Ford Festiva. Instruction - part 55

Broken clutch housing

See STARTER article

Pinion shaft rusted or dry

See STARTER article

Engine basic timing incorrect

See Ignition Timing in TUNE-

UP article

Broken teeth on engine flywheel

Replace flywheel and check for 

starter pinion gear damage

Starter Will Not Crank Engine

Faulty overrunning clutch

See STARTER article

Broken clutch housing

See STARTER article

Broken flywheel teeth

Replace flywheel and check for 

starter pinion gear damage

Armature shaft sheared or reduction gear teeth stripped

See STARTER article

Weak battery

Charge or replace battery as 

necessary

Faulty solenoid

See On-Vehicle Tests in 

STARTER article

Poor grounds

Check all ground connections 

for tight and clean connections

Ignition switch faulty or misadjusted

Adjust or replace ignition 

switch as necessary

Starter Cranks Engine Slowly

Battery weak or defective

Charge or replace battery as 

necessary

Engine overheated

See ENGINE COOLING 

SYSTEM article

Engine oil too heavy

Check that proper viscosity oil 

is used

Poor battery-to-starter connections

Check that all between battery 

and starter are clean and tight

Current draw too low or too high

See Bench Tests in STARTER 

article

Bent armature, loose pole shoes screws or worn bearing

See STARTER article

Burned solenoid contacts

Replace solenoid

Faulty starter

Replace starter

Starter Engages Engine Only Momentarily

Engine timing too far advanced

See Ignition Timing in TUNE-

UP article

Overrunning clutch not engaging properly

Replace overrunning clutch. 

See STARTER article

Broken starter clutch

See STARTER article

Broken teeth on engine flywheel

Replace flywheel and check 

starter pinion gear for damage

Weak drive assembly thrust spring

See STARTER article

Weak hold-in coil

See Bench Tests in STARTER 

article

Starter Drive Will Not Engage

Defective point assembly

See Testing in STARTER 

article

Poor point assembly ground

See Testing in STARTER 

article

Defective pull-in coil

Replace starter solenoid

Starter Relay Does Not Close

Dead battery

Charge or replace battery as 

necessary

Faulty wiring

Check all wiring and 

connections leading to relay

Neutral safety switch faulty

Replace neutral safety switch

Starter relay faulty

Replace starter relay

Starter Drive Will Not Disengage

Starter motor loose on mountings

Tighten starter attach bolts

Worn drive end bushing

See STARTER article

Damaged engine flywheel teeth

Replace flywheel and starter 

pinion gear for damage

Drive yolk return spring broken or missing

Replace return spring

Faulty ignition switch

Replace ignition switch

Insufficient clearance between winding leads to solenoid terminal and main contact in solenoid

Replace starter solenoid

Starter clutch not disengaging

Replace starter clutch

Ignition starter switch

Replace ignition switch 

contacts sticking

Starter Relay Operates but Solenoid Does Not

Faulty solenoid switch, switch connections or relay

Check all wiring between relay 

and solenoid or replace relay 

or solenoid as necessary

AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT 

AIR CONDITIONING TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC AIR CONDITIONING TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

HEATER SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC HEATER SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

Broken lead or loose soldered connections

Repair wire or wire 

connections as necessary

Solenoid Plunger Vibrates When Switch is Engaged

Weak battery

Charge or replace battery as 

necessary

Solenoid contacts corroded

Clean contacts or replace 

solenoid

Faulty wiring

Check all wiring leading to 

solenoid

Broken connections inside switch cover

Repair connections or replace 

solenoid

Open hold-in wire

solenoid

Low Current Draw

Worn brushes or weak brush springs

Replace brushes or brush 

springs as necessary

High Pitched Whine During Cranking Before Engine Fires but Engine Fires and Cranks Normally

Distance too great between starter pinion and flywheel

Align starter or check that 

correct starter and flywheel are 

being used

High Pitched Whine After Engine Fires With Key released. Engine Fires and Cranks Normally

Distance too small between starter pinion and flywheel

Flywheel runout contributes to 

the intermittent nature

WARNING:

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

Compressor Not Working

Compressor clutch circuit open.

.....

Compressor clutch coil inoperative.

.....

Poor clutch ground connection.

.....

Fan belts loose.

.....

Thermostatic switch inoperative.

.....

Thermostatic switch not adjusted.

.....

Ambient temperature switch open.

.....

Superheat fuse blown.

Excessive Noise or Vibration

Missing or loose mounting bolts.

.....

Bad idler pulley bearings.

.....

Fan belts not tightened correctly.

.....

Compressor clutch contacting body.

.....

Excessive system pressure.

.....

Compressor oil level low.

.....

Damaged clutch bearings.

.....

Damaged reed valves.

.....

Damaged compressor.

Insufficient or No Cooling; Compressor 
Working

Expansion valve inoperative.

