Ford Festiva. Instruction - part 56

GASOLINE ENGINE - MECHANICAL TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC GASOLINE ENGINE - MECHANICAL TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

Overheating

Coolant Leak

Fill/Pressure Test System

A/C Condenser Fins Clogged

Remove/Clean Condenser

Radiator Fins Clogged

Remove/Clean Radiator

Thermostat Stuck Closed

Replace Thermostat

Clogged Cooling System Passages

Clean/Flush Cooling System

Water Pump Malfunction

Replace Water Pump

Fan Clutch Malfunction

Replace Fan Clutch

Retarded Ignition Timing

Reset Ignition Timing

Cooling Fan Malfunction

Test Cooling Fan/Circuit

Cooling Fan Motor Malfunction

Test Fan Motor

Cooling Fan Relay Malfunction

Test Fan Relay

Faulty Radiator Cap

Replace Radiator Cap

Broken/Slipping Fan Belt

Replace Fan Belt

Restricted Exhaust

Repair Exhaust System

Corrosion

Impurities In Coolant

Clean/Flush System

Coolant Leakage

Damaged hose

Replace Hose

Leaky Water Pump

Replace Water Pump

Damaged Radiator Seam

Replace/Repair Radiator

Leaky Thermostat Cover

Replace Thermostat Cover

Cylinder Head Problem

Check Head/Head Gasket

Leaky Freeze Plugs

Replace Freeze Plugs

Recovery System Inoperative

Loose and/or Defective Radiator Cap

Replace Radiator Cap

Overflow Tube Clogged and/or Leaking

Repair Tube

Recovery Bottle Vent Restricted

Clean Vent

No Heater Core Flow

Collapsed Heater Hose

Replace Heater Hose

Plugged Heater Core

Clean/Replace Heater Core

Faulty Heater Valve

Replace Heater Valve

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

Engine Lopes At Idle

Intake manifold-to-head leaks

Replace manifold gasket, See 

ENGINES

Blown head gasket

Replace head gasket, See 

ENGINES

Worn timing gears, chain or sprocket

Replace gears, chain or 

sprocket

Worn camshaft lobes

Replace camshaft, See 

ENGINES

Overheated engine

Check cooling system, See 

COOLING

Blocked crankcase vent valve

Remove restriction

Leaking EGR valve

Repair leak and/or replace 

valve

Faulty fuel pump

Replace fuel pump

Engine Has Low Power

Leaking fuel pump

Repair leak and/or replace 

fuel pump

Excessive piston-to-bore clearance

Install larger pistons, See 

ENGINES

Sticking valves or weak valve springs

Check valve train components, 

See ENGINES

Incorrect valve timing

Reset valve timing, See 

ENGINES

Worn camshaft lobes

Replace camshaft, See 

ENGINES

Blown head gasket

Replace head gasket. See 

ENGINES.

