Need some help.. 89 Auto

[Festiva_Fred]

Hello Group,

The 89 auto is having some problems right now, yesterday I was driving it and only got a few miles from home, then it just dies on me. Tried restarting it a few times.. nothing, then called my dad, he came prolly 5 mins later tried restarting it a few times, finally got it to start up again. Then it died again right as he turned in the drive, pushed the car up to the garage, restarted on the 1st try then. I tried running it again today and it started right up on the first try, then died again after 5 mins of running.. Any ideas on what could be wrong? The car is a 1989 Auto.

-Fred

[Pu241]

I suspect the ignitor in the distributor.
As it will run intermittently.
You may need get a pic of it as it might well be the rare one with push/pull vac diaphragms.
But you might be able to temporally use a regular EFI distributor just diagnose it.
Also you can make-up a tester, let me see if I can find the post and I'll link it here.

[blindcornbread]

You might want to check your fuel filter.

[Pu241]

You might want to check your fuel filter.

Not a bad idea either!

[Festiva_Fred]

You might want to check your fuel filter.

Already replaced that.. I think it may be the fuel pump, I got it to run and then barely gave it any gas and it stuttered like it wasn't getting enough fuel..

[blkfordsedan]

Sounds like a fuel issue. If the car sat for a while it could be rust and crap in the tank plugging the pickup. (or filter, or the pump or even a cracked fuel line that lets the pressure bleed off).

[Festiva_Fred]

Sounds like a fuel issue. If the car sat for a while it could be rust and crap in the tank plugging the pickup. (or filter, or the pump or even a cracked fuel line that lets the pressure bleed off).

The cars never sat for a while since we've owned it.. it's my parent's daily driver. I'll check into it..

[25Horseplay]

If its the dist. the 89 auto was a one year only set up. But you can use a dist. from a 88-89 standard shift, the only difference is a slight less advance and the car won't be quite as peppy as it was. Pull a plug and check for spark.

[Festiva_Fred]

I suspect the ignitor in the distributor.
As it will run intermittently.
You may need get a pic of it as it might well be the rare one with push/pull vac diaphragms.
But you might be able to temporally use a regular EFI distributor just diagnose it.
Also you can make-up a tester, let me see if I can find the post and I'll link it here.

Pu241 was right on the money, Thanks! I had the car fixed and running good again, but then the ignitor died (the one I put on was off my parts car which has 311k on it!) I almost broke down on a bridge It started acting up right as I got onto the bridge and I built up as much speed as I could because I knew it was gonna die again. Then it died and I just barely coasted it uphill to a gravel parking lot, I got lucky

[Pu241]

Still looking for FB71 post on a tester for these things!
I'll find it or someone else will beat me to it!
I always carry a spare distributor.
But for all I know it bad too till I test or use it!

[clintorino]

I believe i have the same issue. how much does it cost to replace a Ignitor in the distributor??

[Festiva_Fred]

got a brand new one for $60 off ebay..

[Festiva_Fred]

Still having trouble

I installed a brand new ignitor, and got it to start, seemed to be running good again, then it just dies suddenly and won't restart.. Any suggestions? So far I've tried a different disty, and a new ignitor. Need to get this car back on the road asap!!

[batstiva]

Okay, so I take it we are back to square one? My feeling is your problem is fuel related. Either your pump is on its way out, or you have crap of some kind in your tank/lines. You start it, it runs until the crap gets sucked into the way, and the car dies. You leave it sit, gravity does its work, and the car starts again until the crap gets sucked back in the way again. Check your tank. I am assuming you have an in the tank pump. (Forgive me, I've only ever messed with carbed Festivas). Double/triple check the tank, the screen on the pump, all of it. I suspect your problem will end up being crap in the tank. Just my guess tho. Would think if it was the pump, it would die, and that would be the end of it. Tho, I did have an Escort that the pump slowly died in over the course of a couple of weeks. Did pretty much what you say yours is doing, except it would run longer, and only die when I had a Kenworth in my rearview. lol. Seriously, I'm betting on crap in the tank.

[fastivaca]

Carbed Festiva had mechanical fuel pumps if I remember correctly. That doesn't rule out clogged lines or pickup at the tank though.