Ford Festiva. Instruction — part 1

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INSTRUMENT PANEL

1991 ACCESSORIES & SAFETY EQUIPMENT Ford Motor Co. Switches & Instrument Panels - Standard

DESCRIPTION & OPERATION

Instrument panel on Capri contains a speedometer, tachometer, fuel, water temperature, oil pressure and voltmeter gauges. A boost gauge is
incorporated into the tachometer on turbo models. Instrument panel is equipped with indicator/warning lights for charging system, air bag,
instruction shift, seat belt, turn signals, high beam and brakes. A CHECK ENGINE light, located on instrument panel, illuminates if a
computerized engine control fault occurs with engine running.

Instrument panel on Festiva contains a speedometer, fuel and water temperature gauges. Instrument panel is equipped with indicator/warning
lights for charging system, oil pressure, seat belt, rear defogger, turn signals, high beam and brakes. A CHECK ENGINE light, located on
instrument panel, illuminates if a computerized engine control fault occurs with engine running.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

FUEL GAUGE

Fuel Gauge Always Reads Empty

If fuel gauge always reads empty, check these items:



Check fuel gauge for open or damaged wires.



Check for open ground at fuel gauge sending unit.



Check for defective fuel sending unit.



Check for defective fuel gauge.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).



Check for blown 10-amp METER fuse in fuse panel.



Check for open in Black/Yellow power feed wire from fuse panel instrument panel.



Check for fuel tank float full of fuel (sunk).

Fuel Gauge Always Reads Full

If fuel gauge always reads full, check these items:



Check for fuel gauge Yellow wire shorted to ground.



Check for defective fuel sending unit.



Check for defective fuel gauge.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).

Fuel Gauge Inaccurate

If fuel gauge is inaccurate, check these items:



Check for faulty (loose or corroded) wire connections.



Check for defective fuel sending unit.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

Temperature Gauge Always Reads Cold

If temperature gauge always reads cold, check these items:



Check temperature gauge for open wire.



Check for defective temperature sender.



Check for defective temperature gauge.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).



Check for blown 10-amp METER fuse in fuse panel.



Check for open in Black/Yellow power feed wire from fuse panel to instrument panel.

Temperature Gauge Always Reads Hot

CAUTION:

On models with Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), observe safety precautions. The air bag system
is powered directly from the battery and back-up power supply. Before any repairs are performed,
disconnect and shield battery ground cable. Disconnect the back-up power supply BEFORE servicing
ANY air bag component. Use caution when working near steering column. Air bag could accidentally
deploy at any time.

NOTE:

Ensure continuity exists between chassis ground and Black wire of instrument panel connector,
especially if fault exists in multiple gauge circuits. See appropriate chassis wiring diagram in the
WIRING DIAGRAMS Section.

If temperature gauge always reads hot, check these items:



Check for temperature gauge wire shorted to ground.



Check for defective temperature sender.



Check for defective temperature gauge.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).

Temperature Gauge Inaccurate

If temperature gauge is inaccurate, check these items:



Check for faulty (loose or corroded) wire connections.



Check for defective temperature sender.



Check for defective instrument panel voltage regulator (Festiva).

SPEEDOMETER

Speedometer Does Not Operate

If speedometer does not operate, check these items:



Check for broken speedometer drive cable.



Check for broken drive gear in transmission.



Check for defective speedometer head.

Speedometer Needle Bounces

If speedometer needle bounces, check these items:



Check for binding speedometer drive cable.



Check for missing teeth on drive gear in transmission.



Check for defective speedometer head.

Speedometer Does Not Indicate Correct Vehicle Speed

If speedometer does not indicate correct vehicle speed, check these items:



Check for incorrect size tires.



Check for improper tire inflation.



Check for defective speedometer head.

TACHOMETER (CAPRI)

Tachometer Does Not Work, But All Other Gauges Work Properly

-If tachometer does not work, but all other gauges function properly, check these items:



Check for defective tachometer.



Check for open Yellow/Black tachometer signal wire from ignition coil to instrument panel.



Check for faulty Black ground wire to instrument panel.

Tachometer & All Gauges Do Not Function

If tachometer and all other gauges do not function properly, check these items:



Check for blown 10-amp METER fuse in fuse panel.



