NewBie in San Francisco CA ( I finally got my dream 93 Festi )

[Cross]

Hello Everyone @ Festiva.com!!!

Great news for me! I finally can say I got one of dream mobiles, a Festiva. I always wanted one for many years. I wanted a clean unmolested unit, and now I got one.

Now, the not so great news. On the way home I began to loose power and before I knew it all I could NOT see from the rearview mirror. All I could see was a cloud of white smoke.
Not good.

I am theorizing that the rings are leaking. No water in the oil ( no milk color on dipstick). Never over heated. Coolant looks perfect. On idle tons of smoke spew out of the oil cap once I removed it. And smoke from the tailpipe. I have no compression tester.

Assuming its a blown engine @ 176k miles. Any suggestions where a reputable shop or mechanics may be around the San Francisco / eastbay area of northern California?

My whimsical neighbor said I should call the wrecking yard and get $500 for it.
Ouch! Well at least I recoup some of my losses. Sending it to the wrecking yard may be an option down the road.

Any suggestions?

I do hope to post pics, shortly. It's white with grey interior. I am currently the second owner. It has all original interior ( less radio ) & orig paint. No accidents, but tons of door dings light scratches. It reminds me of my friends car when he left inside his garage. His kids would park there bikes on the side of the car.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
CROSS in NorCal.

[getnpsi]

I think there are more Festiva owners near you then in Southern California. the ones who log in a lot do not have stock engines they might be able to help you!

[Festevil3]

Welcome, good luck with the dream mobile!

[georgeb]

Don't scrap a one-owner Festiva!

[lulu]

Don't scrap a one-owner Festiva!

This.

[Cross]

Fest EVIL: thank you for the good luck wishes. I certainly could use it!

[Cross]

LULU!
Please
Read the bottom had of my post.
I am in the process of posting pics.

This

Is

a

(Insert superlatives here)

With out


P
I
C
'
s

[eurotiva]

Welcome to the site. You'll find any info you need here, if you just search around. Lot's of Cali guys on here too, just give them a day or two, and they'll pop up.

[Advancedynamix]

Welcome to the site! Don't get discouraged about your engine troubles, and even with a non running engine your car is worth more than 500 to many of the members here (I'm one of them). If you do decide you can't keep it then be sure to post it up on this site for sale. However, if you have the time and patience then these cars make very fun and simple project cars that are easy to upgrade and maintain.

[Grey Vw]

Sell it to me!

[crazyrog17]

If you've never delved into the engine compartment of a car and have any inclination to do so, the Festiva is the prime learning platform for such an endeavor.

The engines are very easy to work on, almost every accessory is easily visible from the top and removing the engine for a quick overhaul shouldn't be that hard. If you have a driveway, a tool box with 10, 12, 14, 17 and 19mm sockets/wrenches and half a brain... do the work yourself and save a bunch of money (and build yourself up with pride!).

Good luck with your dream machine!

[Cross]

[QUOTE=Advancedynamix;551033]Welcome to the site! Don't get discouraged about your engine troubles, and even with a non running engine your car is worth more than 500 to many of the members here (I'm one of them). If you do decide you can't keep it then be sure to post it up on this site for sale.

Thank you AdvanceDynamix , :p

I will keep you & the forum posted.....I still owe everyone pics,

After all this thread is useless with out pics.

Indeed an option is to find it a new home, in the event I am not up to the challenge of wrenching. I am going to talk to my sister. She too has a Festiva ('88) white with tan. For years I have been bugging her to sell it to me. Perhaps she may take me seriously when she's my latest acquisition. Or not :cry_smile:

If I do sell within CA I will have to sell it as a parts cars. Not sure how legal that is since it will not pass smog.

I did get a couple of notes stuck on my windshield offering to buy it...

Hope to have pics posted by early next week.

Thank you everyone

[Grey Vw]

It would take $75 and half a day to get that thing running again. %50 off pick n pull days:p

I would help you with the install if you got the engine.

[Cross]

I think there are more Festiva owners near you then in Southern California. the ones who log in a lot do not have stock engines they might be able to help you!

Hi Getnpsi,

Wow how does that happen ?????

How does anyone in CA work-around the " wonderful " smog issue. Naturally I heard they killed the bill in CA to allow pre 1981 vehicles to be smog exempt.
Current cut-off is still stuck at 1975. Thank you Arnold for your wonderful help on this. Why you had to kill the rolling 25 yrs of smog exempt is beyond me. I can only assume he is not an auto enthusiast.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with law enforcing bodies....I am just a regular guy who loves the CA weather, but hate the smog laws. Ironically and generally speaking auto enthusiast's keep they cars in great shape for the love it , and not necessarily smog criminals......I better stop I am off topic....I just wish I plunk in a super fast motor and shock some people at the light in my festiva. And of course not worry about CA smog.

[Cross]

[QUOTE=Grey Vw;551323]It would take $75 and half a day to get that thing running again. %50 off pick n pull days:p

Hi Grey, what would the $75 bucks buy me? I just went to the local pick n pull. No sign of any Festiva in the yard.

Ps: do you have any pics of your Festiva that does 13's.....that's killer!!!!!
I would not mind having that kind of power, until I have to get it smog.....I used to know people that could help.....but they are all retired or sold their shops.
If only I had free time .....I would probably be able to find another one of those nice chaps.

Feel free to post the pics of your Festiva.
Still learning my way through the forum as member.... Before I would just look around, when I had no Festiva to share with the forum.