New and desperate.

[jbeamcoke]

First off thank you for all the informative reading on this site!

Second, I have a 92 festiva that needs a lot of love. I'm not the best mechanic but can figure most out. Unfortunately, I haven't the funds to fully restore the miracle of nature but I'll die trying damnit. I'm looking for a 92 festiva ignition switch.

I get lights and that's it. I turn the key and all you hear is the sound of the key turning. Nothing, zip, ziltch. No lights to the dash, no radio no nothing. I've boiled it down to the ignition switch after purchasing a new battery to no prevail.

So, I call for the part but can't find anyone who carries it and all said find a salvage yard.

Now I know what you're thinking, I don't think of you as a salvage yard but a fellow festiva owner who can help another out. Please help me find a switch or give me advice as to what other problems could cause this. I thank you much

[1988redfordfestiva]

hi i'm also new here if i might there's a 3 wire box near the battery did u check the female plug in there they might be corroded i just had the smae issue with mine and some how figure it out anyways good luck .....

[Team Lightning]

Hello and welcome to both of you!! This is the best Festiva site on the internet.
It would help if you would add your location to your info. There are a lot of people that can/will help if you are close by them.
Welcome to the site!

[darrenryall]

Another idea..

Also new..

Am in the country and my reply timed out.. getting into the city.

Something that you might want to look at.. I don't know where you are exactly, but you're probably not up here in Canada. But there's a chain of stores up this way called Princess Auto. They sell a generic four terminal ignition switch and also alligator clips (about $13 CDN total for both). If there's a similar store in your area, you could pick up the generic switch and clips (or probes), unplug the plug from the back of the Festiva ignition switch, and once you have it wired properly, try turning it over. If it's the Festiva switch, it should fire right up.

Wish I'd found these a few years back.. the set I bought should make troubleshooting a bit easier.

Btw, I'm in the same boat as you.. limited time and budget to fix my Festiva, and am looking to get mine going as a daily driver as well. They're nice little cars, I first had one recommended to me about 7 years back by a lady that drove hers to work at the hotel at Sun Peaks Ski Resort (near Kamloops BC). And some of those hairpin turns then I'd imagine would've been a blast in the Festiva. But she swore by the car, drove it every day to work, down to Vancouver, all over the place. So she's why I now have one..

[darrenryall]

Btw, switch looks like this:

[1988redfordfestiva]

i have a question the 3 wire box i remade the clips with wire is there a place u can buy new ones ?

[fastivaca]

You can change the wire fusible links for cartridge type. Someone had posted a picture or two showing the cartridges in place.

[wybnrml]

You can change the wire fusible links for cartridge type. Someone had posted a picture or two showing the cartridges in place.

Yeah, here is a link for the pics.http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...=fusable+links

[freshtiva]

First off thank you for all the informative reading on this site!

Second, I have a 92 festiva that needs a lot of love. I'm not the best mechanic but can figure most out. Unfortunately, I haven't the funds to fully restore the miracle of nature but I'll die trying damnit. I'm looking for a 92 festiva ignition switch.

I get lights and that's it. I turn the key and all you hear is the sound of the key turning. Nothing, zip, ziltch. No lights to the dash, no radio no nothing. I've boiled it down to the ignition switch after purchasing a new battery to no prevail.

So, I call for the part but can't find anyone who carries it and all said find a salvage yard.

Now I know what you're thinking, I don't think of you as a salvage yard but a fellow festiva owner who can help another out. Please help me find a switch or give me advice as to what other problems could cause this. I thank you much

It could be something other than your ignition switch. There is a large gauge white wire up near your battery, if you have a bad connection there it will behave as you have described. Could also be a fuseable link. Do you have an auto or manual tranny ?

Btw, switch looks like this:

That doesnt look right to me.

i have a question the 3 wire box i remade the clips with wire is there a place u can buy new ones ?

I could sell you a replacement. Ive got several extras.

[GenevaDirt]

First off thank you for all the informative reading on this site!

Second, I have a 92 festiva that needs a lot of love. I'm not the best mechanic but can figure most out. Unfortunately, I haven't the funds to fully restore the miracle of nature but I'll die trying damnit. I'm looking for a 92 festiva ignition switch.

I get lights and that's it. I turn the key and all you hear is the sound of the key turning. Nothing, zip, ziltch. No lights to the dash, no radio no nothing. I've boiled it down to the ignition switch after purchasing a new battery to no prevail.

So, I call for the part but can't find anyone who carries it and all said find a salvage yard.

Now I know what you're thinking, I don't think of you as a salvage yard but a fellow festiva owner who can help another out. Please help me find a switch or give me advice as to what other problems could cause this. I thank you much

Almost positive that it is the middle of the three wires (fusible links) on the strut tower by the battery. Exact symptoms when that fuse blows.

[jbeamcoke]

Wow, Thank you for all the responses! As soon as I get light outside I will look for those fuses. Although, I don't recall seeing a box like that next to my battery and in that pic it looks like right there next to the windshield fluid reservoir.

And I do apologize for not really introducing myself and location. I'm Jim from Minnesota and Freshtiva my festiva is a manual transmission.

I hope it's as simple as a fuse. I'll let you all know what I come up with.

[jbeamcoke]

whelp, tried the cartridge fuses and still nothing

I'm lost

[darrenryall]

That doesnt look right to me.

In this case, I was recommending a test ignition switch, not a permanent replacement. The test switch you could wire with alligator clips or probes, and you'd plug them into the holes on the plug that connects to your switch. You then try starting the car with the test ignition switch, and if things run right.. you know the issue is the original switch.

I could sell you a replacement. Ive got several extras.

That's the best option.

[batstiva]

A little more info on your car might help. 92, auto or manual tranny? Did the car used to start, and now it doesn't, or did you buy it not running?

[jbeamcoke]

And I do apologize for not really introducing myself and location. I'm Jim from Minnesota and Freshtiva my festiva is a manual transmission.

My bad, yes I did buy it in running condition and have been using it for almost 5 years every day. Suddenly the life was just sucked out of it. Kind of lost without it. I'm spending seventy plus for gas now a week driving my truck.