Known Problems With The Ford Festiva?

[TheCustodian]

I'm sorry if something similar has been posted, and also can't seem to find any good answers for my question, but again, my apologies.

I recentley ( Week ago) bought a 1993 Festiva, automatic, 173,200 KM'S. I'm wondering what problems occur often with these cars? Stuff I should watch out for? I really do love this car and want to keep in running nice for a long time. Any info would be great!

Thanks!

[F3BZ]

known problems: owner develops consuming addiction and craving for more power ultimately working their way up to twin turbo V-12 mid engine transplant. cure: bankruptcy.
owner develops obsession with attaching every accessory and convenience ever installed on a festiva, kia pride or mazda 121 from the entire model run. cure: eventually you will exceed gross vehicle weight rating.
owner is determined to fit 22" tires to festiva. cure: remove fenders.
owner insists on car pulling 2Gs while eating egg McMuffin. cure: read posts by Advancedynamics. he probably drives more on 2 wheels than 4.
owner has done just about everything to the car within his capabilities and budget and still has $175 left to his name. cure: buy another project festiva!
owner can't help but visit ff.com everyday. cure: visit twice a day.

[drddan]

^ :laughing3:

[Powerstiva]

Lol awesome reply F3BZ

On a relevant note look out for rust in front of the rear wheels, also make sure that the front mount for the crossmember/lower radiator isn't rusted out.

[Advancedynamix]

The Festiva is known to have a steering wheel shimmy at around 60mph. So far, all we have is theories as to why, and how it's best solved. It usually smooths out by 75mph. Many a member has replaced everything in the front suspension, only to still have the shimmy. Most of us live with it.

Since your car is an automatic with some miles under it's belt, watch the oil level on long freeway trips. The Automatic cars cruise freeway speeds at a higher rpm than the manuals. This causes oil consumption at high speeds, especially on cars with over 100k miles (160k Km). It's not anything to be concerned about, just check the oil at every gas fill up and add oil as necessary. Cars have run over a quarter million miles with this ailment. It's mostly due to the PCV system sucking oil out of the engine.

[Studebaker]

Stock brakes are weak. Watch your following distance.

[festyxfi]

known problems: owner develops consuming addiction and craving for more power ultimately working their way up to twin turbo V-12 mid engine transplant. cure: bankruptcy.
owner develops obsession with attaching every accessory and convenience ever installed on a festiva, kia pride or mazda 121 from the entire model run. cure: eventually you will exceed gross vehicle weight rating.
owner is determined to fit 22" tires to festiva. cure: remove fenders.
owner insists on car pulling 2Gs while eating egg McMuffin. cure: read posts by Advancedynamics. he probably drives more on 2 wheels than 4.
owner has done just about everything to the car within his capabilities and budget and still has $175 left to his name. cure: buy another project festiva!
owner can't help but visit ff.com everyday. cure: visit twice a day.

We need a BEST POSTS EVER thread now. Start it off with this one

[Movin]

known problems: owner develops consuming addiction and craving for more power ultimately working their way up to twin turbo V-12 mid engine transplant. cure: bankruptcy.
owner develops obsession with attaching every accessory and convenience ever installed on a festiva, kia pride or mazda 121 from the entire model run. cure: eventually you will exceed gross vehicle weight rating.
owner is determined to fit 22" tires to festiva. cure: remove fenders.
owner insists on car pulling 2Gs while eating egg McMuffin. cure: read posts by Advancedynamics. he probably drives more on 2 wheels than 4.
owner has done just about everything to the car within his capabilities and budget and still has $175 left to his name. cure: buy another project festiva!
owner can't help but visit ff.com everyday. cure: visit twice a day.

NOOOO don't spill our darkest secrets!! LOL nice..
Really, there is no known until 20 years old, then lots of fun really interesting things happen. There is way more known improvements than known problems.

[Safety Guy]

Check all brake lines for corrosion. Keep in mind they're all over 22 years old now and they also can corrode from inside.

Also check brake hoses for age related maladies. Anything rubber, actually: hoses and belts.

Check underbody for holes and opened seams rusted into floor.

Check ball joints (on control arms) for play. They often need replaced. Check rear wheel bearings for excessive play.

On my current DD (AquaMutt, a '91L), I replaced all hard lines, brake and engine hoses and seatbelts with new or newer parts. My biggest fear on old Festivas would be popping a brake line or having a seatbelt frayed to below strength in a crash.

Karl

[Spike]

The Festiva is known to have a steering wheel shimmy at around 60mph. So far, all we have is theories as to why, and how it's best solved. It usually smooths out by 75mph. Many a member has replaced everything in the front suspension, only to still have the shimmy. Most of us live with it.

Now I feel better. This '93 is the first I've had with a 60-64MPH shimmy that will not go away. Replaced rear bearings, tie-rods, LCAs, inspected struts, ect. New tires and alightment. Shimmies no matter what.

To answer the original post:

Check rear wheel bearings before anything. Jack up the rear, grab the tires at 3 and 9 o'clock and shake the entire tire and wheel. There should be very little play, and if there is, replace those rear bearings. That $50 can save you a lot of fuel, steering headaches, and the possibility of a bearing failing. I've had a bearing fail at high speed before, it IS not fun. Steering becomes scary sensitive. If the bearings are good, grease them up and put on a new cotter pin!

Check under the radiator support for rust. If it has surface rust starting, sand and Rustoleum that thing before it gets worse. If it's further gone, plan on getting it welded up at some point.

Check the rear axle mounting points for rust. Rust-through can cause become problematic quickly.

Remove the front drive tires and check the struts for rust-through. I've had one from a very abused car break on me. Not fun.

But above all else, enjoy the car! They are very simple to work on, very cheap to buy parts for. They run forever!

Joe

[TorqueEffect]

Yeah, I have a shimmy too. mainly 55-65MPH.
Have had it when I had 12 year old 12" tires on steelies, had it when I went to 13" steelies with good junkyard tires, to aluminium aftermarket wheels with freshly balanced tires.
Still have it after a steering rack swap, Kia Rio/Aspire swap with Escort outer tierods. Also hub rings for the aftermarket wheels, and still have a shimmy.

Like said above, there is no known reason why these cars have it, we just learn to live with it. lol


I second the rear axle mount rust, that is a big killer of these cars.
Radiator crossmember rust too, but that can be fixed with some hardware store supplies for a cheap easy fix.\

Also just do all the basic maintenance items that you would do on any other car.

[TheCustodian]

Thank you everybody for the awesome advise! Its very appreciated 😀

[w4rkry]

I have found that the vinyl seats also love to self destruct

[drddan]

88/89 seats were better, last longer than 90/93 seats, but stain badly. Seems they changed things in 90, mostly interior, and not for the better.

[w4rkry]

Replacing those was one of the first things I did. They were both ripped AND stained