Whether you have a 1988 or 1996 Ford Festiva, replacing the head gasket in the automobile is a similar process. You will have to replace a head gasket for a number of reasons, including unclean bolts, damaged bolts, the wrong type of head gasket, or damage from an overheated engine. The head gasket is in the center of the cylinder head and engine block, so removal takes some time. This vehicle was also sold as the Ford Aspire in various markets after 1993.
Wait until your Ford Festiva has cooled down before operating under the hood. Loosen the negative cable from the battery cable. Sit a sealable container underneath radiator petcock to drain the cooling system.
Tag all the parts of the Ford Festiva before working, such as wires, hoses, belts, harnesses, spark plug and connectors.
Secure the Ford on top of wooden blocks safely placed on padded floor jacks.
Remove or disconnect the upper engine parts of the Ford. Take off the distributor, timing belts, valve covers, exhaust manifold, intake manifold and hoses, including the radiator hose and heater hose. Some electrical connectors to disconnect include the crankshaft position sensor, camshaft position electrical connector and coolant temperature sensor. Notice the position of each component.
Undo the bolts on the cylinder head in the opposite direction of the its tightening pattern. Take off the cylinder head and old head gasket from the Ford Festiva. Clean the mating surface of the gasket.
Position the new gasket on the Ford Festiva. Use a torque wrench to tighten the new cylinder head bolts in a two-pass process. Torque to 35 to 40 foot-pounds on the first space and 56 to 60 foot-pounds on the second pass.
Replace the parts of the Ford Festiva back in the vehicle. Review a Festiva repair guide to receive the bolt specification for all the bolts on the vehicle.
