It's So Slow

[zrice88]

I have a 1990 Festiva L with a 5-speed that is stock except for an Aspire brake and suspension swap. When I compared it to my 1991 Festiva L with a 5-speed that is totally stock the 1990 seems super slow.
The 1990 idles at 600-700 rpm. It slightly stutters if you jam the throttle to the floor while its at idle. When I jam the throttle to the floor while my 1991 is at idle it revs up really smooth. I really need the 1990 to have a little more pep. What do you guys think?
Thanks
Zach

P.S. I seafoamed the 1990 twice and it still does it.

[monkeyracing]

I'd be checking (not neccessarily in order) fuel filter, timing, air filter, distributor components, plugs, wires, coil...all the basic tune-up stuff. Maybe see if you've got enough fuel pressure as well. I must admit, though, that I'm leaning towards either fuel or timing in this case.

[b3 madness]

I agree with Monkeyracing and would say my first item to check would be timing as well.

[wrestler3025]

I would check the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. These are normal tune up items that are often neglected. I would then go on to check the fuel filter and then the timing. Just my .02;-) Oh yeah and if those items are all okay, check the fuel injectors. I've had to send off two sets of injectors to get cleaned because the car was sitting for a while. Once I got them back, the car ran like a top.

[zrice88]

I fixed it, i think. I turned the distributor all the way to the right and it runs a whole lot better than it did.

[FestYboy]

NOOOOOOO!!!! you'd better be running 93 oct with that setting. you did a very bad thing...... first start with regular maintenance items, and then have your fuel system profesionaly cleaned. THEN you can start messing with the timing IN SMALL INCREMENTS. also do a compression check to make sure all cylinders are firing with about the same power. BTW, timing MUST be done with a gun and with the proper procedure, otherwise the ECM will compensate and the problem won't really be fixed.

[zrice88]

What would happen if I just leave it? The way it is right now it runs sooo much better than it did. It doesn't studder at all anymore. It has tons more power. I don't see how that could lead to a bad thing.

[zrice88]

I already put in new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and air filter. I cleaned the fuel system myself with 3M fuel system cleaner at work. I also Seafoamed it 3 times and all I got was a lot of smoke. It still ran the same, like crap.

[FestYboy]

then it's very possible that your belt has slipped a notch. true, my car also ran better with 10* advance, BUT, i also ran 93 oct and did everything by the book so as not to grenade the engine. check your cam timing, you may find that it is off. also DO A COMPRESSION CHECK.

[Festiva_tunner]

then it's very possible that your belt has slipped a notch. true, my car also ran better with 10* advance, BUT, i also ran 93 oct and did everything by the book so as not to grenade the engine. check your cam timing, you may find that it is off. also DO A COMPRESSION CHECK.

My 91 if I run 93 oct it runs like crap however the 87 runs like a champ . . .

check your air filter it might be starved for air, I had to change mine again (it was stuttering) come to find out driving though all the construction mess and all the Harvest mess clogged er up

[FestYboy]

My 91 if I run 93 oct it runs like crap however the 87 runs like a champ . . .

if going to a higher grade fuel makes the engine perform worse than with the lower grade, you have an ignition/carbon problem. higher octane fuels should never affect an engine designed for 87. all you're doing is reducing the ability of the fuel to explode (knock) under the heat and pressure within the cylinder.

[zrice88]

I did a compression check last night. This is what i got
1-135psi
2-130psi
3-135psi
4-135psi

[zrice88]

BTW It has 263,000 miles on it

[FestYboy]

you're on the verry bottom end of the compression scale for these engines, you probable just need to hone and re-ring the pistons to get the power back.