Permission to come aboard?

[hoggie]

I hope you don't mind me coming in with a problem - but I have one.

My car packed up. First of all I thought it was probably just plugs etc - it has been a bit neglected before I got it and has been running rough for a while.

Start at the beginning I guess. Ford Fiesta LX(not sure if you have those) , I "think" either a 1991 or 1993. Like I say has been running rough, and suddenly trying to lose power when it's cold in teh mornings (will suddenly try to stall, and you need to jump on the clutch and wind up the revs to get her cycling properly again and then once she's warmed up there's no problem).

Anyway - a couple of days ago, it refused to start altogether. Turns over ok, just won't fire. Had the plugs out and they're ok. Air intake doesn't seem to be blocked in any way.

My thoughts are that it I must either not have a spark, or not have fuel. And whilst I have ordered myself a test lamp to check the ht side of the system, I am guessing that it is probably the fuel side.

My thoughts are possibly

fuel pump

fuel filter

line blockage

water in tank

I have ordered myself teh Haynes for this car as, I have to confess that it is the "newest" car that I have ever ventured under teh bonnet on..........and I can't FIND anything. Nothing looks quite right Needless to say that I have always driven old wrecks, but I have always been able to find all the necessary bits - but I can't on this one (please don't laugh)

Anyway - can anyone think of anything else I should be looking at? Or prioritise what I should look at in which order?

Any suggestions at ALL (apart from dumping it ) would be gratefully accepted

Many TIA

hoggie

[Ross]

You should be able to hear the fuel pump running when you first turn on the key.... until it builds up pressure then it stops. It may have a fuse for that and Fords often have fuel pump kill switches that shake themselves to near off then trip off on nothing. They're meant to trip off the pump in an accidient. Hmm come to think of it the fuel pump likely has a relay that could be toast too. Blocked filtre is a good thought if the pump runs, and water in the fuel or a blockage are also possibilities. If you smell gas then its spark, cap, rotor or any other distributor issue could do that too. You sorta have to eliminate what it isn't until you find what it is. The Haynes book might help. I hate them myself as they're often wrong. I prefer the dealer version or Chiltons.

[hoggie]

Thank you Ross - yes, now you mention it I do hear the pump "humming". Sounds like that's one thing I can cross off the list

I was checking out the fuse box yesterday and couldn't see anything that looked like it might be for the fuel - although that doesn't mean it's not there, just that I couldn't see it

And a relay - that's a thought.

Unfortunately I can't rely on my sense of smell - if it was burning I usually smell smoke but that is the only thing I can reliably smell. If I take the lid of a can of petrol, I have to literally put my nose over the filler hole to be able to smell it

I will have to look out for an "off switch" as well - it makes sense as s safety device I guess - wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy

Thanks again

hoggie

[Beeman]

If the pump is running or humming you know the electrical part of the electric fuel pump is working. Has the fuel filter been changed?, that's a good starting point. When replacing fuel filter dump the gas from the filter into a glass jar and look at it's condition, easy to see water as it will separate. Does this have a check engine light and does it come on? Fuel injection depends greatly on the system knowing the temp of the engine. A bad temp sensor can send a wrong temp signal to the control module causing what you describe. Does this have a timing belt? Another good thing to check.

[OntarioMan]

If its a carburator or throttle body injection - give it a few shots of "quick start". If it starts and then stalls, you know its a fuel delivery problem.

[fordson major]

same age as that rotten taurus we used too have! ford seemed too have wiring problems on alot of their vehicles in this time frame, had one that the cooling fan motor wire would connect and then disconnect and the car would not run! sent the wrong signal too the spark computer!

[wrightnidaho]

Have you checked the timing belt? Had one do the same thing, The belt jumped....the rough running part...and then broke. Just a thought

[Old Vet]

The very first thing I would do is to see if it was firring. You don't meed anything to do this except a friend to turn the key while you hold the wire near a piece of the iron part of the motor. If it doesn't fire take the cap off the distributor and see if it is turning. If it is turning you will probity need a ignition module. If you get fire to the spark plug it will be on the fuel side. No need to spent any money or time unless you already know what the problem is.

[foxtrapper]

Like Old Vet described, check for spark at the plugs. I'd suggest checking all of them. It's an excellent starting place.