93 Festiva issues need help

[1990new]

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd487/1990new/1990new%20Power%20Window%20Install/OpenBarrelCrimpTool1.jpg

http://stores.ebay.com/PERFORMANCE-PLUS-CONNECTION?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

http://performanceplusconnection.com/

I bought this one. Works great for me. Paid 43.95 for it from this ebay seller located in Charlotte, NC

They also sell Delphi GM terminal connectors.

[heavyMetal]

Safety Guy

Now thats interesting, I have the Clear connector on my Festiva with Yellow wire with Green stripe, a second yellow wire with Green stripe also exists in the engine compartment but has had the connector cut off!

I Hate people that do stupid! I figure you have shown the true connector but only trying it will tell the truth.

Still plan to search the wireing harness in the wheel well just to be sure I'm not missing anything. Hope to do that tomorrow.

Meanwhile that's what the connector is supposed to look like and yes you should hear a difference in engine sound. I had a Tempo that need a spout connecter removed before you could set timing, the old thick film ignition, and it ran pretty rough until it was plugged back in.

Hopefully we both learn something here and make it available for others to use / know!

[heavyMetal]

ATTENTION!
I have a piece of info that needs to be made a STICKY but I have no idea who or how!

Lots of questions for Ford Festiva's concerning timing and the STI conector.

I found fords service bulletin TSB 93-02-04 This explains both wire color code connector code and location of the Tach connector and the STI connector and also does it for several Ford vehicles beside the Festiva.

For those that own 91 to 93 Festiva there are TWO single wire connectors located by the Brake booster! Both are Yellow with Green stripe the white plug is for a tach the black plug is the STI plug that needs to be grounded for timing.

The information on the net that says the STI is Black with a Yellow stripe is correct for PRE 1991 vehicles! It does not apply to 91 to 93 Festiva's!

This TSB really calls it out and the bulletin should be made a sticky if possible as soon as possible.

[Safety Guy]

HeavyM wrote:

"For those that own 91 to 93 Festiva there are TWO single wire connectors located by the Brake booster! Both are Yellow with Green stripe the white plug is for a tach the black plug is the STI plug that needs to be grounded for timing."

I'd call the "whilte" plug either tan or clear. Or just "light colored."

Anyways, good to know! Makes things a little less confusing.

Karl

[Safety Guy]

I just put the timing on. First I crafted a test lead for the job out of wire, a piece of small flat HF screwdriver (cut off just for this) and an eye connector (using shrink tubing to keep it together). When I applied it, it worked! Slowed the engine a bit. Checked idle (got it down to around 850-900 best I can tell off the cluster tach) and my white pulley mark lines up with the white post.

Question: What the heck are the "T" and "10" lined markings for?

Is "T" TDC? Is "10" ten degrees timing advance?

The book says to line up the pulley mark with the post. Can this be another mistake?

Out for a test drive now.

Karl

[Safety Guy]

SUCCESS! I FINALLY HAVE MY FULL POWER (or close to it) B6 BACK!!

I went out to do exactly what the Haynes manual says: To line up the pulley mark with the "10" on the timing scale. It got WORSE. And the distributor was at its limit (CCW).

So I disregarded it and took the distributor CW towards the ground instead of the hood.

It got better!

My timing mark is now between the post and the firewall. Maybe 8 to 10mm past the post. Everything sounded much better, so I went for a test drive and there was little to no hesitation. FULL B6 POWAH!!

I'm reasonably happy. I now know my timing marks are all messed up.

And that the Ford shop manual and the Haynes give two different, contradictory, instructions on setting timing with the marks.

I'll bring my spare pulley and lower timing cover to Ohiostiva for a little conference. How did I go so wrong here?

I have no idea.

Karl

[heavyMetal]

Safety guy
Glad to hear it's gone well for you.

Pulled the dizzy out of mine this afternoon, thinking I could just twist the drive portion and reinstall for a better shot at getting the 10 degre mark lined up.

No Joy! Turns out the drive end is a one way fitting and you can't get it to go any other way. Fought the temptation to punch out the pin and reverse the driver any way but common sense reigned and I figured out the timing marks on the cam are off by two teeth!

I hate people that claim to be mechanic's and aren't, LOL!

Taking a break tomorrow and Sat I will strip this down and reset the marks correctly set the timoing marks right and static time this puppy before I start it.

With the cam installed correctly the dizzy should have enough adjustment to bring everything into alignment per factory spec, then she should pass a visual smog check and I can get the tags!

You might double check you cam timing Karl if your way retarded ( no insult intended, LOL) advancing the ignition timing would result in just the performance gains you picked up.

But you may have heating issue so keep an eye on the temp gauge.

[Safety Guy]

Thanks hM, and good luck to you!

Karl