1994 Ford Tempo GL from North America - Comments

Hello everyone, it is great to have this resource for the Ford Tempo. My 94 Tempo has 100K miles on it and is going strong with no major problems to report beyond regular maintenance up to now. Recently, I noticed that the car is making unusual noises under acceleration... the sound is almost like a mechanical vibration/grinding/pinging. Even though the sound seems to indicate the car is struggling, the car drives fine and seems as powerful as ever (no problem to drive over 70MPH). Any ideas on what this could be?

Thanks in advance!

It sounds like it is dieseling. I would simply take the spark plugs out and regap them, or just throw in some new spark plugs. I would also remove the distributor cap and brake parts cleaner spray it out. I normally get by with using a small piece of sandpaper on the 4 internal distributor cap metal posts, and I also do this to the rotor. Eventually you will have to replace the cap and rotor, but you can get a bit more out of them with a good cleaning job. I would say it's the spark plugs though. Sounds simple, and best of all cheap to fix.

Thanks for the advice. I replaced the spark plugs and fuel filter, which took care of most of the problems. I then also had the EGR valve replaced, which took care of the rest of the noises. Car runs as good as ever.

Thanks again!

My car is 94 Ford Tempo with two doors. It runs over 100,000 miles and have no major problems. Now I cannot start it even my battery is good. I carried my battery to the Auto Zone and they told me the battery is in good condition. When I started it, I heared one audible click in the left side of the hood, and nothing. Please let me know anything is wrong. I change my alternator two years ago. Thank you in advance.

Starter or starter solenoid. It could be as easy as corroded connections at the starter or the battery.

Thanks for your advice. You are exactly right. I carefully clean the connection of the battery and I can start my car immediately. I love my Tempo. Thanks again for your advice!

I have a 94 Ford Tempo and have 2 problems with it.

It keeps overheating - I replaced the thermostat, and it has no radiator leaks and still overheats.

And the 2nd problem is it makes a weird pumping/chocking sound, and smells like gas and shuts off.

Any help would be nice thanks.

I love the Tempos! I have finally come to the end of the road with my second one; though the three mechanics I've taken it to are a little baffled with the problem.

One night I sat idling for 2 hours, when I went to pull away it died and wouldn't restart. The car had been getting harder and harder to start during the mornings for the preceding months, and sometimes after I had it started (but still cold), and then went to move it would stall and I would have to restart.

The first shop put in a new fuel pump, but it still wouldn't start in the morning without almost draining the battery. Once it is started, however, it will start well for the rest of the day. This mechanic thought the injectors might need checking and he didn't do injectors, so on to the next shop that does.

Second shop says no injector problem, in fact, can't find any other problem at all except for the not starting in the morning, so gave up.

Third shop, a mechanic I have total confidence in. Tried for over a month even putting in parts, and even tracking down a Ford old timer with many years of experience. The final diagnosis was that the compression (85) was too low so hard to start when cold. Once the car warmed up, everything expanded and that brought the compression up.

This doesn't make sense to me, since the car initially died when it was warm, idling, if you remember.

So now I am looking for a replacement car, since no one seems to know exactly what is wrong with this one. Three mechanics have tried the normal testing and solutions, and even experimental parts to "see if that would work".

Does the compression diagnosis seem plausible?

This has been a good car, I will miss it. Harmonic Balancer problems like others, and CV joints, but no other major problems in 8 years of driving.

Thank you.

I have a 93 Mercury Topaz cyl 2.3L that stalls while driving or idling at normal operating temp. I have replaced the ECU, fuel filter, spark plugs and wires, and distributor cap and rotor, the fuel pump, fuel pump strainer, fuel pump sending unit, fuel filter, cam sensor, ignition control module, and the coil pack and the car sill stalls. The check engine light is off and the car is getting a good ground and the battery terminals are clean and tight and the wires are fine. Ford told me there is no crank sensor. What else can cause this issue? If you are able to answer this, please email me at smherman.1015@comcast.net

Is it the idle speed control system?