This factory service and repair manual for the 1988 Ford Festiva covers the first year of a subcompact built around one engine, the 1.3L inline-four with a single overhead camshaft, in a two-door hatchback body offered as L or LX. Small and simply engineered, the car concentrates the work into a few systems: a transverse four-cylinder and its transaxle, front struts and a rear beam, and a compact wiring harness. The manual is organized to match that layout.
Engines covered
- 1.3L inline-four — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 2-door hatchback
Trims covered
- L
- LX
Known issues on the 1988 Festiva. Both recall campaigns on this year concern safety hardware rather than the engine. One covers aftermarket ball joint and control arm assemblies packaged in the wrong boxes, with studs undersized for the spindle and a risk of losing steering control; the other concerns front safety belt buckle release buttons that can break and drop pieces into the buckle. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, clustering heavily on seat belts, with the electrical system and seats behind them. Restraint, front suspension and body electrical procedures address that record.
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING T
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM MANUFACTURED BY MOOG INDUSTRIES. DUE TO MISPACKAGING, CERTAIN BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES WERE INCORRECTLY PLACED
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR TOWING BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. *TT
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
Showing the 8 most recent of 20 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
VEHICLE IMPROPERLY PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WEATHER WAS FOGGY, TRUCK WAS COMING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, VEHICLE HIT TRUCK, SEAT BELT STRAP BROKE UPON IMPACT. *AK
WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING CAUSED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Showing the 2 most serious of 53 complaints filed with NHTSA.
