93Ford Festiva Problem

[Speechless35]

So I'm driving my Festiva and the car sputters and cuts off. I try to start it up again,but it wouldn't start. I let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour and finally it did. I thought it was the fuel pump going bad because when it stopped it felt like a car running out of gas,but I was wrong. While driving again,this time it wouldn't start for an hour while I was stuck at a busy intersection. After the tow my mechanic check the fuel pump and just couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.Miraculously,again,the car starts and I drive it home and leave it there. What could be the problem? Can anyone help? I'm thinking about bring the car to Firestone and getting a full inspection for $100.


JCherisme35@yahoo.com
2396921711
Naples,FL

[TominMO]

This should be in the Repair Help forum; but anyway, I'm guessing an issue with ignition; perhaps overheating then starting when it's cooled down enough.

[Speechless35]

Thank you and I'm new. Ill post it in the repairs. I'm pretty sure it's not overheating

[1990new]

Ideas:
Maybe a failed sensor such as engine temperature to ECU sender, failing ground somewhere (electrical resistance increases as the temperature increases).
Engine temperature appears to be the trigger here. Things related to temperature, old plug wires, corroded batter cable connections, failing ground at fuel pump. Usually the sensor failures give warning before failing completely. Were you having other problems before this one that caused the engine to die completely. Has the engine been running worse when it heated up.


I'm sure someone here has had this same problem, hopefully will see you post and will pinpoint the exact cause.


Just remembered, it is even possible that it is the main fusible link going bad. I did have this problem once and
I had driven about 35 miles on a very hot day. Corrision at the link caused failure when it got really hot under the hood.

[TominMO]

Thank you and I'm new. Ill post it in the repairs. I'm pretty sure it's not overheating

I am not talking about the coolant and motor overheating, but some electronic part, which you probably do not have any simple way of checking. I only mentioned this because it has happened to me in the past on various cars, and was either an aftermarket coil or the stock electronic module in my '90 CRX (which was replaced by the dealer for free under a recall).