Stranded... What fun...

[DriverOne]

Re: Stranded... What fun...

Fusible links are under the hood on the driver's side shock tower. They split the power from the battery into three circuits, one of which is engine control.

Those fusible links can be replaced with PAL cartridge fuses, 30a, 40a, 30a left to right respectively. They're much more effective than a bridge wire fuse.

[nitrofarm]

That actually popped in my head too. I haven't changed one before but I have heard some stories about their failures on this forum, among other sensors. But I'm a little slow when it comes to which symptoms lead to which sensors, particularly on these pre-1996 cars which aren't scan tool applicable.
How do you check for a bad cam position sensor exactly?

I just pull a spark plug & check for spark. Doing this tells you your coil,ignition,cps & spark plug are good.
If these check out you dont have fuel. If you dont have fuel it be a few differnt fuse's or your VAF connection (wiggle the VAF plug). Check your fuseable link & fuses.
FYI, when driving 20+ year old vehicles I carry an emergency tool kit. Flashlight,Test light,Multimeter,fuse's/fuseable links,spare bulbs and a couple basic tools (BFH also but not recommended). You can buy all this stuff for a bowl of rice @ Harbor Freight. And will fit in a canvas "Ammo Bag" under your seat.It has saved me a tow truck coule times over the years

[Bert]

I just pull a spark plug & check for spark. Doing this tells you your coil,ignition,cps & spark plug are good.
If these check out you dont have fuel. If you dont have fuel it be a few differnt fuse's or your VAF connection (wiggle the VAF plug). Check your fuseable link & fuses.
FYI, when driving 20+ year old vehicles I carry an emergency tool kit. Flashlight,Test light,Multimeter,fuse's/fuseable links,spare bulbs and a couple basic tools (BFH also but not recommended). You can buy all this stuff for a bowl of rice @ Harbor Freight. And will fit in a canvas "Ammo Bag" under your seat.It has saved me a tow truck coule times over the years

Sage advice! We are no longer of the vehicle owner mentality that can afford to stand beside a dead car and merely look helpless and stupid. I admire anyone that DDs a 20 year old car.

[DriverOne]

Re: Stranded... What fun...

I admire anyone that DDs a 20 year old car.

These vehicles WILL teach you independence, if you have the desire (or necessity) to repair them. My younger sister is learning about this, and while some of the issues have been repaired professionally, she has learned to diagnose and repair before becoming overly concerned about her situation. I personally dread the day I can no longer work on my own vehicle.

[nitrofarm]

Sage advice! We are no longer of the vehicle owner mentality that can afford to stand beside a dead car and merely look helpless and stupid. I admire anyone that DDs a 20 year old car.

Thank You Bert,it can be trying at times.But the end result is usually well worth it.

These vehicles WILL teach you independence, if you have the desire (or necessity) to repair them. My younger sister is learning about this, and while some of the issues have been repaired professionally, she has learned to diagnose and repair before becoming overly concerned about her situation. I personally dread the day I can no longer work on my own vehicle.

Exactly! This is what I've been trying to convey to my College kids (Son & Daughter). They've gotten a lot better.In the past they would get frustrated & want to sell his they're cars. They've gotten wiser & more patient about break downs.

[TheresGabe]

If a festiva EVER won't start unexpectedly, or dies unexpectedly, and it still has fusible links, CHECK THE FUSIBLE LINKS!

[200KGPGTP]

Sage advice! We are no longer of the vehicle owner mentality that can afford to stand beside a dead car and merely look helpless and stupid. I admire anyone that DDs a 20 year old car.

I DD a 25 year old car :lol:

[FB71]

How do you check for a bad cam position sensor exactly?

read the sticky a few lines above;

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?22235-EFI-distributor-tester

With a squeak coming from the trans end of the engine, I would pull out the distributor and make it turns freely, and that the drive tang hasn't bent or sheared. I had one act exactly like yours. The distributor bushings tried to sieze the shaft, bent the drive tang. It still had spark, but now at the wrong time. Cranked fast like a broken belt, too.

[sickfleming]

FYI, when driving 20+ year old vehicles I carry an emergency tool kit. Flashlight,Test light,Multimeter,fuse's/fuseable links,spare bulbs and a couple basic tools (BFH also but not recommended). You can buy all this stuff for a bowl of rice @ Harbor Freight. And will fit in a canvas "Ammo Bag" under your seat.It has saved me a tow truck coule times over the years

I definitely agree. I always carry my tool bag, sledgehammer, pry bar, jack and Jack stands with me, plus lots of lube. I hate those scissor Jack death sentences.

[sickfleming]

read the sticky a few lines above;

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?22235-EFI-distributor-tester

With a squeak coming from the trans end of the engine, I would pull out the distributor and make it turns freely, and that the drive tang hasn't bent or sheared. I had one act exactly like yours. The distributor bushings tried to sieze the shaft, bent the drive tang. It still had spark, but now at the wrong time. Cranked fast like a broken belt, too.

Is the drive tang on the cam? If it's sheared, I hope that doesn't mean cam replacement or anything...

[nitrofarm]

Is the drive tang on the cam? If it's sheared, I hope that doesn't mean cam replacement or anything...

Its on the DIZZY. Maybe its the just the pin that sheared. I figured you had this thing running ,what have you determined so far?

[sickfleming]

Its on the DIZZY. Maybe its the just the pin that sheared. I figured you had this thing running ,what have you determined so far?

Well we just finally got my car back from the bank where it was parked via tow truck, which took a good while along with errands I had to run, so I really didn't get much time to give the car the full colonoscopy lol. I did try to turn the engine over, in regards to the ignition control module a couple of you mentioned, but well... Same as before. No start.

I'm going to take a look tomorrow...or well, today after I get some sleep. So I'm going to check my fusible links and take a look at my distributor, along with looking at my timing belt and checking my fuel pump and spark. Just out of curiosity, is there any way to check for fuel pressure without a gauge?

[Bert]

I DD a 25 year old car :lol:

During the non salt months (over the past 8 years) I DD an 86 F150 that I've owned since 88. No electronics at all and problems are easy to diagnose and fix and the very reason why I've taken good care of it right from day 1. Previous to that I had a purchased-new 85 EFI Ranger that was nothing but electrical unreliability and grief right from the start.

[nitrofarm]

Well we just finally got my car back from the bank where it was parked via tow truck, which took a good while along with errands I had to run, so I really didn't get much time to give the car the full colonoscopy lol. I did try to turn the engine over, in regards to the ignition control module a couple of you mentioned, but well... Same as before. No start.

I'm going to take a look tomorrow...or well, today after I get some sleep. So I'm going to check my fusible links and take a look at my distributor, along with looking at my timing belt and checking my fuel pump and spark. Just out of curiosity, is there any way to check for fuel pressure without a gauge?

So Sick your saying when you cranked it you had NO spark at the plug,and that's why you re moving on to look for fuel pressure? Just trying to clarify Boss.....

[georgeb]

If you jump the fuel pump tester you can hear the fuel in the rail. That's enough pressure to make it run.