R.I.P. Festiva Computer

[Sagermeister]

So I took my automatic 1989 Ford Festiva L with a 1.6 liter engine swap to my local mechanic shop, they had it for 2 days, when I got the call today that the computer in my Festy had no pulse whatsoever.
I think I'm screwed at this point cause I have no idea what to do at this point.
I heard there are other computers to replace it but I'm not sure what computer to buy and if it'll fit, or even work.
Just looking for a little advise and maybe some help on the situation. Prices and such. Let me know!
I need my car on the road soon again because I have 2 jobs i need to get back and forth to. Thanks!

[TorqueEffect]

All you need to do is find another B6 computer that will plug right in.

If you honestly can't find one, I heard a B3 computer (Stock Festiva ECU) will work with the B6, but won't get the greatest gas mileage and would just be a temporary solution till you can find a B6 ECU.

I don't know what all cars you can get an ECU that will hook right up, and work.

[htchbck]

Is it stick or auto? This makes a huge difference in whether it was stick or auto, since that determines whether it is carbed or the single year, one off, EFI. This is, of course, assuming you are located in the US. I don't see a location listed. Torque is right, engine should run off a B3 ECU, at least enough to get you back and forth to work, but depending on the wiring harness that is in the car there are three different B3 ECUs and you would first need to determine which one it is that you need. Tell us more about the car and the swap, and if the wiring was changed or not when the swap was done and we'll do our best.

[drddan]

htch....

So I took my automatic 1989

so that would be EFI.....

Sagermeister .... dont know where you are, but it sounds like its time for a junkyard run! Mazda 323 for the B6 ecu, or Festy for the B3 ecu

[htchbck]

so that would be EFI.....

OUCH!!! Lol I swear it didn't say automatic when I read it the first time lol... but then again that was early in the morning before work lol. In that case, do you know which ECU is in it now? I'm assuming probably the stock B3 3 plug ECU, although its been my theory from looking at engine management diagrams that a B6 3 plug ECU should plug into the '89 EFI harness and work properly, much the same way the B6 2 plug ECUs work in a '90-'93 EFI harness. So unless there has been wiring harnesses swapped you *should* be able to run it with either a B3 or B6 3 plug ECU as Dan has stated. At least to get it back on the road. It will have to be a 3 plug ECU though, so either '87-'89 323/Tracer or '89 Festiva automatic. I might have an '89 Festiva automatic ECU that was leftover from a BP swap in which the entire harness was replaced with on from a later EFI harness. If I can find it out there in the garage you are more than welcome to it for the cost of shipping, assuming you aren't able to find one locally.

[zoom zoom]

If you want it(I don't know that it will work in your car or not) but if you decide you want it, I have a good working ecu with a matching VAF from an 89 auto b6 tracer for $60 shipped. I had the car running in the junk yard but I used second gen electronics for my b6 swap in a 93. It's a 3 plug ecu.

[Movin]

I would like to know what the shop tested before they tested for coil and injector pulse.

next IF it really is bad I would be looking for the reason why before slapping another computer in there.

[FestYboy]

^ bingo

[Sagermeister]

It was my dads project til I snagged it off of him for $400, he said the original wiring harness is the original for the Festiva.
I'm thinking since I can't find a Festy computer online very easily, I'm thinking about using a Mazda B6 computer instead. Think that'd work? Let me know!

[FestYboy]

yeah, it'll work, and it will do better than the B3 unit.

i'd wonder HOW the 'puter fried in the first place. i take it the car ran when it got to the shop?? or was that the reason it was in the shop to begin with?

[Sagermeister]

I had to tow it up to the shop with my girlfriends truck, it hasn't rand in about 2 months.
We finally got around to going back to my parents and towing it over to my local shop, as far as I know they haven't charged me anything for the diagnostic. Thank god! Haha!
But I found a B6 Mazda 323 computer on eBay I'm going to buy, they have a 30 return policy with good feedback.
I am just hoping if we have to get it reprogrammed they won't charge me too much.

[FestYboy]

no programing needed, just plug and play but make sure they check the power and ground pins in the harness BEFORE installing the new 'puter

[Sagermeister]

Awesome, so just checking any Mazda 323 B6 computer will work?

[htchbck]

As long as it is from an '89 or earlier it will work. '90 and newer has a 2 plug ECU like the festivas/escorts. The older one is a 3 plug, which is what should be stock in your '89 auto. The '89 auto was the only festiva that used that particular ECU and engine management wiring.

[zoom zoom]

your gonna want the air flow sensor to match.