Faults:
Starter gave up at 132,000 km.
Starter connector was replaced at 132,000 km.
Platinum Spark Plugs and Spark Plug Wires changed at 117,000 km.
General Comments:
The car is very reliable taking me with ease and comfort from the Great Lakes to the West coast and back on my vacation, and it's still ticking.
Power is good for a 4 cylinder.
Very easy and ergonomic to maintain.
Any problems that came along were solved easily.
So far, it's among the best vehicles I've owned, and thanks to some handy tips from this site, I can fix the little stalling problem.
Also, there's a trick with the spark plugs. It can't handle platinum spark plugs for too long, as it manages to blow components in the ignition system. Further, if you are using Auto-lite spark plugs, they are best gapped at 42. All other brands should be gapped to the manufacturer specified 52-56.
One problem that might be a design flaw. When changing the oil, a little bit always drips from the filter as it's coming off. This run-off always drips onto the connection to the starter. Over time, this oil collects and gets gummy. In the end, it disrupts the connection, and becomes a 'starter killer'. I've had to change the connection because it was just too dirty and there was no tool I had that would clean it properly.
1st May 2015, 07:59
What causes the stalling problem on the 91 Ford Tempo 4 cylinder 2.3 automatic?