60,000 miles
front wheel drive
The 3.8 liter V6 engine has a distributor cap and rotor in a 1997 Ford Thunderbird
I replaced water pump had to remove timing belt installed water pump installed timing belt car won't start.
Plugged PCV valve or hose
I know that they have R15 in the size I don't know the rest original tires are 165/70 R13 for the 96 and 97 aspire
I would try checking the spark plug wires, spark plugs, cap and rotor. I would consider replacing these if they are original. You might need a distributor. This this what is connected to the cap and rotor. This supplies the spark to the wires. I had a similar problem with a 94 aspire. It would hesitate when the gas pedal was pressed down and inconsistently stall when going in reverse after going on the freeway.
I know on my 97 ford aspire i was told to fill the manual transmission where the speedometer cable goes in on the top of the transaxle. There is one bolt that holds it down and then it just screws off.
In order to advance the timing on a 97 Ford Aspire, a person will need a timing light, wrench, wheel chocks, and jump cables. A person needs to be careful not to damage the engine when adjusting the timing.
Hubless design: Raise car, remove wheel, remove caliper, remove brake pad holder, remove rotor. Hub/rotor assembly: Raise car, remove wheel, remove caliper, remove brake pad holder, remove axle nut and cotter pin, remove outer wheel bearing, remove hub/rotor assembly, separate rotor from hub assembly. Re-pack wheel bearings with grease upon reassembly.
It is under the distributor. Look for the upper coolant hose (it's about an inch thick) and you will find the thermostat housing.
I recently replaced both rotors on my 97. You have to separate the rotor from the hub. They are actually 2 separate pieces.