What have you done to your Festiva today!?

[Shin Hayata]

Tomorrow, I'll own the car one month. In that time, I've done a few things.

Engine oil and filter
Transmission fluid drain and fill (fresh Dex/Merc)
Coolant drain and refill
Repaired non-functioning windscreen washer system
New windscreen wipers
New PCV valve and grommet
NOS Mazda dome lamp
New clutch & brake pedal pads
Owner's Manual sourced via the bay
New 155/80-R12 tires
New spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor and coil
New fuel filter
NOS Kia mud flaps
DashMat
New 9004 bulbs
New Sony AM/FM/CD/USB head unit and dash speakers
New (remanufactured) alternator

There's a few other minor bits and bobs on the car. And there's a parts box on the shelf with new LCAs, etc. for when I get around to those things.

-SH

[TorqueEffect]

Haven't done anything. Last time I tried to fire it up, it spit and sputtered like Speedbuggy and sounded like it was going too backfire.
It barely stayed running at idle, revved fine but as soon as I would let the clutch out, it would die no matter how much throttle I gave it.

Then I accidently left the hood up overnight on the ONE warm day and it rained all over the engine.

So I can't do any diagnosis until everything thaws and dries out.

[ryanprins13]

I've replaced several OEM alternators with units that were sold as "new/remanufactured". All performed flawlessly.

The Remy-branded alternator that I purchased for the Festiva is actually a refurbished OEM Mitsubishi unit that is compatible with the Festiva. So I have confidence that it will be a suitable and functional replacement. I'll definitely inspect it prior to installation, as you suggest.

The thought did cross my mind to use an alternator from a junkyard car. I decided against doing so. Long story short: Buying New also buys a replacement guarantee. I've confirmed that parts sourced via local pull-a-part yards have no return privileges, and this assumes I could find a junked Festiva with an alternator that doesn't look long in the tooth. No thanks.

Good

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[Shin Hayata]

I've replaced several OEM alternators with units that were sold as "new/remanufactured". All performed flawlessly.

The Remy-branded alternator that I purchased for the Festiva is actually a refurbished OEM Mitsubishi unit that is compatible with the Festiva. So I have confidence that it will be a suitable and functional replacement. I'll definitely inspect it prior to installation, as you suggest.

The thought did cross my mind to use an alternator from a junkyard car. I decided against doing so. Long story short: Buying New also buys a replacement guarantee. I've confirmed that parts sourced via local pull-a-part yards have no return privileges, and this assumes I could find a junked Festiva with an alternator that doesn't look long in the tooth. No thanks.

[ryanprins13]

A fair point, ryan.

With no disrespect intended, sometimes piecemeal parts replacement can be false economy. The alternator is 29 years old. The bearing that I replace might be new, but nothing else would be. Replacing the alternator with a new unit buys peace of mind. There's no discernible labor savings; the alternator would have to be removed either way.

We pays our money and we makes our choice. [emoji106]

I probably wouldnt replace a bearing myself, but stuff like that is nice to do. However, working in a mechanic and then an autobody shop for years i have installed many aftermarket and rebuilt alternators. Most look like garbage compared to oem if you look inside. I have taken apart or used picks to try and put back parts that have come loose just during shipping on 'new' alternators. Had a number of comebacks of failed alternators within a week of installation. Worst was a rebuilt alt on an 05 civic. Customer lived like 600km away and couldnt wait for another alternator so we took the rebuilt one apart and tried to put things where we thought they were supposed to go ( stuff had fallen apart inside during shipping or it just hadnt been assembled at all in the first place) and put it in the car. It died 10km from their house. I was suprised it made the 590km or whatever.
Anyway all that to say that you should inspect the alt you get carefully before installing, do anything you need to for warrenty, and i would use another used festiva alternator from a junkyard before buying a rebuilt.

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[Shin Hayata]

A fair point, ryan.

With no disrespect intended, sometimes piecemeal parts replacement can be false economy. The alternator is 29 years old. The bearing that I replace might be new, but nothing else would be. Replacing the alternator with a new unit buys peace of mind. There's no discernible labor savings; the alternator would have to be removed either way.