Clutch slipping

Adjust pedal and/or replace 

components, See ENGINES

Engine overheating

Check cooling system, See 

COOLING

Auto. Trans. pressure regulator valve faulty

Replace pressure regulator 

valve

Auto. Trans. fluid level too low

Add fluid as necessary

Improper vacuum diverter valve operation

Replace vacuum diverter valve

Vacuum leaks

Inspect vacuum system and 

repair as required

Leaking piston rings

Replace piston rings, See 

ENGINES

Faulty High Speed Operation

Low fuel pump volume

Replace fuel pump

Leaking valves or worn

Replace valves and/or springs, 

See ENGINES

Incorrect valve timing

Reset valve timing,See 

ENGINES

Intake manifold restricted

Remove restriction

Worn distributor shaft

Replace distributor

Faulty Acceleration

Improper fuel pump stroke

Remove pump and reset pump 

stroke

Incorrect ignition timing

Reset ignition timing, See 

TUNE-UP

Leaking valves

Replace valves, See ENGINES

Worn fuel pump diaphragm or piston

Replace diaphragm or piston

Intake Backfire

Improper ignition timing

Reset ignition timing, See 

TUNE-UP

Faulty accelerator pump discharge

Replace accelerator pump

Improper choke operation

Check choke and adjust as 

required

Defective EGR valve

Replace EGR valve

Fuel mixture too lean

Reset air/fuel mixture, See 

TUNE-UP

Choke valve initial clearance too large

Reset choke valve initial 

clearance

Exhaust Backfire

Vacuum leak

Inspect and repair vacuum 

system

Faulty vacuum diverter valve

Replace vacuum diverter valve

Faulty choke operation

Check choke and adjust as 

required

Exhaust system leak

repair exhaust system leak

Engine Detonation

Ignition timing too far advanced

Reset ignition timing, See 

TUNE-UP

Faulty ignition system

Check ignition timing, See 

TUNE-UP

Spark plugs loose or faulty

Retighten or replace plugs

Fuel delivery system clogged

Inspect lines, pump and filter 

for clog

EGR valve inoperative

Replace EGR valve

PCV system inoperative

Inspect and/or replace hoses 

or valve

Vacuum leaks

Check vacuum system and 

repair leaks

Excessive combustion chamber deposits

Remove built-up deposits

Leaking, sticking or broken valves

Inspect and/or replace valves

External Oil Leakage

Fuel pump improperly seated or worn gasket

Remove pump, replace gasket 

and seat properly

Oil pan gasket broken or pan bent

Straighten pan and replace 

gasket

Timing chain cover gasket broken

Replace timing chain cover 

gasket

Rear main oil seal worn

Replace rear main oil seal

Oil pan drain plug not seated properly

Remove and reinstall drain 

plug

Camshaft bearing drain hole blocked

Remove restriction

Oil pressure sending switch leaking

Remove and reinstall sending 

switch

Excessive Oil Consumption

Worn valve stems or guides

Replace stems or guides, See 

ENGINES

Valve "O" ring seals damaged

Replace "O" ring seals, See 

ENGINES

Plugged oil drain back holes

Remove restrictions

Improper PCV valve operation

Replace PCV valve

Engine oil level too high

Remove excess oil

Engine oil too thin

Replace thicker oil

Valve stem oil deflectors damaged

Replace oil deflectors

Incorrect piston rings

Replace piston rings, See 

ENGINES

Piston ring gaps not staggered

Reinstall piston rings, See 

ENGINES

Insufficient piston ring tension

Replace rings, See ENGINES

Piston ring grooves or oil return

slots clogged Replace piston 

rings, See ENGINES

Piston rings sticking in grooves

Replace piston rings, See 

ENGINES

Piston ring grooves excessively worn

Replace piston and rings, See 

ENGINES

Compression rings installed upside down

Replace compression rings 

correctly, See ENGINES

Worn or scored cylinder walls

Rebore cylinders or replace 

block

Mismatched oil ring expander and rail

Replace oil ring expander and 

rail, See ENGINES

Intake gasket dowels too long

Replace intake gasket dowels

Excessive main or connecting rod bearing clearance

Replace main or connecting 

rod bearings, See ENGINES

No Oil Pressure

Low oil level

Add oil to proper level

Oil pressure sender or gauge broken

Replace sender or gauge

Oil pump malfunction

Remove and overhaul oil 

pump, See ENGINES

Oil pressure relief valve sticking

Remove and reinstall valve

Oil pump passages blocked

