Ford Festiva. Instruction - 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