car will not start

[colbyrichards]

My 89 Festiva L recently ran out of gas and i filled it up with gas and it still wouldnt start....i put in a brand new fuel filter and it finally started....i went to go drive it yesterday and i got about a mile down the road and it died on me again. and now its back to not starting again. itll try to turn over but it still does not want to start. what do you think it could be?

[mattswabb]

read 1st

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3590

Is it fuel injected or carbed. That may be important. Pull the spark plugs and look at them. It may have gone lean when the fuel ran out and damaged them. just a thought.

[colbyrichards]

well its a 89 Festiva L 2 door automatic and im not sure if its fuel injected or carbed....how exactly do i check?

[colbyrichards]

and also its getting gas the new fuel filter is almost see through and i can see fuel in it...so im not sure if its the fuel pump...im thinknig its not.

[ajb999]

is there a big round thing on top of you engine?

[mattswabb]

89's came fuel injected with the automatics and carbed with the manual trans. So yours should be FI.

Always start with the simple stuff. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor. Do you have any fuel leaks from the filter installation? Mabye the pump could have been damaged when it went dry.

[colbyrichards]

then its FI and i will go home and check on it....so just pretty much check the spark plugs and connections to make sure its all good and check to see if the ful filter is leaking...got ya...

[colbyrichards]

well i just checked the fuel filter to see if it was leaking when i start it and it doesnt leak fuel...i checked all the connections and they all seem to be ok...

[colbyrichards]

ok well i just tried to start it and it made this weird clicking sound and then it started to turn over and it ended up starting and running just fine and now i can drive....hmmm.....

[wrestler3025]

Just a thought, but it may be a flat spot in your starter motor. I had that problem in one of my mustangs. Threw in a re-manufactured starter, and I was good to go.