20 Most Recent 1989 Ford Tempo - Page 7 Questions & Answers

The fact that you could run it home is an indication that the fuel system and spark are working. That assumption leads into a single component failure. It is either a fuel injector that has decided to stick open. Or a fuel injector circuit that has failed and is supplying continues power to one injector, or a pressure regulator whose internal diaphragm has failed and fuel is leaking past the diaphragm and up the vacuum hose into the air inlet manifold.

1. Find the pressure regulator and trace the vacuum hose to the manifold and confirm that no gas is leaking through the hose. If so replace the pressure regulator.
2. I would remove the spark plugs and find the spark-plug that has the most carbon built up on the tip. Have the fuel injector checked. Replace the corresponding fuel injector and clean or replace the suspect cylinder spark-plug. If the injector is stuck open removing the electrical connection will not close the injector.
3. A third possibility is a blocked return hose from the pressure regulator back to the tank. I think this is the least likely

Good Luck Lots of U-tube

It has to be taken off for rebuild or replacement. A new or reconditioned one is not very expensive, but you can buy a rebuild kit for one for just a few dollars. Getting it off is the hard part. You have to remove the brake drum, then all brake shoes and components, undo the brake line to the cylinder, then remove retaining bolts from the back of the brake plate.

it could very well be the distributor, itself, or the control module inside the distributor

Did you put right plug wires?You should clean trottle body and check IAC SENSOR.

shift selector may not be working or you may need to replace it.

Should be located on the fuel injection rail

Sounds like fuel pump is going bad and needs to be replaced.

Likely a gas or spark problem. Spray starting fluid into the air intake while cranking it. If it then runs for a few seconds, it's a fuel problem-maybe the fuel pump, filter, or injector circuit. Check if gas is getting up to the engine. Buy an inexpensive "spark tester" at a parts store, and check for spark- if no spark, the ignition circuit will need diagnosed- could be the ignition coil, maybe the electronic ignition module-several possibi9lities. Let me know what you find, or if other questions..

Are the battery cables clean and tight on both ends ?

Change the headlight switch.

Will they go off if you unplug the headlight switch ?

I want you to check something. there is 2 cables on the throttle body. 1 cable is to the gas pedal and the other is your a kick down cable . the kick down down in the front of the transmission if you look under the battery it does in the front of the transmission there. see if the kick down moves easy if you open the throttle body by hand. the problem with those transmission is it relis on the cable the shift the gears up . if you steped on the gas pedal that cable is to pull levers inside to up shift. there is not shift solenoids in those transmission. see many in my shop

is not a vacuum is a wiring disconnection

Just take out all the screws and you might have to buy new clips because that old will brake.