We pays our money and we makes our choice. :thumbup:

[ryanprins13]

What I will be doing to the Festiva, soon, is installing a new alternator. I was returning home from an errand this morning when, whilst waiting at a red light, I heard the siren song of dry/failed bearings. I knew instantly what it was; a quick under-hood exam when I returned home confirmed that the 29 year old original alternator had reached end-of-life status. It still works to charge the battery and power the lights, etc., but it has begun it's shuffle off this mortal coil.

The replacement Remy is already on order from Amazon. The lowest price by far, no core charge, free shipping. Might have to wait a bit longer than if I had sourced a unit through AutoZone, etc., but the savings was too great to trade it for the convenience of abbreviated transit time. Having a truck and two motorcycles in the inventory makes things easier, too.

This is one of the few things about front-drive cars that bothers me: the always-low, transverse placement of alternators and air conditioning compressors. R&R alternators on rear-drive vehicles is dead simple and dead fast.

Ah well. FWIW, I like having an older car to fiddle with. There's a real sense of accomplishment when we can use our skill with tools (and language, ha) to bring something back to life.

You know what brings an even better sense of accomplishment? Just replacing the bearing in the alt and not the whole thing

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[Shin Hayata]

What I will be doing to the Festiva, soon, is installing a new alternator. I was returning home from an errand this morning when, whilst waiting at a red light, I heard the siren song of dry/failed bearings. I knew instantly what it was; a quick under-hood exam when I returned home confirmed that the 29 year old original alternator had reached end-of-life status. It still works to charge the battery and power the lights, etc., but it has begun it's shuffle off this mortal coil.

The replacement Remy is already on order from Amazon. The lowest price by far, no core charge, free shipping. Might have to wait a bit longer than if I had sourced a unit through AutoZone, etc., but the savings was too great to trade it for the convenience of abbreviated transit time. Having a truck and two motorcycles in the inventory makes things easier, too.

This is one of the few things about front-drive cars that bothers me: the always-low, transverse placement of alternators and air conditioning compressors. R&R alternators on rear-drive vehicles is dead simple and dead fast.

Ah well. FWIW, I like having an older car to fiddle with. There's a real sense of accomplishment when we can use our skill with tools (and language, ha) to bring something back to life.

[Festiver]

love those wheels

Lol thanks they're xxr 537s chromium black little embarrassing having ebay wheels but oh well lol

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[greywolf200]

always be living the poke life lol

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love those wheels

[FestYboy]

The sound is just ok. The head unit is the factory original AM radio. Said differently, the speakers can only process the quality of the signal that they receive. It seems that I'm only able to receive talk radio, so when I'm not shifting, I'm shaking my fist. ha

I'd like to keep the car stock in appearance and function; that's my "build". My sole concession to modernity is a USB charging plug.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20402[/ATTACH]

Shin, I recommend you install infinity kappa reference 4" speakers. The improvement in sound quality is fantastic and they fit behind the grills with no modifications. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll post a pic.

[ryanprins13]

I bought the car from a Tow company that kept the car because the owner couldn't pay the tow fees from when it broke down. There was check stubs for 2 different guys in the glove box but I feel kinda bad that they lost their car... The tag was still on it and everything, I even found a Galaxy S3 in the passenger seat.

Man that would suck.


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[Shin Hayata]

Good suggestion, zoe60. Thanks.

=================

A parts order just came in from Amazon, so I finished the day by installing:

-Bosch 09211 plug wires (to complement the Autolite 64 plugs installed ~2 weeks ago)
-Standard Motor Products ignition cap JH144
-Standard Motor Products ignition rotor JR163

The new cap and rotor have brass contacts; the old parts did not (and there was a bit of carbon scoring evident.)

Parts for job.jpgNew and old cap.jpgOld and new rotor.jpg

[zoe60]

You could swap it over to an OEM Festy AM FM radio and keep the stock appearance. Beware they come in orange or white lettering so stipulate witch one you need if you try to buy one.

[firebush357]

Do you have the name of the person who owned it before? Find them on facebook and post on their page that they left some stuff in the car you bought and attach the photos

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I bought the car from a Tow company that kept the car because the owner couldn't pay the tow fees from when it broke down. There was check stubs for 2 different guys in the glove box but I feel kinda bad that they lost their car... The tag was still on it and everything, I even found a Galaxy S3 in the passenger seat.