festiva 4 speed auto conversion

[fezzy]

Hi, my first post here, so hello everyone.
I bought a 1995 festiva, hoping i get the some reasonable economy @ 1300 engine, 3 speed auto
I now wish i had waited or done some research, but this car gets about 315 kilometres to a tank full of fuel.
It does 2300rpm @60.kp.hr
It needs a 4th gear.
In Australia, Ford decided in their wisdom to not provide the 4 speed auto to the festiva range, but granted it to Mazda.
Question is, how can i get that mileage per tank of fuel to go up?
I know the 5 speed manual does 400 + to a tank full of fuel.

Is a conversion to 4speed auto the way to go using the Mazda's auto, is this option possible. ( assuming it's the same engine on festiva and Mazda? )
Or is a conversion to 5 speed manual worth the effort?

I'm not into dazzling my car, been there done that, but don't mind a tinker now and then.

The other option is to buy another car that does better. I know my other car before this one, Toyota seca, 3 speed auto was capable of 450+ ks. Per tank ful of fuel. It's rev range was1800rpm @ 60 kph.

Ideas most welcomed,

Thanks.

[georgeb]

Someone on here has done it or is in the process. The 4-speed in electronic so there are wiring/ecu issues.

[Bert]

95 Festy? That must be what they re-named to 'Aspire' in n America. Some kind of serious tune-up is in order here on your car. My 93 3 speed auto has always gotten mileage in the low to mid-40s (per Imp gallon) whereas both 93 5 speeds can break the 50 mpg (Imperial gallon) barrier if you take it easy and don't drive fast. It's a big job to convert (not the physical transmission swap) but all the fail-safes, electronics and pedal hook-ups that go with it. At least going auto to manual is easier than going manual to auto. I don't think Festys nor Aspires ever came with auto 4 speeds over here and I doubt it would be worth the effort of swapping if you could find one. Acceleration might improve but top end and mileage will likely never change.

[Safety Guy]

The word I've heard is that earlier Mazda 323s had some 4 speed automatics and they were NOT computer controlled. Look for 323s from 1986 to 1989. Some may be three speeds, like our early Tracers. Starting in 1990 the 323 supposedly got the same transaxle type, but with added computer controls, so that conversion would involve more work.

The theory is that using an early 323 4 speed auto should be relatively easy and not involve any wiring/ECU issues. However, you still have to fit in a larger transaxle, so beware.

Karl

[fezzy]

Thanks, the tuning is fine, new plugs, oil,filter, runs like a charm. It just seems it's reviving too high in 3rd. 2300 rpm @60 kilometers per hour.

[william]

If you drive more high way speeds swapping to larger over all diameter tires will help get your revs down a bit,but will hurt town mpg's.

[Movin]

I think FestYboy has a lock up torque converter swapped into an Aspire..
I can't find where a lock up is sold for either the festy or the aspire but
the same auto was used in a lot of cars, including Mitsubishi with lock up
torque converters.
I know this is not 4 speed but lock up offers the same lower hiway RPM.
Some of the early 4 speeds had a lot of reliability issues, and poor
driveability as well.

It would be good to learn more about this lock up mod as it might be more
durable.

[FestYboy]

not swapped, STOCK. the aspires came with a centrifugal lockup converter (no electronic control). at about 2400 rpm the TCC locks up. and for the OP, at 120kph, it's near 4000rpm and loves it but only returns about 33MPG (SAE). the auro you're looking for is from a BF chassis saloon or hatch ONLY, the wagons were all 3spd autos or stick.

[fezzy]

Ok, excellent replies, can the diff ratio be changed ?

[fezzy]

Filled with fuel today, numbers are, 30.8 litres at 310 kilometres.
Has power steering, air/con and mainly city driving.
Is this the average fuel usage for this model car or is better expected?
Thanks.

[GenevaDirt]

95 Festy? That must be what they re-named to 'Aspire' in n America. Some kind of serious tune-up is in order here on your car. My 93 3 speed auto has always gotten mileage in the low to mid-40s (per Imp gallon) whereas both 93 5 speeds can break the 50 mpg (Imperial gallon) barrier if you take it easy and don't drive fast. It's a big job to convert (not the physical transmission swap) but all the fail-safes, electronics and pedal hook-ups that go with it. At least going auto to manual is easier than going manual to auto. I don't think Festys nor Aspires ever came with auto 4 speeds over here and I doubt it would be worth the effort of swapping if you could find one. Acceleration might improve but top end and mileage will likely never change.

Bert...what is the difference in an Imperial gallon versus a US gallon? I have not heard of an Auto getting anywhere near that kind of MPG and I have owned 3...currently 2.

[Spike]

Imperial gallon would be 4 litres, so.. Lesse, a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola is 67.7.. so.. 128oz (gallon) + 7.4oz.

Watch me be wrong, but I took a guess! And I didn't even use daGoogle lol.

EDIT:

I know Christ-opher said he was getting 40MPG (USA - Pennsylvania) out of an auto.. wish I could do that.

[fastivaca]

Re: festiva 4 speed auto conversion

Imperial gallon is 4.54 litres
US gallon is 3.78 litres

Sent from somewhere west of here!

[Bert]

Filled with fuel today, numbers are, 30.8 litres at 310 kilometres.
Has power steering, air/con and mainly city driving.
Is this the average fuel usage for this model car or is better expected?
Thanks.

Man 10 l/100k, that's like a V8 for mileage. I easily get 500k on 30 litres (and that's in the cold with snow tires). In summer with a soft foot I can get 5.4 litres/100k which is roughly double efficient to your run of bad luck. Now this a 5 speed we're talking about but autos aren't radically much different. I think you have an air leak or a VAF problem (vane airflow sensor) that is causing the ECU to read funny or not properly. I didn't check back on your tune-up list of posts but a new oxygen sensor sometimes makes a substantial difference. Newer Aspires had 2 of these whereas Festys and early model Aspires only had one.
For sure you'll want to get to the bottom of this and fast.

[Bert]

2300 at 60kph suggests to me you may not even be getting into 3rd gear. My 5 speed Festy is spinning 3000 at 120kph, and this would be the same number if it were a 4 speed manual since the overdrive gear is the same.