This factory service and repair manual for the 1989 Ford Festiva documents a two-door hatchback whose single 1.3L SOHC inline-four gasoline engine drives the front wheels, in L and LX trim. Because there is only one engine and one body shell, the book spends its space on depth rather than breadth: full teardown and reassembly figures for the four-cylinder, transaxle procedures, suspension and steering geometry, brake work, and the wiring diagrams for a car whose electrics are modest but not trivial to trace.
Engines covered
- 1.3L inline-four — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 2-door hatchback
Trims covered
- L
- LX
Known issues on the 1989 Festiva. Two recalls stand on the federal record. Front safety belt buckle release buttons could break, dropping fragments into the buckle and leaving it working improperly, and mispackaged aftermarket ball joint and control arm assemblies carried undersized studs that would not fit the spindle correctly, with a risk of losing steering control. Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA, and 40 of those concern seat belts, followed by the electrical system and engine cooling. Restraint replacement, front suspension service and cooling diagnostics are covered accordingly.
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 NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT
Showing the 8 most recent of 21 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE DRIVER,S SIDE SHOULDER BELT SNAPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WIRING HELD IN AN UNPADDED CLAMP, WHICH RUBBED OFF INSULATION OVER TIME, RESULTED IN A FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS (LUCKILY) IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS. THE PARTS SUPPLIER MENTIONED THAT
Showing the 2 most serious of 54 complaints filed with NHTSA.