.....

Heater control valve stuck open.

.....

Low system pressure.

.....

Blocked condenser fins.

.....

Blocked evaporator fins.

.....

Vacuum system leak.

.....

Vacuum motors inoperative.

.....

Control cables improperly adjusted.

.....

Restricted air inlet.

.....

Mode doors binding.

.....

Blower motor inoperative.

.....

Temperature above system capacity.

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 DIAGNOSTIC, 
or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BRAKES 

BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSE

Insufficient, Erratic, or No Heat

Low Coolant Level

.....

Incorrect thermostat.

.....

Restricted coolant flow through core.

.....

Heater hoses plugged.

.....

Misadjusted control cable.

.....

Sticking heater control valve.

.....

Vacuum hose leaking.

.....

Vacuum hose blocked.

.....

Vacuum motors inoperative.

.....

Blocked air inlet.

.....

Inoperative heater blower motor.

.....

Oil residue on heater core fins.

.....

Dirt on heater core fins.

Too Much Heat

Improperly adjusted cables.

.....

Sticking heater control valve.

.....

No vacuum to heater control valve.

.....

Temperature door stuck open.

Air Flow Changes During Acceleration

Vacuum system leak.

.....

Bad check valve or reservoir.

Air From Defroster At All Times

Vacuum system leak.

.....

Improperly adjusted control cables.

.....

Inoperative vacuum motor.

Blower Does Not Operate Correctly

Blown fuse.

.....

Blower motor windings open.

.....

Resistors burned out.

.....

Motor ground connection loose.

.....

Wiring harness connections loose.

.....

Blower motor switch inoperative.

.....

Blower relay inoperative.

.....

Fan binding or foreign object in housing.

.....

Fan blades broken or bent.

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

Brakes Pull Left or Right

Incorrect tire pressure

Inflate tires to proper pressure

Front end out of alignment

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Mismatched tires

Check tires sizes

Restricted brake lines or hoses

Check hose routing

Loose or malfunctioning caliper

See DISC BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Bent shoe or oily linings

See DRUM BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Malfunctioning rear brakes

See DRUM, DISC BRAKES 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Loose suspension parts

See SUSPENSION

Noises Without Brakes Applied

Front linings worn out

Replace linings

Dust or oil on drums or rotors

See DRUM, DISC BRAKES 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Noises With Brakes Applied

Insulator on outboard shoe damaged

See DISC BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Incorrect pads or linings

Replace pads or linings

Brake Rough, Chatters or Pulsates

Excessive lateral runout

Check rotor runout

Parallelism not to specifications

Reface or replace rotor

Wheel bearings not adjusted

See SUSPENSION

Rear drums out-of-round

Reface or replace drums

Disc pad reversed, steel against rotor

Remove and reinstall pad

Excessive Pedal Effort

ENGINE MECHANICAL 

COOLING SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING 

COOLING SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING 

Malfunctioning power unit

See POWER BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Partial system failure

Check fluid and pipes

Worn disc pad or lining

Replace pad or lining

Caliper piston stuck or sluggish

See DISC BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Master cylinder piston stuck

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Brake fade due to incorrect pads for linings

Replace pads or linings

Linings or pads glazed

Replace pads or linings

Worn drums

Reface or replace drums

Excessive Pedal Travel

Partial brake system failure

Check fluid and pipes

Insufficient fluid in master cylinder

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Air trapped in system

See BRAKE BLEEDING or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Rear brakes not adjusted

See Adjustments in DRUM 

BRAKES or BRAKE 

SYSTEM

Bent shoe or lining

See DRUM BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Plugged master cylinder cap

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Improper brake fluid

Replace brake fluid

Pedal Travel Decreasing

Compensating port plugged

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Swollen cup in master cylinder

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Master cylinder piston not returning

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Weak shoe retracting springs

See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE 

SYSTEM

Wheel cylinder piston sticking

See DRUM BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Dragging Brakes

Master cylinder pistons not returning

See MASTER CYLINDERS 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Restricted brake lines or hoses

Check line routing

Incorrect parking brake adjustment

See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE 

SYSTEM

Parking Brake cables frozen

See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE 

SYSTEM

Incorrect installation of inboard disc pad

Remove and replace correctly

Power booster output rod too long

See POWER BRAKE UNITS 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Brake pedal not returning freely

See DISC, DRUM BRAKES 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Brakes Grab or Uneven Braking Action

Malfunction of combination valve

See CONTROL VALVE or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Malfunction of power brake unit

See POWER BRAKE UNITS 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Binding brake pedal

See DISC, DRUM BRAKES 

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Pulsation or Roughness

Uneven pad wear caused by caliper

See DISC BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Uneven rotor wear

See DISC BRAKES or 

BRAKE SYSTEM

Drums out-of-round

Reface or replace drums

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