The Dark Wob

Leads/or cap? Much as I praise electronic ignition I would get everything running properly first - it isn't a cure-all and you might end up chasing your tail...My old Mk1 used to hate the damp but I sold it off in summer and never did get to the bottom of it.

Nearly every car I've had with that engine has hated the damp. What make me think about the ignition was that I'd never had any problems with the more modern version that are covered in electrical stuff.

Think I'll start with all the normal replaceable stuff and then go from there. It might just be that the cap, rotor arm or both. The plugs are pretty old too.

Sounds like it just needs a good service

It does.

Got two of these from ebay for er er £24ish last week. Already got a new filter. I'll get the rest ordered when I get paid next week.

That's a bit thin for an old fester. Leads and cap should solve the damp issues. Or just spray then with an aerosol of damp start of similar

OK know practically bugger all about oil but I always thought, or must've read it somewhere, that it was 5w30 for Fords. I'll have a look in the big book of lies to see if I've got it wrong. I know the ST definitely uses it so it won't go to waste.

Last time I used damp start on a car it made it worse but as that was Favorit I'll make sure I go get some and give it a try. Still going to get all the bits just in case. It's not like it won't ever need them and I've another car they could go on if needs be.

I always had really good results with damp start. Warm the engine up before applying it so you don't seal the damp in and make sure everything is clean before applying it. Don't use WD40 like I did once to clean everything before hand though, it reacted with the damp start and went all crackly so was a waste of time.

I would be amazed if that Fiesta isn't electronic ignition already. Plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm are the likely suspects but spray damp sealer over everything first.

It's definitely it electronic already as it was owned by two old biddies before.

Can't remember exactly what the Haynes said but the 5w30 I bought is OK for the car but a quick Google search says the thicker oil would be better hue to its age and mileage.

No point putting fully synthetic in that save it for the newer one, a 5/30 or 10/40 semi synthetic is fine