Ford Festiva. Manual — part 54

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

* PLEASE READ THIS FIRST *

ACCESSORIES & ELECTRICAL

CHARGING SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING

BASIC CHARGING SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or
individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or
individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or
individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Vehicle Will Not Start

Dead battery

Check battery cells, alternator

belt tension and alternator

output

Loose or corroded battery connections

Check all charging system

connections

Ignition circuit or switch malfunction

Check and replace as necessary

Alternator Light Stays On With Engine Running

Loose or worn alternator drive belt

Check alternator drive tension

and condition, See Belt

Adjustment in TUNE-UP article

in the TUNE-UP section

Loose alternator wiring connections

Check all charging system

connections

Short in alternator light wiring

See Indicator Warning Lights in

STANDARD INSTRUMENTS

in the ACCESSORIES &

EQUIPMENT section

Defective alternator stator or diodes

See Bench Tests in

ALTERNATOR article

Defective regulator

See Regulator Check in

ALTERNATOR article

Alternator Light Stays Off With Ignition Switch ON

Blown fuse

See WIRING DIAGRAMS

Defective alternator

See Testing in ALTERNATOR

article

Defective indicator light bulb or socket

See Indicator Warning Lights in

STANDARD INSTRUMENTS

in the ACCESSORIES &

EQUIPMENT section

Alternator Light Stays OFF With Ignition Switch ON

Short in alternator wiring

See On-Vehicle Tests in

ALTERNATOR article

Defective rectifier bridge

See Bench Tests in

ALTERNATOR article

Lights or Fuses Burn Out Frequently

Defective alternator wiring

See On-Vehicle Tests in

ALTERNATOR article

Defective regulator

See Regulator Check in

ALTERNATOR article

Defective battery

Check and replace as necessary

Ammeter Gauge Shows Discharge

Loose or worn drive belt

Check alternator drive belt

tension and condition. See Belt

Adjustment in TUNE-UP article

in the TUNE-UP section

Defective wiring

Check all wires and wire

IGNITION SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING

connections

Defective alternator or regulator

See Bench Tests and On-

Vehicle Tests in

ALTERNATOR article

Defective ammeter, or improper ammeter wiring connection

See Testing in STANDARD

INSTRUMENTS in the

ACCESSORIES &

EQUIPMENT section

Noisy Alternator

Loose drive pulley

Tighten drive pulley attaching

nut

Loose mounting bolts

Tighten all alternator mounting

bolts

Worn or dirty bearings

See Bearing Replacement

ALTERNATOR article

Defective diodes or stator

See Bench Test in

ALTERNATOR article

Battery Does Stay Charged

Loose or worn drive belt

Check alternator drive belt

tension and condition. See Belt

Adjustment in appropriate

TUNE-UP article in the TUNE-

UP section

Loose or corroded battery connections

Check all charging system

connections

Loose alternator connections

Check all charging system

connections

Defective alternator or battery

See On-Vehicle Tests and

Bench Tests in ALTERNATOR

article

Add-on electrical accessories exceeding alternator capacity

Install larger alternator

Battery Overcharged-Uses Too Much Water

Defective battery

Check alternator output and

repair as necessary

Defective alternator

See On-Vehicle Test and Bench

Tests in ALTERNATOR article

Excessive alternator voltage

Check alternator output and

repair as necessary

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or
individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

Fig. 1: Ignition Secondary Trouble Shooting Chart

Fig. 2: Ignition Primary Trouble Shooting Chart

STARTER TROUBLE SHOOTING

BASIC STARTER TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or
individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Starter Fails to Operate

Dead battery or bad connections between starter and battery

Check battery charge and all

wires and connections to

starter

Ignition switch faulty or misadjusted

Adjust or replace ignition

switch

Open circuit between starter switch ignition terminal on starter relay

Check and repair wires and

connections as necessary

Starter relay or starter defective

See Testing in STARTER

article

Open solenoid pull-in wire

Testing in STARTER article

Starter Does Not Operate and Headlights Dim

Weak battery or dead cell

Charge or replace battery as

necessary

Loose or corroded battery connections

Check that battery connections

are clean and tight

Internal ground in starter windings

See Testing in STARTER

article

Grounded starter fields

See Testing in STARTERS

Armature rubbing on pole

See STARTER article shoes

Starter Turns but Engine Does Not Rotate

Starter clutch slipping

See STARTER article