Distributor is Dead.

[Jerick]

Hey guys, I'm totally not good with cars at all, but I took my car to a ford dealership after it wouldn't start and they told me that my distributor needed to be replaced, and quoted me almost 900 bucks. I have this guy that will sell/install it for me for 100 dollars. The ford dealership says there are like 10 different types of distributor for my car, but the stuff I've been seeing online there is only one/two, what do you guys say? I've got a '95 Ford Aspire 5 speed.

[tb8983]

100 bucks sounds like a great deal i would jump on it before the guy changes his mind

[MONSOON]

First off welcome to the site! Second do yourself a favor and take a second to add your location in your profile.
3rd the Search function is your freind. I got these results using it.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/search.php?searchid=133641

Its possible that the module in the distibutor has gone bad. But you dont need to replace the whole thing because of that. Its inside the distributor and is replaceable. Or you could call a couple junkyards and see if they have any Aspires and how much a distributor is. Its not that hard of a job. You practically cant screw it up as theres only 1 way the distributor can go in.

[Biglay5150]

Im the guy that offered to come install the distributer in the car. I have one and am willing to drive up there and install it. That way you dont have to mess around with it and you can drive the car again. As I said on the phone I will also bring a coil and other parts just incase your problem is not in the distributer. I think the dealer is trying to take advantage of you. Its an hour drive for me but I am willing to come out meet you and help you with your car who knows in the future you might need somthing else and I will be able to help out. I have great resorces for Festiva and Aspire parts. Its your call on what you do but I would hate for you to sell your car because a dealer is telling you things that are not true. Thats why I told you to check out this site there is tons of info and nice people here that are willing to help. Anyway let me know what you want to do.
Bob

[Levitan]

I would say $100 for parts and installation is a very fair price. I'd pitch the guy on a 90 day warranty, parts and labor. That's $75 for the distributor and $25 for the install. For a person that doesn't want to hassle with it, that's fair in my book.

[cubstiva1]

welcome jerick, you've come to the right place if you want to learn more about your car. these guys know what they are talking about and care about keeping these little cars on the road. i think that Bob is giving you a great price and advise. hope to hear more from you in the future, and once again welcome to the site!

derick

[Levitan]

Biglay posted right before I did, sorry about that Bob. Jerick, if Bob is going to help you, by all means, accept his hospitality and Festiva experience!!

[MONSOON]

^^ Yep Biglays a good knowledgeable guy who wont steer you wrong^^

[Biglay5150]

Thanks for the words of confidence guys. I told him to come to the site to asure him that I was on the up and up. The dealer told him some crazy stuff that insnt true so he had the car on craigslist for sale. I called him to see if I could help him out. I spoke with him today and I will be going up there on Monday after work to take care of it.

Jerick,
Like I told you before this is a great site with lots of good people and info. Look around and enjoy it. I hope that we can develope a friendship over this and you can come down to Salem and attend one of the meets I host every month. As said before I love these little cars and would love to keep all of them on the road weather its a Festiva or an Aspire. So go ahead and delete that craiglist ad and Ill see ya Monday.

[gdawgs]

Welcome aboard Jerick. Glad to see you didn't ripped off at the dealer. That would be exremely unethical of a garage to charge $900 to change the distributor. It's a 5 - 10 minute job and a cheap part. I suppose they wanted to do everything else under the sun to as well and call it a tune up.

[snick2]

Hello Jerick.
I replaced distributor on '96 aspire to correct intermittent no start.
I believe having ignition coil + module within disty is problem on these cars -
- subject to heat, vibration + oil fouling if O ring leaks.

Bought a new disty on Ebay from distributorking -( no I don't have an interest
in that business. )
Cost - C$200. The cost of replacement coil + module alone exceeded this in my locale -Great White North. + rebuilt disty also cost substantially more locally.
Ebay ad said install-ready: but I had to buy a new O ring ( pennies cost ), cause new disty
didn't come with one + old one was fried.
New one was guaranteed + so far so good - one year ago.
Installation is very easy + quick - two bolts.
New disty also came with new cap + rotor.
HTH

[Jerick]

I got it fixed by Bob today. He came and picked me up at work, and we went to the ford dealership where the car was sitting and put the part in, no problems at all. Thanks again Bob.

[Biglay5150]

Another satified customer. lol
Im glad I could help you out Jerick

[festivaWES]

Did you talk to the guy at the counter that gave hi a 900 dollar estimate?? I would of.