1990 Ford Tempo engine problems

Filed Mar 8, 2003 · Body, Engine · 55 miles · MN

1.) rough idle, and oil light intermittently comes on when idling and only goes off when accelerating, but often stalls out, and doesn't want to re-start. (had oil changed twice to get excess gas out of it from trying to start it.) had to tow car three times. Paid $1,000 to try to get it fixed, but on the way home it did the same thing. 2.) cooling fan quit working and car overheated and I paid to have the radiator replaced, as petcock was leaking. Mechanic didn't notice that fan wasn't working, so it overheated on the way home with a new radiator. I figured that out. Once the fan was replaced with a working fan, no more overheating. After-market radiator was bigger than the original, causing the at fluid line to get sawed off by the pulley 3 times, before someone just plugged the line and installed a separate at fluid "mini radiator type" cooler. 3.) transmission drags; car has just over 70,000 miles on it. Has repeatable problem when starting out and shifting from first to second gear, usually jerking forward when it shifts. Putting car into drive after starting it usually ends up in the car stalling, and the idle is different when it's in gear than when in park or neutral. 4.) I received a notice about a class action settlement regarding a defective tfi module, but every mechanic I spoke with said that wasn't the problem, but the notice said that a bad tfi module wouldn't necessarily always make the car stall when it's going bad, just sometimes. Stalled in rush hour once. 5.) the driver side automatic seatbelt quit working, which caused the plastic guide for the belt to break, and when I went to ford to try to get the part, they couldn't figure out which one it was, and said that they weren't planning to have the parts available after 2002 anyway. Often, I about got strangled, as did others who rode in my tempo, when we opened the door to get out of the car. 6.)from the car overheating, the finish on the hood is peeling and cracking.

Filed Apr 1, 2002 · Engine · CA

While traveling on highway alternator belt snapped without prior warning, and vehicle shut down. Dealership was aware of problem.

Filed Mar 5, 2002 · Electrical, Engine · NE · crash · 1 injury

While driving 40mph and without warning, engine stalled, consumer applied brakes and vehicle did not stop resulting in a collision, which totaled vehicle. Prior to the accident vehicle shut off 4 times, dealer replaced battery, alternator, plugs/wires, and starter but this did not correct the problem.

Filed Dec 10, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · CA

While at a stop sign another driver pulled along side of consumer and stated that brake lights were out. Consumer pressed brake pedal, and pedal went to the floor. Please provide any further information.

Filed Nov 30, 2001 · Engine · MO

Vehicle cuts off without warning, but it will start back up again. Also, consumer can hear it when it is getting ready to cut, which gives her time to apply brakes and pull to side out of traffic.

Filed Jul 31, 2001 · Engine · OH · fire

Consumer states as she was driving, vehicle began to stall, she then pulled over and that is when she saw that the vehicle was on fire, possibly engine related.(ohio traffic crash report#10-90-330)

Filed May 23, 2001 · Acceleration, Engine · CT

While at a stop sign or stop light, vehicle stalls at take off. Paint is peeling off of vehicle.*ak consumer also stated that the tfi ignition module was replaced after one incident where the vehicle would not start but did not help the problem, vehicle surges foward at times, it can move foward up an incline without pressing on the accelerator.

Filed May 10, 2001 · Engine · CA

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Filed Oct 30, 2000 · Electrical, Engine · FL · crash · 1 injury

While driving about 20 MPH engine stalled without prior warning while making a left turn, and was side crashed by another vehicle from the upcoming traffic. Currently, problem was coming back. 2 transmissions have been replaced on this vehicle. Vehicle experiencing an oil leak. *ak

Filed Sep 13, 2000 · Engine · CA

The problem started in 7/99 and continues 9/00. At approx. 65 miles per hour with temperature at 85 degrees + the engine cuts out(stops). This means no power steering or power brakes. We are senior citizens and have almost been killed on the freeway 6 times. The last time an 18 wheeler almost lost control and just missed a school bus loaded with kids. We now do not leave hemet where we drive 45mph and get anywhere in 20 minutes. My family must visit us or come and pick us up. We have replaced the tfi module with a new ford part for $130 at pep boys a local repair chain. There are no tests to discover a failing component. Please help before more people are stalled in the middle lane of the freeway that may not be as good a driver as my wife and I.