Check for open in Black/Yellow wire to fuse panel to instrument panel and Black/White wire from ignition switch to fuse panel

Tachometer Reading Low

If tachometer reading is lower than normal, check these items:



Check for defective tachometer.



Check for faulty Black ground wire at instrument panel.

TURBO BOOST GAUGE (CAPRI)

Turbo Boost Gauge Always Reads Low

If turbo boost gauge always reads low, check these items:



Check boost gauge for open or damaged wires.



Check for defective boost sensing unit.



Check for defective boost gauge.



Check for blown 10-amp METER fuse in fuse panel.



Check for loose or corroded connections.

Turbo Boost Gauge Always Reads High

If turbo boost gauge always reads high, check these items:



Check for damaged White/Black signal wire.



Check for defective boost sensing unit.



Check for defective boost gauge.

Turbo Boost Gauge Inaccurate

If turbo boost gauge is inaccurate, check these items:



Check for loose or corroded connections.



Check for defective boost sensing unit.



Check for defective boost gauge.

TESTING

FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT

Capri

Remove rear seat cushion. Disconnect fuel pump/fuel gauge sending unit electrical connector at access cover. Turn ignition on. Fuel gauge
should read empty. Using a jumper wire, connect Yellow fuel gauge wire of vehicle harness connector to ground. Fuel gauge should read full.
If fuel gauge operates as specified, replace fuel gauge sending unit.

Festiva

Remove fuel gauge sending unit from tank. See

FUEL SENDING UNIT

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Connect an ohmmeter and

check sending unit resistance as indicated in

FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT RESISTANCE (FESTIVA)

table. Replace sending unit if

resistance is drastically different than specification.

FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT RESISTANCE (FESTIVA)

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE (CAPRI)

1. Remove electrical connector from oil pressure sending unit located on right side of engine block. Turn ignition switch on. Oil pressure

gauge should read low. Install a jumper wire between Yellow/Red wire of oil pressure sending unit vehicle harness connector and
ground. Oil pressure gauge should read high.

2. If oil pressure gauge operates as specified, replace sending unit. If gauge does not operate as specified, check instrument panel power

and ground circuits.

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT (FESTIVA)

Light Stays On With Engine Running

1. Turn ignition on (DO NOT start engine). Disconnect Yellow/Red wire from oil pressure switch connector. Light should go off.
2. If light stays on, repair short in Yellow/Red wire between oil indicator light and oil pressure switch. Reconnect wire to switch. Light

should be on with ignition on. If light does not go off when engine is started, check switch or engine for low oil pressure.

Oil Light Will Not Go On With Ignition On

1. Ground Yellow/Red wire at instrument panel connector. If light goes on, repair Yellow/Red wire between oil pressure switch and

indicator light or replace defective oil pressure switch.

2. If light does not illuminate, check bulb or check instrument panel ground circuit.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE (CAPRI)

1. Remove electrical connector from temperature sending unit located at front of cylinder head. Connect one lead of Gauge System Tester

(021-00055) to connector and other tester lead to ground. Set tester to 18 ohms, turn ignition switch on and observe temperature gauge.
Gauge should read 250°F.

2. Turn tester to 60 ohms. Gauge should read 175°F. Turn tester to 223 ohms. Gauge should read 100°F. If all readings are within twice

the needle width of correct reading, gauge is functioning properly. If readings are not as specified, replace gauge.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE (FESTIVA)

See TROUBLE SHOOTING for possible service areas.

TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT (CAPRI)

Remove sending unit from engine and place in container of water. Heat water to 176°F (80°C). Measure resistance between sending unit
connector and case. Resistance should be 49.3-57.7 ohms. If resistance is not as specified, replace sending unit.

NOTE:

Inspect fuel tank for distortion or damage. If distorted or damaged, repair or replace tank before testing.

Float Position

Ohms

Full Position (Up)

Approximately 7

Half-Full Position (Middle)

Approximately 33

Empty Position (Down)

Approximately 95

TURBO BOOST GAUGE & SENSOR (CAPRI)

1. Disconnect 3-pin boost sensor electrical connected located on right side of firewall. Turn ignition on. Measure voltage between

Yellow/Green and Black wires. Voltage should be greater than 10 volts. Turn ignition off. If voltage is greater than 10 volts, go to next
step. If voltage is 10 volts or less, repair Yellow/Green or Black wires as necessary.