Overhaul oil pump, See 

ENGINES

Oil pickup screen or tube blocked

Remove restriction

Loose oil inlet tube

Tighten oil inlet tube

Loose camshaft bearings

Replace camshaft bearings, 

See ENGINES

Internal leakage at oil passages

Replace block or cylinder 

head

Low Oil Pressure

Low engine oil level

Add oil to proper level

Engine oil too thin

Remove and replace with 

thicker oil

Excessive oil pump clearance

Reduce oil pump clearance, 

See ENGINES

Oil pickup tube or screen blocked

Remove restrictions

Main, rod or cam bearing clearance excessive

Replace bearing to reduce 

clearance, See ENGINES

High Oil Pressure

Improper grade of oil

Replace with proper oil

Oil pressure relief valve stuck closed

Eliminate binding

Oil pressure sender or gauge faulty

Replace sender or gauge

Noisy Main Bearings

Inadequate oil supply

Check oil delivery to main 

bearings

Excessive main bearing clearance

Replace main bearings, See 

ENGINES

Excessive crankshaft end play

Replace crankshaft, See 

ENGINES

Loose flywheel or torque converter

Tighten attaching bolts

Loose or damaged vibration damper

Tighten or replace vibration 

damper

Crankshaft journals out-of-round

Re-grind crankshaft journals

Excessive belt tension

Loosen belt tension

Noisy Connecting Rods

Excessive bearing clearance or missing bearing

Replace bearing, See 

ENGINES

Crankshaft rod journal out-of-round

Re-grind crankshaft journal

Misaligned connecting rod or cap

Remove rod or cap and realign

Incorrectly tightened rod bolts

Remove and re-tighten rod 

bolts

Noisy Pistons and Rings

Excessive piston-to-bore clearance

Install larger pistons, See 

ENGINES

Bore tapered or out-of-round

Rebore block

Piston ring broken

Replace piston rings, See 

ENGINES

Piston pin loose or seized

Replace piston pin, See 

ENGINES

Connecting rods misaligned

Realign connecting rods

Ring side clearance too loose or tight

Replace with larger or smaller 

rings

Carbon build-up on piston

Remove carbon

Noisy Valve Train

Worn or bent push rods

Replace push rods, See 

ENGINES

Worn rocker arms or bridged pivots

Replace push rods, See 

ENGINES

Dirt or chips in valve lifters

Remove lifters and remove 

dirt/chips

Excessive valve lifter leak-down

Replace valve lifters, See 

ENGINES

Valve lifter face worn

Replace valve lifters, See 

ENGINES

Broken or cocked valve springs

Replace or reposition springs

Too much valve stem-to-guide clearance

Replace valve guides, See 

ENGINES

Valve bent

Replace valve, See ENGINES

Loose rocker arms

Retighten rocker arms, See 

ENGINES

Excessive valve seat run-out

Reface valve seats, See 

ENGINES

Missing valve lock

Install new valve lock

Excessively worn camshaft lobes

Replace camshaft, See 

ENGINES

Plugged valve lifter oil holes

Eliminate restriction or 

replace lifter

Faulty valve lifter check ball

Replace lifter check ball, See 

ENGINES

Rocker arm nut installed upside down

Remove and reinstall correctly

Valve lifter incorrect for engine

Remove and replace valve 

lifters

Faulty push rod seat or lifter plunger

Replace plunger or push rod

Noisy Valves

Improper valve lash

Re-adjust valve lash, See 

ENGINES

Worn or dirty valve lifters

Clean and/or replace lifters

Worn valve guides

Replace valve guides, See 

ENGINES

Excessive valve seat or face run-out

Reface seats or valve face

Worn camshaft lobes

Replace camshaft, See 

ENGINES

Loose rocker arm studs

Re-tighten rocker arm studs, 

See ENGINES

Bent push rods

Replace push rods, See 

ENGINES

Broken valve springs

Replace valve springs, See 

ENGINES

Burned,Sticking or Broken Valves

Weak valve springs or warped valves

Replace valves and/or springs, 

See ENGINES

Improper lifter clearance

Re-adjust clearance or replace 

lifters

Worn guides or improper guide clearance

Replace valve guides, See 

ENGINES

Out-of-round valve seats or improper seat width

Re-grind valve seats

Gum deposits on valve stems, seats or guide

Remove deposits

Improper spark timing

Re-adjust spark timing

Broken Pistons/Rings

Undersize pistons

Replace with larger pistons, 

See ENGINES

Wrong piston rings

Replace with correct rings, 

See ENGINES

Out-of-round cylinder bore

Re-bore cylinder bore