92 Festiva Slow Start / No Start

[firebush357]

Here is the list of Models that use the same ACDelco Coil Part Number according to Rock Auto.
Buyer's Guide : ACDELCO F511 Ignition Coil
FORD ESCORT 1991-1996
FORD FESTIVA 1990-1993
MAZDA 323 1990-1995
MAZDA B2200 1990-1993
MAZDA B2600 1990-1993
MAZDA MX-3 1992-1993
MAZDA PROTEGE 1990-1994
MERCURY TRACER 1991-1996


If the ICM is the issue then they run about $35 on Rockauto but it looks like they use the same part number for a lot of Mazda's so it should be pretty easy to find at the junkyard.

Here is the Models you can find that ICM according to RockAuto
FORD ASPIRE 1994-1997
FORD ESCORT 1991-1996
FORD FESTIVA 1990-1993
KIA SEPHIA 1994-1997
MAZDA 323 1990-1994
MAZDA 929 1992-1995
MAZDA B2200 1990-1993
MAZDA B2600 1990-1993
MAZDA MPV 1989-1994
MAZDA MX-3 1992-1993
MAZDA PROTEGE 1990-1994
MERCURY TRACER 1991-1996

[Timothy]

Go to Rock Auto, look up your car, find the coil, click on the part#. It will tell you what other cars use it. Motorcraft only lists Festiva and Aspire, but other brands list a bunch of cars.

Thanks for the tip. That really simplifies my search.

[1990new]

Before you go buy a new coil, test the resistance on your current coil.
Set your multimeter to ohms.
1. Primary winding:
On my cen-tech digital multimeter I set the dial to 200 in the ohms quadrant.
Connect your positive and negative leads to the two metal connectors in in the white plug on the coil
The reading should settle around 1.9 to 2.0 (definitely 1.5 or greater).
2. Secondary winding:
On my cen-tech digital multimeter I set the dail to 20K in the ohms quadrant.
Connect one lead to either one of the metal connectors in the white plug on the coil and the other inside the black coil wire hole.
The reading should settle around 12.5 to 13.0 (Definitely 11.0 or greater).

If these readings are in the acceptable range, you should not need a new coil.

[Timothy]

Before you go buy a new coil, test the resistance on your current coil.
Set your multimeter to ohms.
1. Primary winding:
On my cen-tech digital multimeter I set the dial to 200 in the ohms quadrant.
Connect your positive and negative leads to the two metal connectors in in the white plug on the coil
The reading should settle around 1.9 to 2.0 (definitely 1.5 or greater).
2. Secondary winding:
On my cen-tech digital multimeter I set the dail to 20K in the ohms quadrant.
Connect one lead to either one of the metal connectors in the white plug on the coil and the other inside the black coil wire hole.
The reading should settle around 12.5 to 13.0 (Definitely 11.0 or greater).

If these readings are in the acceptable range, you should not need a new coil.

My reading for the primary winding was 1.3.

My reading for the secondary winding was 11.6
So does this mean that we can reasonably assume that the coil is non functioning?

[Timothy]

I also checked the primary winding of the new and it bounced around between 1.9 and 2.3.

[FestYboy]

Those #s are still acceptable for a performance coil, so it should still function. I would be suspecting the ICM since there is NO spark whatsoever.

[Timothy]

Those #s are still acceptable for a performance coil, so it should still function. I would be suspecting the ICM since there is NO spark whatsoever.

How to I test that bad boy?

[1990new]

Those #s are still acceptable for a performance coil, so it should still function. I would be suspecting the ICM since there is NO spark whatsoever.

I agree. Sounds like your old coil is acceptable.
I checked the readings on my two spare coils and the coils on Rosie and Nellie (Nellie has the lowest mileage).
Rosie 1.8 11.9
Nellie 2.6 12.4
Spare1 2.1 12.28
Spare2 2.1 12.74

I have 3 spare ICM's but I don't know of a way to test them.

[Timothy]

ty1
htdhtdhtd

Ignition coil FTW!!!! Firebush357 is two for two on this thread. Not only did he suggest that my battery was toast, he also suggested that I needed a new coil. He also saved me $$$ because I was ready to run out and buy a new starter before he suggested it was not the problem. Instead I got it tested and it check out fine.

Long story short, I installed the new coil and she started right up! It's nice to have a thread that ends well and with a good solution. I've read hundreds of threads, on all sorts of subjects, and the problem never gets solved. Thank you to EVERYONE who contributed to this thread. Your help was GREATLY appreciated. And a nice bonus, I learned a shit ton of new info about my new Festiva.

Here is a video of my victory engine start.

[1990new]

Great to hear that you got it running again. Now that you have that new coil, it's a good time to change the plugs (if you haven't done it lately) and/or make sure the plug gaps are set to spec... overall performance and gas mileage should improve also since you had been getting a weak spark from that old coil. I'm sure that new battery helped out with things too. And if you have some spare time this winter clean up all those electrical connections too.

[Timothy]

Ohh no. I spoke too soon. I started it up six or seven times the I took her for a spin on a roads. She got 4.5 miles and the car totally stopped running while going about 45 mph Still turns over quickly but wont start.

I celbrated too soon. Like a football player slowing down and high stepping it into the end one only to get tackled at the last second a yard short of the end zone.

[william]

Icm, I did the same thing thought the coil fixed it and it didn't as soon as they get hot they fail let them cool and it will run for a short time.
At. Least yours isn't in the disty like the capri stuff on my b6d.

[Timothy]

Ok I'll look into getting an Icm. Do you think I broke my new coil?

[firebush357]

Something sounds Funky in that Video...Its sounds different while turning over than I'm used to, I heard it earlier when in the first video too. How many miles are on that engine?

[Timothy]

140,126

I'm also checking my spark plugs with my meter. They don't look good.