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It’s probably the ignition control module (ICM), a small electronic device which sits inside the carburettor and sends the current to the spark plug at just the right instant to ignite the air/fuel mixture at its maximum compression at the top of the stroke to get maximum power. It replaced the old mechanical platinum points and is sometimes called the transistorized points. It’s also sometimes called the igniter. The ICM is heat sensitive and deteriorates over time, usually signaling its near death by cutting out and stalling the engine. You can let the car sit until the ICM cools down and it will start up again until the ICM is too far gone and it won’t. ICM’s are not cheap if still available. The ICM should be bedded in dielectric heat transfer paste to extend its life but often it’s not. They are easy to replace. Remove the plastic cap from the distributor and it’s visible, held in by a couple of screws if I remember right. You can find out more about the ICM by searching this website.
As for the oxygen sensor it’s not needed. The car will run fine without it. All it does is reduce hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas to reduce air pollution. In fact the sensor has to warm up before it can work so when the car starts it starts without the sensor which only kicks in once it warms up. Also it’s a safety feature. Suppose the engine stopped if the oxygen sensor stopped working. There you are speeding down the expressway when the sensor stops. What are you going to do? Stop the engine in the middle of the expressway? Nope! The car goes into what they call loop back mode which just means it keeps running without the oxygen sensor signal as if there were no oxygen sensor at all. LOL So don’t worry about reconnecting the sensor unless you have to for emissions testing or because you think your Festiva will make a difference to air quality which is admirable and conscientious but maybe not really that important. Oh yes, with the sensor not connected the check engine light might come on and stay on which tends to render the light kind of meaningless so I guess there’s that to think of. J
As for the oxygen sensor it’s not needed. The car will run fine without it. All it does is reduce hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas to reduce air pollution. In fact the sensor has to warm up before it can work so when the car starts it starts without the sensor which only kicks in once it warms up. Also it’s a safety feature. Suppose the engine stopped if the oxygen sensor stopped working. There you are speeding down the expressway when the sensor stops. What are you going to do? Stop the engine in the middle of the expressway? Nope! The car goes into what they call loop back mode which just means it keeps running without the oxygen sensor signal as if there were no oxygen sensor at all. LOL So don’t worry about reconnecting the sensor unless you have to for emissions testing or because you think your Festiva will make a difference to air quality which is admirable and conscientious but maybe not really that important. Oh yes, with the sensor not connected the check engine light might come on and stay on which tends to render the light kind of meaningless so I guess there’s that to think of. J
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