One thing after another!

[doylerl]

Ok, so spanky has been down for a couple of weeks because it was not getting spark. Checked using a known good module, still nothing. So, I figured I would just replace the whole disty. Well, upon removing the old one, I found a wire stuck to the side of it in a small black square that was attached with a screw. This wire goes to the + side of the coil. Well, not knowing what that little black square was, I assumed it was some kind of distribution block for that wire. Since it was the only wire going into it, and I couldn't get the screw out to remove it, I just cut it off and put a new end on it. This end I connected to the same hole the black box was screwed into. Well, as soon as I turned the key, no power! My girlfriend was standing right in front of it, and all she can tell me is "there was a little smoke around here (as she points to the whole drivers side of the engine bay!)" The main fuse blew, but I am thinking that wire I grounded out caused the problem. What exactly is this wire and black square for? It looked like a ground but was going to the + side of the coil. Can I just remove this wire completely? It isn't in the harness or anything. Just a single wire from the coil to the disty housing. Thanks

[doylerl]

So, I took that wire completely off, replaced the fuse, and it fired right up. It ran for about 1 min. and started jerking and missing and then just died. It won't start back up yet again! What is wrong with this thing?! FWIW: Fuse is still good.

[1988redfordfestiva]

is your 89 carbed ? sound light the black box on the distributor is bad the connect to the coil i think its called a ballast anyways if not that then u have the fins back word do wut i do number 1 piston up number one on distributor use a sock to turn the crank and align with number 1 piston has to be up make sure u check crank white line at 0 dtc this is an easy check i just did mine the same way

[1988redfordfestiva]

another ? gas wut kind u using
i use 89 in mine and 93 once in a blue moon

[doylerl]

is your 89 carbed ? sound light the black box on the distributor is bad the connect to the coil i think its called a ballast anyways if not that then u have the fins back word do wut i do number 1 piston up number one on distributor use a sock to turn the crank and align with number 1 piston has to be up make sure u check crank white line at 0 dtc this is an easy check i just did mine the same way

another ? gas wut kind u using
i use 89 in mine and 93 once in a blue moon

It is an 89 carbed. I use 89 most of the time, but if it's cheap, I will go higher. I run carb. cleaner fuel additive every 4-5 fillups too. I just can't seem to have any luck with festys. As much as I love them, I am really starting to get sick of having to work on them all the time. If this one keeps this *&%^ up, you may be seeing a [FS] post!

[1988redfordfestiva]

do yourself a favor pull plugs check the compression

[1988redfordfestiva]

how long ago did u do a tune up

[1988redfordfestiva]

check your wires with a ohm meter on ohma and check your wires to the plugs check oil and coolant

[1988redfordfestiva]

i'll try and help u as much as i can i hope u dont have it back wards the distributor can go either way but make sure u know the firing orderi think its i1342 but i'll check and give u a link

http://autorepair.about.com/library/firing_orders/bl-ford-firing-88.htm

[1988redfordfestiva]

yeah with out the black box you'll fry the disty i had this same issue i had to get mine from a mazda with it on it longer wire then connects to the coil

[1988redfordfestiva]

ya u need that black box best way to get the screw off umm alittle heat and tap the screw with a screw driver and a hammer

[Maxtiva]

WOW !!! 6 post in less than 20 min someone should learn how to use the edit button.

[Damkid]

WOW !!! 6 post in less than 20 min you should learn how to use the edit button

No kidding!!

[1988redfordfestiva]

sorry guys was tryin to get him info but yeah he needs the black box on the disty that connects to the coil

[batstiva]

do yourself a favor pull plugs check the compression

how long ago did u do a tune up

check your wires with a ohm meter on ohma and check your wires to the plugs check oil and coolant

i'll try and help u as much as i can i hope u dont have it back wards the distributor can go either way but make sure u know the firing orderi think its i1342 but i'll check and give u a link

http://autorepair.about.com/library/...-firing-88.htm

yeah with out the black box you'll fry the disty i had this same issue i had to get mine from a mazda with it on it longer wire then connects to the coil

ya u need that black box best way to get the screw off umm alittle heat and tap the screw with a screw driver and a hammer

sorry guys was tryin to get him info but yeah he needs the black box on the disty that connects to the coil

Post Whore Kidding.

Doyler, did you cut the wire in such a way that you can just splice it temporarily and see if that fixes the problem? I recall Ogrestiva having a similar problem after having not reconnected that wire a while back. Not sure what exactly it does.

P.S. If you do throw it into the FS section, I'd be up for a road trip to IN.:p