few seconds? If it does not go out...a code can be extracted (something unplugged)

[clev]

According to my manual, to adjust timing I have to ground the STI. Today, it had no spark anywhere; I unfolded a paper clip and inserted the rounded part in the plug boot with about 3" of straight wire sticking out. Holding close to a ground and cranking the engine gave no spark; same test with coil wire at dist. end; no spark. New cap and rotor and rechecked. When the key is on and not running, the C E L comes on and goes out. I know this because the test for checking the coil and module required the ignition to be on and I noticed the light went out. But, like I previously posted, this afternoon for no reason, it cranked up and ran fine.

[jglutz]

When the key is on and not running, the C E L comes on and goes out.

This is not because it's out checking...this is simply a lamp test feature...if it wasn't forced on some time...how would you ever know if the lamp was burned out. All Cars do this.

Anyway...if you have bouts of starting/running fine......and spark when it won/t start....it is probalbly somethig fuel related.

[packrat427]

10-4 on the bulb check ^^

[FB71]

called a "warning lamp prove-out". Its a check of the bulb only.

These PCMs monitor for component and circuit failures only. You'll only get a code for certain outright failures.

[elcamino1]

Pull the distributor cap off and turn the engine over to see if the rotor is turning.

[jglutz]

^^thanks for the additonal support

[clev]

When the key is on and not running, the C E L comes on and goes out.

This is not because it's out checking...this is simply a lamp test feature...if it wasn't forced on some time...how would you ever know if the lamp was burned out. All Cars do this.

Anyway...if you have bouts of starting/running fine......and spark when it won/t start....it is probalbly somethig fuel related.

OK; again, I apologize for my ignorance, but I'm reading everything that I can find on this problem and believe that now, I'm thoroughly confused. A few of you posted to ground the TCI, turn the key on, and count the flashes of the C E L. I even responded and asked if that worked for the 1990. In this thread, I merely reported back that mine was not flashing and went out after turning the key on. And I have never posted that I have fire and it won't start. Every post I've made states that 'it has no spark' and I smell fuel.

[FB71]

joe, quit confusing the poor guy!!

OK, if you've grounded the STI pin, and did not get a flashing lamp, then you have no trouble codes, = system passes

Yes, this test works on all EFI Festivas, 1990-'93

You stated you do NOT have spark, but DO smell fuel, correct?

If you have a test light, here's an easy check for the next time it fails;

connect the test light clip to battery Negative, and touch the probe to the coil Negative, and have someone crank the engine.

If the test lamp flashes during cranking, then the problem is in the coil itself. If it does not flash, but stays lit all the time, then one of the components responsible for operating the coil is stuck in an 'off' state (module in the distributor, or the one next to the coil). If the test light does not come on at all, that means either the coil has an open circuit, or the power to the coil is absent (comes from ign switch)