2. Remove instrument panel. See

INSTRUMENT PANEL

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disconnect instrument panel 8-pin

connector. With boost sensor disconnected, measure resistance through White/Black between instrument panel and boost sensor harness
connector. If resistance is less than 5 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is 5 ohms or more, repair or replace White/Black wire.

3. With 8-pin instrument panel connector disconnected, ground White/Black at boost gauge. Boost gauge should read low. Apply 12 volts

to White/Black wire at boost gauge. Boost gauge should read high. If boost gauge operates as specified, go to next step. If boost gauge
does not operate as specified, replace boost gauge.

4. Reconnect instrument panel connectors (if removed). With ignition on and boost sensor disconnected, install jumper wire between

Yellow/Green and White/Black wires of boost sensor vehicle harness connector. Boost gauge should read high. If boost gauge reads
high, replace boost sensor. If boost gauge does not read high, go to

TROUBLE SHOOTING

for other possible causes.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

INSTRUMENT PANEL

Removal & Installation (Capri)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Pull storage compartment from heater/radio bezel. Pull outward and remove trim covers located on

both sides of steering column. Remove retaining screws and carefully pull instrument panel bezel partially away from dash. Disconnect
electrical connectors from clock and switches in bezel. Remove instrument panel bezel.

2. Disconnect speedometer cable from transaxle. Remove instrument panel retaining screws and slide instrument panel outward. Press lock

tab and release speedometer cable from instrument panel. Remove electrical connectors from rear of instrument panel. Remove
instrument panel. To install instrument panel, reverse removal procedure.

Removal & Installation (Festiva)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove screws from panel bezel and remove bezel.

Disconnect rear wiper switch and rear defogger switch wiring harness connectors (if equipped).

2. Remove instrument panel-to-dash screws. Pull panel from dash. Reach behind panel and release speedometer drive cable lock tab. Lift

lock tabs and disconnect 2 electrical connectors from rear of panel. Remove panel. To install instrument panel, reverse removal
procedure.

INDICATOR LIGHTS

Removal & Installation

Remove instrument panel for access to indicator light bulbs. See

INSTRUMENT PANEL

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. To remove

bulb, rotate bulb counterclockwise to disengage locking tabs. When tabs release, pull bulb from printed circuit board. To install bulb, reverse
removal procedure. Install instrument panel and test lights.

SPEEDOMETER R & I

Removal & Installation (Capri)

Remove negative battery cable. Remove instrument panel. See

INSTRUMENT PANEL

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disassemble

instrument panel and remove speedometer/tachometer/boost gauge assembly from instrument panel. To install, apply a 3/16" (4.6 mm) ball of
Silicone Damping Grease (D7AZ-19A331-A) into drive hole of speedometer head. Reverse removal procedure to complete installation.

Removal & Installation (Festiva)

Remove negative battery cable. Remove instrument panel. See

INSTRUMENT PANEL

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disassemble

instrument panel and remove speedometer head assembly from instrument panel. Speedometer is a separate module and can be removed
independently from gauges. To install, reverse removal procedure.

SPEED SENSOR

On vehicles equipped with speed control, a speed sensor is mounted in speedometer head assembly. If replacement is necessary, speedometer
head assembly must be replaced. See

SPEEDOMETER R & I

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.

FUEL GAUGE

Removal & Installation

Remove instrument panel. See

INSTRUMENT PANEL

under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disassemble panel and remove fuel gauge.

To install gauge, reverse removal procedure. On Capri, the fuel/volt gauge must be replaced as an assembly.

FUEL SENDING UNIT

Removal & Installation

1. For Festiva, remove rear seat. For Capri, remove rear seat cushion. On Festiva, remove carpet hold-down pins and lift carpet for access

to sending unit access plate. On all models, remove access plate screws.

NOTE:

Federal law requires that a label stating the odometer has been repaired or replaced be affixed to any
vehicle that has its odometer repaired, replaced or set to zero.