91 Tempo will die when put in gear

[David Tate]

when you put it in reverse or drive it will die unless you hold the gas to floor. runs good after you get going

[cronicus]

ok ive seen this before

many things can cause it, because mechanical lock up of the trans which prolly hasent happened the spout conector coming of the wire of the botoom of the dist has fallen off or melted.
o.e.m. its on the wire harness that runs from under your engine around the blocks right side and kinda diapears sumewhere after the ignition module
on that wirre there is (what should be) a white/tan colored lil plastic button, it conects one of the two wires its directly associated with togther and is removed for diagnostic pourpses and to set the timing.
if it has fallen of you prolly wont see it, just where its suposta go, its am lil plastic block a lil bgeer than 2 legos put tgther for example, if its gone try and find two ways to bridge the conection with a wire or sumthing......
it should be right above your oil filter if you have the 2.3 engine (4 cilinder)

[tempo hater]

replace everything from the tires up and you should be ok

[tempodriversmom]

he just says that because he hates our daughter's car...

can't it just be something simple and inexpensive, like a fuel filter????

[cronicus]

have you located your spout conector-or lack of?
if it is the spout it is extremly inexpensive its free can be fixed with a piece of wire.
its also very simple, no tools required.

[thomas_943]

Yeah. I'm having the same problem with my 91 2.3 4cyl. Thanx for the advice! However, it is called a spout connector? and will there be any issues with just connecting the two wires with another piece of wire? in this little plastic piece, is there some kind of restricter? will just re-hooking it up cause it more damage than good? I'll see if i can find a new 'spout connector' first then i'll try your suggestion. but now i know what i'm looking for! Thanx

[cronicus]

reply to above if you nail the gas to get it going and then its fine....no problems.....runs great then your tranny should be in question

as far as the conector goes it is just simply a bridge for the wire you can use a staple to reconect it if nessesary.
and no it wil not hurt the car in fact your car will run like a pile of a** without it.

[TempoStandard]

do a check for vacuum lines, i have a second tempo and the main vac line above the intake is gone, that specific line runs DIRECT to the fuel feed valve, the engine is basically choking itself because of no vacuum. the idle is low and has the tendency to stall when shifting into R,D, or otherwise.