1990 Ford Tempo: engine stalls while driving

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 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 Aug 30, 2001 · Electrical · MO

96 v 071 000/electrical system ignition: vehicle would stall while driving at highway speed or while pulling off from a stop position. Manufacturer was notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was covered under that recall. But, dealer refused to honor recall. *ak

Filed Aug 14, 2001 · Electrical · CA

I had to have my ignition modual replaced because my car would stall on me while going down the road. I read in the paper today that ford is fighting the recall on this exact problem. I have e-mailed ford in hopes of rectifing this situation, but thought I would also contact you for help. Thank you for your help.

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 Nov 15, 2000 · Electrical · FL · crash

While making a left hand turn consumer came to stop and vehicle stalled resulting in being hit on left rear door and vehicle spun around. Consumer was told by mechanic rear axle was bent due to this accident. Consumer contacted ford, and was informed that they would pay for damage to vehicle, apprximately $1300. Vehicle has been stalling for the last 30000 miles. *ak the consumer says the estimate for damage to the vehicle is much more. The consumer also states that this vehicle was lemon and had changed hands five times.

Filed Nov 15, 2000 · Electrical · CA

This vehicle has a stalling problem when coming to a stop sign or intersection. Dealer has been contacted.*ak the consumer says that ignition system was replaced and there is no more stalling problem.

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 Oct 18, 2000 · Electrical · PA

Vehicle will stall intermittently. Vehicle will shut off which could cause accident.consumer had igniton idle sensor replaced every year .

Filed Oct 2, 2000 · Electrical · MI

Stalls without warning. Once on expressway, most on 4 lane 55 MPH roads. Many situations could have caused serious accidents. After sitting at roadside for about 2 hours it would start right up. Tried a number of remedies before hearing of the possible recall in california. It was a used functional car so we did all of the do it yourself remedies like dry gas, new starter, etc. All of the situations in the articles about the recalls described my instances to a t.

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.